Domestic Pressure Rather than Events in Asia Governed the U.S.A.'s Intervention in, and Conduct of, the Conflict in Korea

Domestic Pressure Rather than Events in Asia Governed the U.S.A.'s Intervention in, and Conduct of, the Conflict in Korea

On the 25th of June 1950, the communist North Korea (Democratic

Peoples Republic of Korea) invaded the capitalist South Korea

(Republic of Korea). Within two days, USA, the world’s most powerful

country, became involved in a civil war of a small Asiatic country.

One of the main reasons USA became involved in the war were the

domestic pressures Truman administration was under. However, other

factors, such as events in Asia, international pressure and the

concept of the Cold war context governed USA’s involvement and conduct

of the war.

After the World War Two, America found itself in ideological and

economic conflict with its one time ally, Russia. Nazism was replaced

with Communism, and Stalin replaced Hitler. American propaganda

vilified communism to the maximum, and the Truman administration was

under pressure not to appear “soft on communism”. This was especially

true due to the repeated attacks by the Republicans on Truman. Spy

scandals such as Algar Hiss case and the Rosenberger’s added to

general paranoia created by Senator McCarthy, a Republican. Truman was

determined not become a victim of McCarthyism and to appear decisive

in the war against communism. This desire to appeal to the American

public is one of the reasons why he was so willing to become

involved in the Korean War. The war was the proof that he was willing

to fight communism all the way.

Another significant domestic pressure Truman was under was the need to

justify the proposals of the National Security Council to the American

public....

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...aganda victory if it can be used. As such, they refused to

surrender all the PoWs, resulting in continuing of hostilities long

after it was necessary. This event indicates that American’s

considered Korea just a steppingstone in the Cold war. To them, the

propaganda victory was more important than ending the war. They wanted

to win the Cold War, not so much the Korean War.

From all the different factors, it can be determined that although

domestic pressure had a great deal of influence over America’s

involvement and conduct of Korean War, it was not a prevailing factor.

And, in spite of their importance, were the events in Asia. It was the

Cold War context under which USA regarded the Korean War that was the

primary influence on the USA behaviour. USA was aiming to win the cold

war, and behaved with that aim in mind.