10 Things Everyone Should Know about the Korean War

1. Everyone should know the prewar boundary was already at the 38th parallel, and that after the war was over, in 1953, the border was still in the same area, even after drastic changes throughout the war.

2. Everyone should know that General MacArthur wanted to wage war on China by dropping 50 atomic bombs over it. Thankfully, Truman said no, and relieved MacArthur of his position.

3. General Dwight D. Eisenhower ran for presidential office and won by a landside because he said he would 'seek a speedy end to the conflict [Korean War]'. Because of him, a cease-fire ended the fighting in July 1953.

4. The US did not pay much attention to China before 1950; they instead had their eyes on Europe. But when China was subjected to communism, the US got frustrated. They began defending South Korea for fear of them turning communist, too.

5. After WWII, the Soviet Union agreed with the US to divide Korea on the 38th parallel. But in 1950, Joseph Stalin wanted to expand communism. South Korean army didn't fight back much when North Korea invaded. But the US understood that the real threat was of the Soviet invasion of western europe.

6. There were still two more years of fighting in South Korea, even after the war ended. US troops also kept on occupying South Korea.

7. On July 1915, Truman began having truce talks with the Soviet Union, having them carry on for two years, continuing even through the 1952 presidential campaign.

8. The United States asked the UN to help stop the Communist move into South Korea. 16 nations provided soldiers, but the US ended up doing most of the fighting.

9. Politicians took advantage of how Americans were feeling frustrated from the indecisive war, such as Joseph McCarthy.

10. MacArthur followed through with a dangerous plan by landing his troops at the Inchon. Inchon was a port city behind the North Korean lines. It worked.