10 important things everyone should know about the Korean War

China became Communist in September 1949, and Mao Zedong became the head of the new Communist state.

Korea had been a Japanese colony, until the end of WWII, when it was divided up amongst the Allies.

The border between North Korea and South Korea was the 38th parallel, and later became the point of stalemate.

The war began when North Koreans crossed the 38th parallel, and pushed the South Koreans all the way back to Pusan.

General MacArthur landed his troops at Inchon, which led to the retreat of the North Koreans, which led to the invasion of North Korea.

Communist China saw the movement of UN forces into North Korea as a threat to China's security, so they warned the UN to stop, but it was ignored.

General MacArthur, the commander of all UN forces, wanted to blockade and bomb China, but Truman refused. This disagreement eventually led to Truman firing MacArthur, and he was forced to come home.

Americans became more and more frustrated with this indecisive war. Everyone just wanted it to end.

The war coincided with the election of 1952, and Dwight D. Eisenhower ran mainly on ending the unpopular war. He won in a landslide victory.

The war ended, and not much had changed - the border was still the 38th parallel, with North Korea being Communist, and South Korea having a Democracy.