Although there is no open conflict between North and South Korea nowadays, a formal peace agreement was never signed. On July 27, 1953, an armistice was signed, which allowed the fighting to stop and the prisoners of war to return to their homes. However, Korea remains a divided country.
The United States was an ally of South Korea during the Korean War. This was due to the American interest of stopping the spread of communism. As North Korea had (and continues to have) a communist government, the U.S. saw this as a threat. On the other hand, North Korea was backed by the Soviet Union.
The Truman Doctrine was a political plan to try to keep communism from spreading into more countries. Although it usually did not involve military intervention, it promised the defense of capitalist countries through economic help. This signals the beginning of the Cold War.
The Marshall Plan was a program that provided aid to European nations in order to help them recover after the Second World War. This was implemented due to humanitarian reasons, as well as economic interests. The United States wanted to ensure there was a market for its products. The Marshall plan was essential in helping the continent recover.
President Harry Truman was responsible for integrating the United States armed forces. In 1948, he submitted the first comprehensive civil rights legislation. He also issued Executive Orders that allowed racial integration in the military and federal agencies.
