The Korean War was very similar to the Vietnam War. Both had their roots in the Truman Doctrine and the Domino Theory. In addition, in both wars, the countries were split into Communist North and Democratic South. However, the greatest differences between the two wars was the method of fighting; one style resulting in more casualties than the other. Overall, despite some differences, the Korean War and the Vietnam War were very much the same.

    The Truman Doctrine, by definition, is “...the policy of the United States to support free people who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures." Communistic pressure are implied in this doctrine. This doctrine was often supported by the Republicans, and was both the basis for NATO and the extension of the COld War throughout the world. The Truman Doctrine shifted the relations of the United States with the Soviet Union from an uneasy friendship to the concept of containment. Containment is stalls the spread of Communism. The Domino effect theory also had an impact in both the Korean War and the Vietnam War. This theory states that “...that if one state in a region came under the influence of communism, then the surrounding countries would follow in a domino effect. The domino theory was used by successive United States administrations during the Cold War to clarify the need for American intervention around the world.” This was the reasoning behind going into both the Vietnam War and the Korean War, a major similarity between the two.

    Both countries in both wars were split into two parts; one communistic and one democratic. Both northern parts were communistic and both southern parts were democratic. In both situations the United States supported the South in hopes that in doing so Communism would be halted. Both wars ended with deliberations and a concession on both sides.The Vietnam War ended (under the Paris Peace Treaty) with both side agreeing to pull out and cease fire. The Korean War ended with a demilitarized zone between the two countries. Overall, both countries were split in two, communistically and democratically. Both wars ended with concessions on both sides, and both wars were entered by the United States supporting the South in order that the spread of Communism would be halted.

    One major difference between the Korean War and the Vietnam War was the style of fighting: “...The Korean War was characterized by short bursts of fighting whereas Vietnam tended to be long and drawn out.” This impacted the morale of the troops, and also affected the amount of casualties in both wars: “...54,000 American soldiers died in Korea and the war ended within three years. In Vietnam, however, 58,000 soldiers perished over a course of ten years.” Overall, although this was a difference between the two wars, the similarities between the two conflicts overwhelm the dissimilarities.

    Conclusively, the Korean War and the Vietnam War were very similar to each other. Both  wars were a result of the Truman Doctrine and the Domino Theory. Both countries were split into northern communistic and southern democratic. Both ended in concessions on both sides, and both wars were part of the larger conflict known as the Cold War, fought between the Democratic West and the Communistic North.