ABSTRACT
The collective emotions of anger, fear, and uncertainty that had generated a sense of moral community in resisting the threat of Germany and Japan had been extended to the cold war with the Soviet Union. The threat of communism became intolerable as many Americans perceived the tide of international events as favouring the Soviets. Although the United States had developed into an industrial giant, intense feelings of national insecurity persisted. Lacking training and preparation for their combat assignment, they sustained heavy losses in setting up a defence perimeter just north of the city of Pusan at the southern tip of the Korean peninsula. The tide of the war had shifted, and the American army continued its advance through North Korea. The resistance of the North Korean army was minimal as American forces aimed for control of Korea all the way to the Yalu River.
