6+the+Stalemate+War

Following the farthest Chinese advance of January, 1951 no offensive was ever significant enough to claim victory for either side. In time the exhausted and poorly supplied Chinese troops met a well-equipped and determined enemy once United Nations forces finally had the opportunity to regroup. Without General MacArthur, the American policy shifted to contain communist forces from South Korea rather than advance far beyond the 38th Parallel deep into North Korean territory. Thus, for roughly two years the Communist Chinese and North Koreans fought Republic of Korea and United Nations troops along the 38th parallel in a deadly standoff reminiscent of the First World War.
 * Battlefield Standoff**

By mid 1951 many American citizens were growing tired of the poor indications of victory in the conflict, and turned to the 1952 election as a way to ensure that the war would not end in defeat. General Eisenhower seemed to be the individual Americans felt could end the war on a positive note for the United States. After all, many Americans admired Eisenhower as they had MacArthur, as he held the image of a heroic General dedicated to victory. "Making good on his campaign pledge, Eisenhower went to Korea after the election, spending three days at the front. At the end of March, the Chinese indicated they might be willing to deal on the issue of reparation" (Maier 815). Following Eisenhower's landslide victory, the Chinese were willing to negotiate terms for peace, and on July 27, 1953 a cease-fire was declared between North and South Korea with the 38th Parallel acting as the official line of demarcation. The war that cost 33,000 American lives and 103,000 wounded was finally at an armistice, despite the fact that a state of war officially continues to exist between the North and South. (Maier 815).
 * An End to the Conflict**