The Korean War

What were the actions taken by US troops, Korean troops, and Chinese troops?

-After North Korea's invasion of South Korea, the US sent troops into the South to push back the North. The United Nations eventually joined the battle after North Korea ignored their request to remove their troops from the South. -Led by MacArthur, the US and UN came to the shore of the port of Inch'on, which they captured. -On September 25, they entered South Korea's capital, Seoul. After this, they pushed North Korea behind the 38th parallel. -In October, the UN approved the invasion of North Korea. MacArthur led his troops all the way to China's border. -The Chinese responded to this by attacking with a force of hundreds of thousands of troops which pushed the UN back into South Korea. -By January 1951, the Communists (China and North Korea) had captured Seoul, which changed from being held by the Communists to being held by the UN several times throughout the war. -By spring of 1951, the UN pushed the Communists back across the 38th parallel. -From here, there was a stalemate where neither side could gain control of the other. This lasted for two years. -In July 1951, talks to end the war began. -In July 1953, a cease-fire agreement was reached. This agreement set up a demilitarized zone where no military forces are allowed between North and South Korea.

What are the two different viewpoints of whether the Korean war was justified?

1. Not justified; too many people died because of it and neither side was able to claim victory. 2. Justified; It was a fight that showed what the US would do to stop the spread of communism. Because of the Korean war, North Korea's nuclear power is not as big of a threat as it would have been if we had not intervened. We were able to create a free South Korea that has provided us with lots of technology rather than a Communist Korea with dictatorship and oppression.

Who was General Douglas MacArthur?

He led the UN forces in the Korean War. He was also previously a general during World War II. MacArthur wanted to drop an atomic bomb to end the war, but Truman wanted to negotiate peace terms. MacArthur wrote a letter to Congress criticizing Truman that said he was being prevented from doing his job, but Truman removed MacArthur in April 1951, saying it was the president's duty to control the military according to the Constitution and MacArthur violated that. People didn't like what Truman did because MacArthur was popular.

What was Truman's Cold War policy?

He wanted to resist the spread of communism (containment), and he made things like the Truman Doctrine, which was a promise that the US would help any free nation resisting Communist aggression.

Significance of General Douglas MacArthur?

He was able to lead the UN and US in the Korean War. He landed the troops at the port of Inch'on and made sure they made past the 38th parallel, even though the war ended in a stalemate.

Significance of the results of the Korean War?

It established the demilitarized zone at the 38th parallel that exists today. It also established the cease-fire agreement that continues today.

Significance of the time frame of the Korean war?

It lasted three years, and it caused many deaths. It was a war of holding back communism.

Significance of North and South Korea's communist and non-communist divide?

It was a result of WWII because the Soviet Union got North Korea and the US got South Korea. It resulted in the communist and non-communist divide, which was the reason North Korea invaded South Korea and started the Korean War.

Significance of Truman's Cold War policy?

It was the reason he intervened in the invasion of North Korea into the South. He supported the policy of containment and had to stop communism from getting to South Korea.

Significance of why the Korean War began?

It was the start of the Korean War. It was an example of the spread of Communism and how the US was willing to start a war to contain communism.

When was the Korean War?

June 25, 1950 - July 1953

How did the Korean War conclude, and what were the results of it?

Negotiators reached a cease-fire agreement in July 1953. A demilitarized zone (region where no military forces are allowed) was established along the border near the 38th parallel between North and South Korea. Neither side could say that they won. More than 36,000 Americans died, and 103,000 were wounded. Almost 2 million Koreans and Chinese died. However, the US was able to show the Soviet Union what they were willing to do to stop the spread of communism. The US's foreign policy was met with some uncertainty, though, because neither side won.

Which part of Korea was communist?

North Korea

Why did the Korean war begin?

On June 25, 1950, North Korea invaded South Korea, hoping to unite Korea under a communist government. By September, North Korea had control of almost all of Korea except for the area around the port city of Pusan. Truman, thinking that the Soviet Union supported this attack, sent troops into South Korea.

Significance of the two viewpoints of the Korean War?

People still debate whether the Korean War was justified.

Which part of Korea was democratic/capitalist?

South Korea

Significance of the UN's involvement in the Korean War.

The United Nations was willing to fight a war for unity. The UN was willing to fight so that they could unify Korea under a non-communist government.

Significance of the actions taken by US, Chinese, and Korean troops?

They were everything that happened during the war. The US was able to push North Korea back and protect South Korea, but the Chinese pushed back until the war ended in a stalemate.

How did the United Nations get involved in the Korean War?

Truman asked the United Nations to help him protect South Korea from the North. The United Nations asked North Korea to remove its troops from the South, but this request was ignored, so the UN sent troops to fight.