Korean War: Cold War and the Americas Revision Notes

"police action"

"police action under united nations"

Results of Geneva Accords

(1) United States established SEATO (Southeast Asia Treaty Organization), in defiance of the Geneva Accords, stating Laos and Cambodia should remain neutral; (2) Australia, Britain, France, New Zealand, Pakistan, the Philippines, and Thailand signed it; (3) SEATO included South Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia as its 'protected areas'; (4) SEATO became the legal basis for future US action in Vietnam

What is the main difference between Truman and MacArthur?

Truman = containment MacArthur = rollback

What was Harry Truman's role in the Korean War? (2)

Truman Doctrine: focused on containing communism makes the decision to enter the Korean War, did not ask Congress to declare war

Fifth Phase of the Korean War March 1951 - 1953

Truman told MacArthur to stop. MacArthur was fired when he publicly criticized Truman's order. In 1953, Eisenhower became American president. The United States threatened to use the atomic bomb if China did not stop fighting. The Chinese agree to a truce, which was signed on 27 July 1953. Wikipedia puts the full battle death toll on all sides at just over 1.2 million, but many civilians also died in the war, with estimates varying from 2 to 4 million

Yalu River

Truman warned MacArthur not to threaten the Chinese border at the Yalu River MacArthur assured the President ...if the Chinese tried to get down to Pyongyang, there would be the greatest slaughter. Mao Zedong ordered the Chinese People's Volunteer Army to assemble at the Yalu the day the US crossed the 38th

SEATO (Southeast Asia Treaty Organization)

an anti-Communist containment bloc in the Asian area; an effort to stop communism from spreading Included USA, UK, France, Pakistan, Thailand, the Philippines, Australia, and New Zealand formed to oppose communism in SE Asia

Grenville

argues that Acheson's omission of South Korea in his speech encouraged Kim Il Sung also argues that United States preferred defeat rather than atomic bomb

* Diplomatic and Political Outcomes of the Korean War * (7)

1) For the Korean people it was a total war. Casualties were in the millions and the country was devastated and occupied. 2A) North Korea became a communist country under Kim Il Sung and allied with the Chinese and the Soviets to remain a repressive regime. (continues to be one today) 2B) South Korea became the Republic of Korea and an American ally and it began a process of democratic reform and economic development. 3) The Cold War remained in place and an armed truce was the best term to describe the situation on the Korean peninsula between the Communist Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the Republic of Korea. 4) For the region, Chinese success in the war raised their international prestige among non-aligned countries and indicated to the world that China was a significant power. However, the People's Republic of China was unrecognized by the US and its allies for the next 20 years. 6) The United States policy became the containment of China and Communism and hence United States involvement in Vietnam and elsewhere in Southeast Asia. The US policy towards Japan changed and it became a base for the US war effort in Korea. Industry was revived and the "reverse course" restored conservatives to power. The US Occupation ended in 1952, but the Security Agreement tied Japan to the United States. Truman's Decision to Run for Re-election 7) Victory for United States, Contained Communism? Loss for the United States, Unable to roll-back communism? • Technically the war is not over, only a prolonged cease-fire President-elect Eisenhower visits to fulfill a campaign promise go to Korea to find out what could be done to end the conflict developed strategy of "island-hopping".

Statistics of Korean War

54,000 americans died, 100,000 americans wounded, cost between 20-22 billion dollars, increased the fear of communist aggression in USA

James Patterson

American foreign policy in Asia 'significantly expanding and militarizing'

White Paper

British report that stated that the United States could not have altered the outcome of the Chinese Civil War; suggested that Chiang Kaishek and his forces were too unpopular with the Chinese people; saw Mao as somewhat independent from Moscow

Gen Omar Bradley

Chairman of Joints Chief of Staff spoke out against appeasement declared that Korea was as good a place as any "for drawing the line" against Communist expansion

Third Phase of the Korean War November 1950 to February 1951

China was alarmed. On 25 November, 200,000 Chinese troops ('People's Volunteers') attacked MacArthur. They had modern weapons supplied by Soviet Union. Then, on 31 December, half a million more Chinese troops entered the war and attacked the Americans. They drove the United States back (using 'human wave tactics'). They recaptured North Korea, and advanced into South Korea.

Joseph Stalin and Soviet Union

Dictator of the Soviet Union; led the Soviet Union through World War II and created a powerful Soviet sphere of influence in Eastern Europe after the war; backed Kim II Sung in Korean War Wanted to avoid a conflict with United States during a nuclear age, Did not want to test the United States MAD (Mutually Assured Destruction) However, sent Soviet equipment and military advisers but no troops, when United States does become involved he withdraws his military advisers from North Korea

Syngman Rhee and Republic of Korea

First elected President of the Republic of Korea (South Korea) after World War II and leader during Korean War United States encouraged unsupervised elections, an undemocratic and anti-Communist administration legitimized by the UN General Assembly Anticommunist, he wanted both United States and Soviet Union influence/troops out of Korea. Wanted a united Korea. Very nationalistic and "Korean", US was not completely happy with him yet US supports him because of anti-communist beliefs. Wanted strong methods to be used against Mao Zedong (China).

Douglas MacArthur

He was one of the most-known American military leaders of World War II He liberated the Philippines and made the Japanese surrender at Tokyo in 1945 United Nations Commander wrote constitution for Japan United States general who was in charge of United Nations forces in Korea He drove back North Korean invaders during the Korean War He warned without United States troops the Communists would take over all of Korea forced to relinquish command by President Truman because of a disagreement based on containing versus rolling-back communism

Demilitarized Zone DMZ

It is established by the provisions of the Korean Armistice Agreement to serve as a buffer zone between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) and the Republic of Korea (South Korea). The it is a border barrier that divides the Korean Peninsula roughly in half. It was created by agreement between North Korea, China and the United Nations in 1953. It is 250 kilometres (160 miles) long, and about 4 kilometres (2.5 miles) wide. (Wikipedia)

Stalemate

July 1951-1953 no significant changes in territory. • Trench warfare near the 38th • US engages in bombing campaign of North Korea Peace negotiations in Panmunjom continue for two years, staled over the issue of repatriating POWs • DPRK and China want their soldiers repatriated (even if they want to remain in South) Issue is eventually dropped to win a cease fire October 1951, Operation Hudson Harbor. Practice bombing runs with "dummy atomic bombs." Decide against nukes because "timely identification of large masses of enemy troops was extremely rare."

United Nations Security Council Vote

June 25, 1950 Soviet Union was not there to veto because they were protesting the absence of China on the Security Council First instance United Nations is involved in war Vote called for: North Korea to halt invasion and to pull back to 38th parallel Called on members to assist South Korea, 15 other nations send troops

Kim Il Sung and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea

Kim Il-sung was the supreme leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, commonly referred to as North Korea, for 46 years, from its establishment in 1948 until his death in 1994. Democratic People's of Republic established wanted country under single rule Communist leader Communist leader of North Korea his attack on South Korea in 1950 started the Korean War autocratic communist leader (Of the north). he was not a puppet of communist China or USSR. He was young, handsome, and quite popular in North Korea. Stalin gives him permission to invade South Korea North half of Korea dominated by USSR after World War II Communist under Kim II Sung; attacked South Korea to begin Korean War; recognized by the Communist bloc USSR controlled Armed to hilt Democratic People's of Korea established under leadership of Communist leader Kim Il Sung 1950 North Attacks South

New War Aim and Reasons for changing aims

New War Aim: Destruction of North Korean armed forces Reunification of Korean peninsula 1.Military momentum and surge of optimism 2. MacArthur recommended the change and his advice was taken very seriously 3. Korea came to represent US determination to stand up to Communism US credibility and prestige would be best served by the defeat of North Korea 4. Truman's political calculations 'loss of China' McCarthy scare Upcoming congressional eletions

First Phase of Korean War June 25th to September 1950

North Korea invades South Korea, and they were very successful. North Korea launches full scale invasion and quickly reaches capital of South Korea, Seoul The North Korean People's Army (NKPA) easily defeated the Republic of Korea's army (the ROKs) They captured most of South Korea. This was unexpected by the United States. On 27 June Republic of Korea persuaded the United Nations to pass a resolution supporting South Korea. The United States sent troops to Korea to reinforce the South Korean Army at Pusan. Rhee worried that South Korean's would join communism therefore ordered execution of more than 100,000 people, known as summer of terror

Armistice

November 29, 1952: President-elect Eisenhower visits to fulfill a campaign promise go to Korea to find out what could be done to end the conflict July 27, 1953 - cease-fire: • Front line was back around the proximity of the 38th parallel • Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) was established around 38th parallel, presently defended by North Korean troops on one side and by South Korean, American and United Nations troops on the other. • North Korea and the United States signed the Armistice Agreement, with Syngman Rhee refusing to sign. • Technically the war is not over, only a prolonged cease-fire

Second Phase of the Korean War September to November 1950

On 15 September, the United States General MacArthur led a United Nations amphibious landing at Inchon (near Seoul) behind the North Korean People's Army, NKPA. Out of the 300,000 UN troops, 260,000 were Americans. In danger of being cut off, the NKPA had to retreat. The US drove them back and recaptured South Korea. 125,000 NKPA prisoners were taken. On 7 October 1950 MacArthur invaded North Korea. He advanced as far as the Chinese border, near the Yalu River He boasted that the Americans would be 'home by Christmas'.

Dockrill and Hopkins

Orthodox fight against communism USA motivated by anti comm and containment

Original War Aim of the United Nations and United States

Remove North Koreans from South Korea

Bruce Cummings

Revisionist Conflict initially a Korean Civil War • USA bore a great deal of responsibility for that Civil War -> Korean War • US stopped a left-wing revolution in South Korea in 1945 and imposed a reactionary regime there that Kim Il Sung expected to overthrow with relative ease

Robert Wood

Revisionist Us policy motivated by imperialism dominating other countries through trade rather than territorial conquest

Historical Context of the Korea War (9)

Russo-Japanese War: After this conflict in 1905, Japan occupied and ruled Korea for the next 40 years 1943 Cairo Conference: United States, China, and Great Britain promised to make Korea a free and sovereign nation May 1945: Korea was divided in to along the 38th parallel August 12, 1945: Soviet Troops enter North of Korea September 8, 1945: American troops arrive in South Korea September 1947: American forces begin to leave Korea and Pro-American leader comes into power in South Korea (Syngman Rhee) 1948: Korea split August 1948: Rhee announced South Korea as an independent state and claimed supreme power over all of Korea. September 1948: Kim Il Sung announced North Korea as in independent state and claimed supreme power over all of Korea, Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea December 1948: when the Soviets leave, which places pressure on the US to withdraw as well. June 1949: US troops withdrawn from South Korea October 1, 1949: China becomes communist

Fourth Phase of the Korean War February to March 1951

The United States increased troops. They used bombers. The Chinese admitted to losing 150,000 men dead - western sources put the figure at nearly a million Chinese and half a million North Koreans dead. The US drove the Chinese back, but admitted losing 35,000 American soldiers dead doing so (the Chinese claimed they lost 390,000). MacArthur reached the 38th parallel in March 1951.

Dean Acheson

United States Secretary of State in the administration of President Harry S. Truman from 1949 to 1953, he played a central role in defining United States foreign policy during the Cold War. It was his idea for Truman to urge China to take a course independent of the USSR. His speech (Jan. 1950) stated that the United States would defend her interests in Asia BUT DID NOT MENTION South Korea or Taiwan. While the idea to urge China to act independently was smart, tensions were not reduced because of US support and recognition of Taiwan and China was not apart of the United Natioins. Forced to make a speech appeasing the McCarthyites reversed the findings of the 1949 White Paper on China White Paper claimed that China under Mao was completely obedient to the Moscow regime

What type of war is Korea?

a war fought with limited commitment of resources to achieve a limited objective, such as containing communism Conventional warfare and weapons Civil war between North and South Proxy war

"Loss of China"

belief Truman could have prevented the Comm victory in China with aid to Chiang-Kai shek

Joseph McCarthy and McCarthyism

early to mid-1950s Wisconsin senator who said, without proof, that the Soviet Union had a conspiracy to place Communist sympathizers into key positions in American life; Claimed to have list of communists in American government, no credible evidence Also accused any dissenters of being communists Took advantage of fears of communism after World War II to become incredibly influential was the fearful accusation of any dissenters of being communists it called for an increase in the United States conventional and nuclear forces to carry out the policy of containment Influenced Truman and put pressure on him to be tough on Communism, especially because party faced congressional elections in November 1950 Also tied to Loss of China to Communism

John Lewis Gladdis

emphasis on one factor American intervention was a response to Communist 'challenge to the entire structure of post-war collective security' Truman 'repeatedly' told his advisors 'we can't let the UN down'

Melvyn Leffler

emphasis on one factorUnited States believed to intervene Korea 2 reasons: 1. Japan's economic revival required access to markets and raw materials in other countries such as Korea and Malaya 2.to demonstrate to Japan that the USA was a credible power and ally

Dwight Eisenhower

enforced policies of "massive retaliation" and "Brinkmansh" (dangerous foreign policy) to defend Taiwan against China United States President explained that US involvement was necessary due to the "falling domino" principle; made the decision not to directly intervene, which allowed the French to be defeated More Argument Development needed, links to Korean War...

Chiang Kai-Shek and Taiwan

general and leader of Nationalist China supported by US with military and economic aid to contain communism major goal was to crush the communist movement led by Mao Zedong, but lost the Chinese Civil War Despite loss, recognized by US as the only official Chinese state until 1971; Korean War changed United States foreign policy toward Taiwan maintained independence with US support

Alan Todd

invasion was clearly approved by Stalin and Mao knew of Kim il Sung's plans, however, Sung instigated this because he was not a puppet, he had repeatedly proposed an invasion to Stalin in late 1940s, Stalin gave consent but clearly warned that if US became involved then he would not assist North Korea directly

Mao Zedong and China

leader of the Communist Party in China that overthrew or defeated the Nationalists and won the Chinese Civil war established China as the People's Republic of China Ordered the Chinese volunteer army, 500,000 troops, to assemble at the Yalu River and to take Seoul condemned by the United Nations as an aggressor and not recognized by the United States, and did not receive a seat in the United Nations Security Council; isolated by the United States sends troops that push back US and UN troops and retake Seoul, wanted North Korea as their buffer zone

Result of United Nations involvement

no elections in North Korea and rigged elections in South Korea Elections in the south are accepted even though they are rigged. Dr. Rhee becomes first president of the Republic of Korea and is recognized by the west. The Democratic Peoples Republic in the north under Kim Il Sung was recognized by the USSR, China, and the communist states.

Japan

occupied by United States after defeated in World War II United States did not want it to be split like Germany US objective was to create a weak and pacifist country... Created Democratic Government, Douglas MacArthur: wrote constitution, not militaristic, no more weapons or military HOWEVER, policy changed as the US decided that this country was vital for its strategic policy of containment in Asia (anti-communist ally in Asia)

Domino Theory

once one country falls to communism its neighboring countries will follow and eventually reach America Japan's safety would be compromised Defense department told Truman Japan too vital for West to fight Communism US security threatened to world of more and more countries becoming communist theory that if one country turned communist the rest would; initialized the policy of containment; began with Korean War and Vietnam War Eisenhower was warned that if Vietnam fell to communism, so would the surrounding countries.

United Nations Security Council

passed resolutions opposing North Korean agression 82: condemned attack (USSR boycotted due to China not being recognized) 82: Recommended member states defend Republic of Korea 84: placed 12 United Nations states under United States command in Korea

38th parallel line

separates USSR and US influence eventually North and South Korea Partition was to be made temporary

* Reasons for United States Entry into the Korean War (9)

the concerns about the expansion of Communism, containment with the North Korean invasion coming shortly after the success of the Communists in China and the Soviet development of a nuclear bomb. The US feared a successful invasion could lead to a communist Asia. The administration's belief that this was a continuation of expansion and that not to confront the move would encourage further attempts at expansion Truman's concern with re-election. Truman "soft on communism" Preservation of the United Nations, avoiding same fate as the League of Nations United Nations Domino Theory

Panmunjom

the site where the military armistice was signed during the Korean War; ended the hostilities of the Korean conflict

Treaty of San Francisco

treaty with Japan that enabled the United States to maintain military bases in Japan; US focused on building Japan's economy to make it defensive against Communism

Chinese Civil War

war between communist Mao Zedong and nationalist Chaing-Kai Shek in which the communists took over and forced the nationalists to retreat to Taiwan