New Title: The Korean WarKeywords:• Seoul • Pyongyang• General Douglas MacArthur• United Nations (UN)• De-Militarised zone• Truce• The ‘Forgotten War’

How did the Korean War start?

• At the end of WWII, the Americans occupied South Korea and the Soviets occupied North Korea.

• They could not agree on what sort of government to elect for Korea, so, by 1948, two independent states had been set up, North Korea & South Korea, divided by the 38th parallel.

• South Korea was ruled by anti-communist Syngman Rhee and North Korea by the Communist dictator Kim Il Sung.

• China was also Communist since 1949 and bordered North Korea. This gave North Korea more confidence. Both leaders ignored their ‘independent states’ and claimed to rule the whole of Korea.

• The trigger cause of the Korean War is unknown, but Stalin had provided North Korea with tanks and planes, and Chinese Communists probably encouraged them too.

• The North Koreans claimed that the South Koreans has crossed the 38th Parallel, and were just defending themselves.

Truman Quote“Communism was acting in Korea, just as Hitler, Mussolini and the Japanese had ten, fifteen, and twenty years earlier. I felt certain that if South Korea was allowed to fall, Communist leaders would be emboldened to override nations closer to our own shores. If the Communists were permitted to force their way into the Republic of Korea without opposition from the free world, no small nation would have the courage to resist threat and aggression by stronger Communist neighbours”

The Korean War• In June 1950, troops from North Korea invaded

South Korea in attempt to spread communism• They tried to take control of the majority of the

country• After China turning communist in 1949, Truman

felt Korea needed resist the spread of communism• His fear was of a ‘domino effect’ of communism

spreading throughout Asia

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzPlkGN5LLg

United Nations Intervention• At the United Nations, the USA argued that a force

should be sent to defend South Korea• A motion is passed to send a UN force made up of

mostly USA troops (A number of other countries also sent troops)

• The US force was to be lead by WWII hero, General Douglas MacArthur

• USSR had been supplying the North Koreans with weapons for years and continued to supply weapons during the war

• However, the USSR did not get into direct conflict with the USA during the war

US Response• When UN troops arrive, they succeed in pushing

North Korean communists back to border with China

• China intervenes and helps North Korea push the UN further south again

• There are several back and forth movements in the war until a stalemate forms

Turning point in the war• General MacArthur was in favour of being more aggressive

towards China. He suggested the use of Nuclear weapons and possible invasion of China.

• Truman sacks MacArthur but this is unpopular with the US public

• Turning point in the war comes with Stalin's death in 1953. • This sees USSR playing less role in war. • A truce is signed establishing the border between North and

South at the 38th parallel• The new USSR leaders with China agreed to a ceasefire and a

truce was signed• A demilitarised zone (DMZ) was created between North and

South

Results of Korean War• Massive increase in Military spending by USA• A huge number of US casualties• Stalemate in the war causes growing dissatisfaction with Truman

as president. Eisenhower becomes the next president• War proves a success of ‘communist containment’• Proved USA was committed to stopping Communism wherever it

was to take place in the World• Lead to further ill feeling between USA & USSR• This added to the bitterness following the Berlin Blockade• This distrust was to get worse with the Cuban Missile Crisis