korean war Flashcards
(17 cards)
China becomes communist
since 1920s, Chinese communists led by Mao Zedong had been fighting against Chiang Kai Sheks nationalists the KMT supported by the USA
October 1949, Mao’s communists won control in China and established the Peoples republic of China
USA viewed this as a setback for democracy
USSR was happy as China was now communist
led to a treaty of friendship USSR supported China’s economic, technological and military developement
Why did USA get involved
concerned as China was a large country with a massive population and huge resources
US suspected this was part of of Stalin’s plan to spread communism throughout the world
China became communist just after USSR had detonated its first atomic bomb
Truman under pressure to stand up to Communism
Korea at end of WW2
1945,Korea freed from Japanese control by Soviet soldiers in the north and US soldiers in the south
Partitioned along the 38th Parallel until elections could be held
USSR wanted a communist Korea, USA wanted a capitalist democracy
key events
communist regime in south led by Kim ill sung, North Korea
South Korea- capitalist dictatorship established by Syngman Rhee
Kim il Sung( with support of Mao and Stalin) invaded South Korea on 25th June 1950. Northern forces quickly captured Seoul( southern capital)
Continuing US involvement
feared domino effect would result in spread of communism. It changed its policy of containment to rollback- communism should be attached and pushed back. Un asked to stop attack of south Korea. The UN condemned the attack and put together a military force to stop invasion
June 1950
North Korean Peoples Army advanced quickly and pushed the Southern forces to a small area around Pusan in South Korea
July 1950
USA sent troops to support South Korea
USA appealed to the UN for help and its security Council agreed to send troops. This request was only granted because the Soviet Union was boycotting the Security Council
September 1950
UN forces led by the American General Douglas MacArthur, landed in Inchon and pushed the North Koreans over the 38th parallel. By October 1950, they had almost rolled back the communists to the Yalu River on the border with China
October 1950
Not wanting a US backed state on its border, China invaded Korea and drove UN forces back below the 38th parallel. General MacArthur called for the use of atomic weapons to defend Korea but this was denied by President Truman and Macarthur was sacked
June 1951
More UN troops were deployed to Korea and communists were eventually driven back to the 38th parallel, war became a stalemate. war took to skies, American and Soviet pilots fought for another two years.
Soviet pilots were dressed in Chinese uniforms flying planes with Chinese markings , aerial battle was kept secret otherwise US populations would demand an all out war with USSR
November 1952
Republican General Dwight D Eisenhower
won the US presidential election, promising he would go to Korea to see how the war ended.
July 1953
An armistice was signed at Panmunjom on the 38th parallel, which left Korea divided as it had been in 1950 and still is today
Role of USSR
provided North Koreans and Chinese with advisors, weapons and doctors
USSR sent 63 fighter planes which had Chinese markings and were flown by soviet pilots dressed in Chinese uniforms
Role of China
MacArthur invasion worried China, which feared the USA would invade China
November 1950 more than 250,000 Chinese troops invaded North Korea in November 1950 and pushed UN forces back over the 38th parallel
USA MacArthur and Truman
When war between North Korea and South Korea turned into open conflict between USA and China.
MacArthur pleaded with Truman to allow atomic weaponry but Truman decided on containment rather than rollback refusing to consent to an increase in conflict
April 1951 sacked MacArthur after he criticised the Presidents policies.
Positive results of the War
Containment had worked- communism had not spread into South Korea
The USA signed a peace treaty ending military occupation and invested heavily in the Japanese economy
USA signed agreements with the Philippines, Australia and New Zealand which confirmed its position as protector of the region
NATO was changed from a mainly political association into a full blown military alliance
Negative results of the war
more than 2 million people had died, resulting in a border little different to where it was during the war
rollback failed
relationships remained tense and bitter between north and south
US-Chinese relations deteriorated further as USA recognised Chiang Kai Sheks nationalists as Chinas rightful government,
3 to 4 million Koreans died.
