Korean War Flashcards
1
Q
Causes
A
- Domino Theroy: China turned Communist in 1949 and Truman feared that the next ‘domino’ would be Japan if Korea would fell under communism.
- Cold War issues: Truman realised the USA was in a competition for world domination with the USSR. By supporting South Korea, America was able to fight Communism without directly attacking Russia.
- Kim Il Sung: In 1949, he persuaded Stalin and Mao Tse Tung to support an invasion of South Korea. Stalin did not think that America would dare to get involved, so gave his agreement. Stalin saw a chance to continue the cold war and discomfort America, but ‘at arm’s length’ – without directly confronting the Americans (Proxy War)
- Syngman Rhee: In 1950, Syngman Rhee threatened to attack North Korea.This became the excuse that the North Koreans could invade South Korea.
2
Q
Event
A
- Kim Il Sung decides to invade South Korea and has support of Mao and Stalin
- June 25, 1950 Korean People’s Army crosses 38th Parallel
- Within 5 days Southern Military was roughly 1/4 the size of its original
- Southern Military is then squashed to southern bit of Korea
- UN approves US sending in troops to aid South Korea
- NSC 68 was published in April 1950, were the American National Security Council recommended that America should abandon ‘containment’ and start ‘rolling back’ Communism
- October 1950 UN troops cross 38th Parallel and then further to China
- China decides to back up Korean Peoples Army and pushes UN troops back to 38th Parallel
- Proxy/Hot War becomes a stalement in 1951
- Armistices held for two years until July 27, 1953
3
Q
Consequences
A
- Conflict between South and North Korea (No hope for Unification)
- Existence of Proxy War leaded to fears of Hot Wars with MAD
- Human Loss are hundreds of thousands (estimates vary)
- Tension rise
- Establishes US policies of defence in Asia( Rolling back containment worked)
- Harms US and Chinese relation
- Mao’s reputation went up (Take the lead of Communism )
