Korean War

Question 1

Korean history until 1950?

Answer 1

• Japan control 1905-1945
• split at the 38th parallel at the end of WW2 with Russian forces in north and American in South
• north: kim il Sung (communist)
• south: Syngman Rhee (capitalist)

Question 2

What was the result of Rhee’s unpopularity?

Answer 2

April 1950 elections

People in south voted for unification with north

Question 3

When and why did the north invade?

Answer 3

25 June 1950

The Russians told them to unite Korea by force

Question 4

What was the US reaction to the northern invasion?

Answer 4

• extremely worried as China had recently become a communist state and the USSR had nuclear weapons
• Truman ordered US forces (led by General MacArthur) to help South Korea

Question 5

How did the UN get involved?

Answer 5

Truman asked for UN support

It was granted because USSR were boycotting UN and couldn’t use it’s vito

Question 6

What was the situation with the south counterattack? (After the north invaded in 1950)

Answer 6

• September 1950 started (with only area around Pusan)
• 1 October pushed back to 38th parallel
• 7 October pushed further to Yalu River (no longer containing communism)

Question 7

What was the situation with the Chinese attack? (When the south reached the Yalu river)

Answer 7

• End of October 1950: Chinese attacked after giving the US a warning
• November: south forces retreated

Question 8

What was the situation with macarthurs attack against the Chinese?

Answer 8

-25 November: attack went wrong + forces destroyed
1 January- Chinese crossed 38th parallel
4 January- they took Seoul

Question 9

How did MacArthur fall?

Answer 9

• December 1950: he wanted atomic bombs and cut off supplies in war
• March 1951: made public statement against Truman
• April 1951: Truman angry

Question 10

How did end of hostilities develop?

Answer 10

• summer 1951: stalemate reached
• 1952: Eisenhower elected
• 27th July 1953: he ended war