korean war

• korea was controlled by who in 1910 till freed in 1945 by who?

  japan by soviet soldiers (north) and Americans (south)
• what did the americans hope that the free election cause in 1945, but what actually happened?

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  communists in north would be as voted because 2/3 of population lived in south but Soviets changed elections so they never happened in the north
• who was the leader of south korea in 1948 when the two separate states were officiated?

  syngmam rhee
• where is korea divided?

  along the 38th parallel
• what are the beliefs of the north and south

  • north = communist
  • south = anti communist
• who supported north korea and south korea?

  • north = ussr
  • south = usa
• what did both leaders claim in late 1940s?

  to be the ruler of korea
• what year did china turn communist and who was the leader?

  • 1949
  • mao tse tung
• how much did usa give of aid to fight communists in china 1946 - 1949?

  2 billion dollars
• what did the past leader of china do after it turned communist?

  • chiang kai shek forced to retreat
• what was one of the problems with the location of south korea?

  surrounded by communist countries
• what was the truman doctrine in 1947?

  help any country threatened with communist takeover
• what was usas response to communist china?

  refused to accept, voted against them joining the un security council
• who was the leader of the north in 1945?

  kim il sung
• what was kim il sung and syngman rhees beliefs?

  • kim il sung = communist, nationalist, wanted to unite korea
  • syngman rhee = nationalist, capitalist
• what were kim il sungs and syngman rhees background?

  • kim il sung = lived in ussr between 1941 to 1945 and was a major in the soviet army
  • syngman rhee = trained lawyer in usa
• what were kim il sungs and syngman rhees actions?

  • kim il sung = 1945 - returned to form the north
  • syngman rhee = had a reputation as a harsh leader
• what happened in june 1950?

  • north korea attacked the south and captured the capital as well as most of the south.
  • stalin supplied north with tanks / planes but not troops as he saw it as a chance to spread communism
  • communists claimed they were protecting themselves because troops from the south had crossed to 38th parallel
• why didnt stalin support north korea until 1950?

  as us troops were still in the south
• why did stalin finally support north korea in spring 1950?

  • us troops left south
  • china now communist
  • had similar amount of nuclear weapons to usa
  • ussr had cracked secret codes from usa and was convinced that usa would not interfere in korea
• what was a problem for usa with ussrs help to the north?

  • ussr tested atomic bomb in 1949
  • communist china
  • americans thought ussr was winning the cold war
• what did truman do when north invaded south?

  • sent adviser, supplies, warships to south
  • urged un security council to tell north to withdraw troops in south which they did, however north korea ignored it
• who sent help to the south and what mistake did ussr make?

  • all members of un
  • ussr refused to attend the un in protest against not allowing communist china to join, which meant they couldnt use their veto
• what was the army the un sent in 1950?

  made up of troops from 16 nations led by american general douglas macarthur
• what was the impact for korea?

  • still divided along the 38th parallel
  • 4 million soldiers / civilians died
  • 5 million ended up homeless
  • agriculture was ruined
  • industries were destroyed
• what was the impact for un?

  • gained respect as proved it would act against aggression, which the league of nations failed to do
  • seen as a capitalist tool by communists as its forces had fought against communism under us leadership
  • only able to act because of ussrs absence from the security council
  • only 50000 - 60000 casualties who were mainly americans
• what was the impact for usa?

  • success of policy of containment
  • defence spending increased from $12 billion to $16 billion
  • failed to liberate north
  • around 50 000 casualties
  • extended cold war beyond europe
  • 1954 - SEATO formed
  • relations with china strained - only officially recognised existence of chinese nationalist government on taiwan and gave protection to chiang kai shek
• what was the impact for china?

  • secured north as a buffer state
  • suffered around 900 000 casualties
  • failed to south make communist
  • strained relations with usa
  • suffered loss of potential trade with usa
  • more friendly with ussr as had received financial / military help
  • gained respect from communists
• what was the impact for ussr?

  • friendly with communist china
  • conflict between usa and china worked to their advantage
  • forced into expensive arms race with usa
  • stayed out of direct involvement
  • concerned about SEATO