korea

• in 1945, korea was freed from the japanese. the country was split in half at the 38th parallel

  • north vietnam - communist - led by kim il sung
  • south vietnam - capitalist (pro USA) - led by syngman rhee

  china became communist in 1949. the USA feared that communist might spread in Asia
• causes of the korean war. 1950-53 - domino theory

  1. Truman believed that, if one country fell to Communism, then others would follow, like a line of dominoes.  Especially worried about Japan becoming communist.
• causes of the korean war 1950-53 - undermine communism

  1. Some Americans wanted to abandon 'containment' and start 'rolling back' Communism.
• causes of the korean war 1950-53 - cold war

  1. By supporting South Korea, America was able to fight Communism without directly attacking Russia.
• causes of the korean war 1950-53 - kim il sung

  1. (the Communist leader of North Korea) visited Stalin and Mao (leader of China). Both the USSR and China offered their support to him.
• causes of the korean war 1950-53 - syngman rhee

  1. (the Capitalist leader of South Korea) boasted that he was going to attack North Korea.  In revenge, the North Koreans invaded South Korea.
• America’s reaction: after the North invaded the South (June 1950) Truman (USA president):

  • Sent advisers, supplies and warships to Korea.
  • Put pressure on the UN (United Nations) to get North Korea to withdraw from (leave) South Korea.
•  Involvement of the UN (United Nations)

  • The UN agreed because China and the USSR were not at the UN at the time (the USSR was boycotting the UN for refusing to allow Mao’s China to join). This meant that the UN could get involved without the USSR vetoing the decision.
  • However – the UN troops sent to Korea were mostly American. The Americans were in control of the war effort – not the UN.
• Course of the war:

  • The USA did push the North Koreans out of South Korea… but then they continued.
  • USA army leader: General MacArthur
  • The USA/UN troops pushed all the way into North Korea – right up to the Chinese border.
  • China – with USSR support – fought back. They fought the Americans back to the original North/South border (the 38th parallel).
  • General MacArthur and President Truman disagreed; MacArthur wanted to fight back and even invade China. Truman was happy to keep the Communists out of South Korea only.
  • armistice (end of fighting) was signed, july 1953
• was korea a success for containment? yes

  • It showed the USA wanted to and could contain Communism
  • South Korea remained non-Communist
  • The USA provided most of the weapons, troops etc. to fight off the North Koreans
• was korea a success for containment? no

  • Korea remained divided
  • The Communists still ruled the North (and still do!)
  • 4 million Koreans died in the war
  • Many Americans were not satisfied: they wanted communism “rolled back”, not contained