Korean War

• Domino Theory


  The belief that if one country falls to communism, neighboring countries will also fall, like a row of dominoes
• Policy of Containment


  The US policy of trying to prevent the spread of communism
• The US believed Stalin encouraged the North Korean invasion
• The US feared if one country fell to communism, another would follow
• The US and UN policy changed from containment to rollback
• Fall of China


  China became a communist country, which helped spread communism in Asia
• Strategic Importance of Korea

  • Neighbours with China, Japan and Russia
  • USSR wanted a communist Korean government while the USA established a regime to introduce capitalist democracy
• North Korea invades South Korea

  25/06/1950
• Kim Il Sung garnered the support of Mao and Stalin</b>
• Within days Seoul was captured
• Anti-Communist Sentiment in the USA

  Sen. Joseph McCarthy alleged the USSR had a conspiracy to get communists sympathised in high positions in American life, leading to a 'witch hunt' and the 'Un-American Activities Committee' being given power to question and blacklist anyone
• North Korea invades South Korea

  25th June 1950
• Inchon Landing by UN forces


  September 1950
• US + SK forces crossed 38th parallel and pushed into NK exceeding US orders to unite the country


  9th October 1950
• 250,000 Chinese volunteers (so no declaration of war) invaded. NK pushed the UN back.


  November 1950
• Truman sacked General McArthur due to him criticising policies


  April 1951
• Middle of 1951 Both sides dug in, war went aerial
• Peace talks begin


  June 1951
• Eisenhower and Khrushchev in power


  1953
• Ceasefire agreed in Panmunjom, assisted by the US nuclear threat against China. PT never signed. Permanent border slightly North of 38th Parallel, DMZ between 2 states.


  July 1953
• Consequences of Korean War

  • US signed agreements with the Philippines, Australia, and New Zealand
  • NATO became military alliance not political association
  • US-Chinese deteriorated relations-US continued to recognise nationalists as rightful government
  • Containment worked but rollback didn't
  • N and S relationship remained tense and bitter
  • 2 million deaths- border not much different
  • US treaty with Japan and heavy economic investment