Korean War Guided Notes

The Korean War Guided Notes The Soviets Get the Bomb in 1949 blanace of Cold War power ● The USSR changed the ● Shattered U.S. security that depended on atomic ● U.S. lost its monopoly . advantage . The Fall of China to Communism ● Changed the balance of Cold War power. ● Paper ' stated that the U.S. couldn't do anything to prevent Chiang's The U.S.White ' downfall; it was the Generalissimo's poorleadership that was responsible. ● Later, as anti-communist tensions in the U.S. rose, there was a fear that this would be dommino effect the beginning of a ' ' in Asia; this led to the idea of containment in Asia. NSC-68 ● A U.S. government document that intensifies Cold War tensions ● Military/financial U.S. agrees to provide more assistance to countries under Communist threat ● May have been an impetus for a more aggressive U.S. foreign policy towards containing communism in Korea The Korean Peninsula Divided in 1945 ● After Japan's colonial rule (since 1910) ended in Korea, the USSR and the U.S. divided 28th parallel the Korean peninsula along the . This was called General Order #1. This was Independence supposed to be a temporary division of the country. Korea would be given its in "due course." The Result of Divided Korea in 1948 ● Communist North ● Capitalist South ● 1948 USSR declares DPRK an independent state ● USA responds and declares Republic of Korea an independent state ● Likelihood ofreunificationdecreases; U.S. withdraws troops anyway ● In the meantime, Kim attempts to convince Stalin to support a North Korean invasion of the south (no invasion yet) Syngman Rhee and Kim Il Sung ● Syngman Rhee)took over power in the South, while Kim Il Sung, Communist, took over power in the North. They were both nationalists and wanted to unite the Korean peninsula . 1945 Moscow Accords ● ● trusteeship In December 1945, the U.S. and the USSR decided upon the idea of a in Korea. Most Koreans, including Syngman Rhee, all opposed the trusteeship. The only group that favored it were communists, who were being influenced by the Soviets. United Nations Elections ● ● In 1948, the United Nations organized elections in Korea North Korea refuses to participate in the elections, so there are divided elections ● Korean nationalists also refused to participate in the elections because they didn't want the country divided ● The elections are held in the South , and Syngman Rhee wins Mao's Role in the Korean War ● Mao agrees to offer support to North Korea. Perhaps he wanted to appeal to the USSR because he wanted to gain Taiwan back. Stalin's Role in the Instigating the War ● Historians argue that Stalin gave the green light for the war to begin. They also say that Kim Il Sung applied constant pressure to Stalin. Stalin saw the Korean War as a step communist domination towards increasing . He was an opportunist and believed the US would not come to South Korea's defense. He was fearful of Japan as a bastion of anti-communism in Asia. Dean Acheson's National Press Club Speech--1950 ● ● Korea and Taiwan The speech indicated that both were excluded from the U.S. defense perimeter in Asia It also gave hope to the Soviets that the U.S. would not respond to a North Korean invasion of the South. War Breaks Out-June 1950 ● June 25th 1950 On , North Korea attacks the South ● South Korea was not ready militarily ● The South Korean forces get pushed back to the Pusan perimeter The United Nations Response ● international Truman went to the United Nations to gain support - he wanted it to be an response ● Test for the UN: Would they come to the defense of Korea? ● Soviets were protesting the fact that Mao was not admitted… gave U.S. the opportunity to pass the UN resolution without the USSR there United Nations Counteroffensive ● The UN forces, under MacArthur's leadership, launch a counteroffensive. This counteroffensive was a daringamphibiouslanding at Incheon. ● The North Korean troops retreated rapidly. Douglas MacArthur ● Commander of the UN forces. Well known for Incheon ● Later fired. ○ ○ ○ . MacArthur wanted to expand the war against China, which had entered the Korean fighting in late 1950. forbidding the nuclear bombing MacArthur complained that the president was tying his hands byof China of China, thereby sacrificing American lives and endangering American freedom. respecting Truman fires for “not the authority of the president” The March Towards the Yalu ● The US strategy changes from containment torollback. UN forces march to between North Korea and China) and this provokes Chinese forces. (border China Enters The War ● After China enters the war on the side of North Korea, the UN forces are pushed back below the 38th parallel . Stalemate ● Eventually, the sides reach a stalemateat the 38th parallel. The Prisoner of War Issue ● The prisoner issue was the main issue of the peace talks. The communists feared that would not go back communist prisoners to their home countries. Stalin Dies ● Stalin died in early 1953 . ● His death seemed to make it easier for the two sides to arrive at an armistice . 1953 Armistice ● Originally, the peace talks were held in Panmunjom. kaesong and were later moved to ● Neutral Nations Reparation POWs were exchanged as a result of the (UN.) ● Big Switch/Little Switch The transfer of POWs was carried out through the Operations. Impact of the Korean War on the Cold War ● Korea lost 2-3 millions of people; the country was devastated. ● Globalized the Cold War ● Created Asia as afocal point of the Cold War ● Encouraged a nuclear race between the US and USSR ● collective security Showed that the UN was serious about compared to the League of Nations ● Intensified the ideological differences between the US and USSR ● Led to an increase of military spending by the superpowers . ● Encouraged the US to allow Germany to join NATO in 1955 ● Leads to the creation of, Southeast Asia. ● Korea remains divided SEATO ,designed to prevent the spread of communism in . Who Won the War? ● U.S. ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ● USSR ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ● Stalin put his reputation on the line by supporting North Korea- North Korea's invasion ultimately failed influence Cemented its in North Korea Preserved its influence as a communist nation Cost of the war was an economic burden military build up Increased (which will be hard for the USSR economy) Japan ○ ○ ● Contained the expansion of communism Cost of the war massive . Failed in terms of rollback Affected public opinion in the U.S.--led to Joseph McCarthy andRed Scare. Elsenhower was elected partly because of a promise to end the war in Korea, to roll back communism, to liberate areas from communism U.S. committed to protect Taiwan . CLEAR WINNER ! Helped to rebuild the economy China ○ ○ Held the US to a draw Reinforced communist power in China ( legitimize communist rule) ○ ○ ○ ● Huge casualties , more than any other nation except Korea Huge economic cost; War hindered development of economy commitments Isolated China diplomatically and increased US in Asia Korea ○ ○ ○ ○ Remains divided Casualties/economy destroyed (To Korea this was aTotal War) Growth of military (South Korea); US promises to defend SK militarily in the future right wing dictatorship Communism Non-democratic governments in both North and South– in North, with Rhee in the South Impact on the Cold War? ● Militarization of the Cold War (led to the arms race) ● Truman Doctrine was put in action states ● Cold War had become a " hot war " fought by client " " ● There was direct fighting between the USSR and the US (secret Soviet Pilots) China, and Vietnam ● Led to major commitments in Asia from both sides in Korea, Taiwan, Japan, .