The Korean War
Leading up to 1950 Marshall Plan 1947 Truman Doctrine 1947 Berlin Blockade/Airlift Soviets obtain Nuclear weapons in 1949 Chinese Revolution in communist Duck and Cover 1950 McCarthyism : late 1940s-late 1950s Policy of Containment Korea: first major battle fought on grounds of containment
Japanese Territory 1945
War under Japan Japan begins expanding oil embargo on Japan by Americans- led to Pearl Harbour “death before surrender” What else do we know? (“Island Hopping”, Kamikazee) The Pacific
Lead up in Korea Before end of WWII: controlled by Japan since 1910 August 1945: USSR invades in North Korea Shortly after: US enters South Korea to deter communism in south Japan surrenders to USSR in North, US in South Allies promise Korean independence
Lead up in Korea End of WWII: Korean Peninsula divided “temporarily” at 38 th Parallel th Parallel becomes more rigid North- Communist (supported by USSR) Kim Il Sung “Democratic Peoples Republic” South- Democratic (supported by US) Syngman Rhee “Republic of Korea” America supported Rhee and began withdrawing troops Each government hoped to unify Korea under it’s own rule
And War Breaks Out June 25, 1950 North Korea strikes strategic positions and progresses towards Seoul South Korea ill prepared to defend themselves UN Security Council votes (9-0) Invasion by North Korea: “breach of peace” USSR not in security council (left in protest for China) Membership of the Security Council Truman names MacArthur to led UN forces
MacArthur
America in Korea MacArthur dismissed by Truman in 1951 for disagreement in policy
15 Nations in total join to form UN forces America never formally declared war on Korea: “police action” Truman: "communism has passed beyond the use of subversion to conquer independent nations and will now use armed invasion and war." (Note: blames “communism,” not Soviets) Truman makes promises to protect in future French- Indo China (would later lead to Vietnam War)
Cease fire eventually brings war to close by American troops die in Korea!
Korean War Memorial
Korea today Still divided North Korea still communist under Kim Jung Il North Korea today Korea today