Korean War

Answer the following questions about the political cartoon on the next slide! 1.What do you see? 2.What can you infer (keep in mind the man in the picture, the coloring of different states, symbols that are here, etc.) 3.How does this image make you feel? Why?

After the war, not only Germany, but all of Europe itself became divided into West and East. The Allies were among 50 countries that formed the United Nations in This new world body pledged to protect its members against aggression. At the war’s end Soviet troops were stationed in many Eastern European nations (they had boots on the ground). The Soviet Union refused to permit free elections in these nations. In 1948, the UN approved the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This statement lists specific rights that all people should have.

1. What was the goal of the United Nations

2. Why was the Soviet Union able to control most of the Eastern European nations after WWII?

3. What was the purpose of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights?

Soviet authorities took over most of Eastern Europe, isolating it from the West. This isolation was so strong that it was called an “iron curtain”. Eastern Europe became a part of the Soviet Union. Harry Truman’s program of containment was designed to block further Soviet expansion. The United States adopted the Marshall Plan in The plan donated food and materials such as machines to European countries, helping them rebuild from war. In 1948, the Soviets and the Americans clashed over Germany. France, Britain, and the United States agreed to pull their troops out of Germany and let the three zones that they occupied unite. The Soviets refused to leave their zone.

4. What was the United States official plan to block further expansion of the Soviet Union?

5. What is the difference between containment and the Marshall Plan?

The same year, Soviets cut off all highway and train traffic into Berlin, which was deep within the Soviet zone. The United States and British responded with the Berlin Airlift. The flew food and supplies into the city for nearly 11 months. Finally, the Soviets lifted the blockade. In 1949, the United States, Canada, and several countries in Western Europe formed the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). In this military alliance, each nation promised to defend any other members that was attacked. In 1955, the Soviets and the countries of Eastern Europe made a similar agreement. It was called the Warsaw Pact. Today, NATO has been expanded to include other countries.

In 1961, the Soviet Union decided again to close the border between East Germany and West Germany. The Soviets built a wall the Berlin Wall to prevent East Germans from entering West Germany. The wall remained a barrier until 1989.

6. What happened when the Soviets cut off all aid to Berlin? How did the U.S. and British respond?

7. Eventually what do the Soviets construct between West and East Berlin?

The U.S. Army occupied Japan under the command of General MacArthur. He disbanded the Japanese army and took steps to give farmers and workers more power in the economy. He led the effort to write a new constitution for Japan, which changed how the Japanese viewed the world. The emperor was forced to declare that he was not a god. The new constitution gave all power to the Japanese people, who voted for members of a parliament that would rule the land. All Japanese over age 20— including women—were given the right to vote. In 1951, other nations finally signed a formal peace treaty with Japan. A few months later, U.S. military occupation ended. Following U.S. occupation, Japan soon became the dominant economy in Asia. Japan’s astonishing economic recovery also began in the 1950s.

8. What was the emperor of Japan forced to declare?

9. When did the U.S. military occupation end?

10. What happened to Japan that was surprising in the 1950s?

After World War II, Korea was divided into a Soviet- backed north and an American-supported south. On June 25, 1950, North Korea invaded South Korea. President Truman fought this move with United Nations help. The United States and other countries sent troops to assist South Korea. President Truman fought this move with United Nations help. The United States and other countries sent troops to assist South Korea. At first, the North Korean army captured almost all of South Korea. Then the UN army began a bold counterattack. In just two months, it had pushed the North Koreans far back, nearly to China.

The Chinese entered the war and drove back the UN forces. Bitter fighting continued until That year, the two Koreas agreed to a ceasefire. The earlier boundary splitting North Korea and South Korea at the 38 th parallel remained the same. North Korea developed as a Communist country following the war. It had a strong army and tight government control, but it also had many economic problems. South Korea’s economy grew, in part because it received U.S. aid. However, for more than 30 years, dictators ruled the country. Free elections were held only after a new constitution was accepted in 1987.

11. Who was allied with North Korea? Who was allied with South Korea?

12. What causes the UN and the US to send troops and aid to South Korea?

13. The US pushed the North Koreans almost back to _________________.

14. Why do the Chinese enter the war?

15. Where do the boundaries between North and South Korea get drawn during the cease fire?

North Korean prisoners of war under guard before they are interrogated at the 21st Infantry Regiment’s command post, south of Chonui, July 10, Photo: U.S. Army. Source: National Archives Central Plains Region.

Wounded 1st Cavalry Division soldiers at an aid station outside Yongdong, July 25, Photo: U.S. Army. Source: D.M. Giangreco, War in Korea: (Presidio Press)