1. Origins and US Involvement
Korean War
Origins and US Involvement

2. Take 2-3 minutes to write down your thoughts
Question?
Why might textbooks from different countries offer different versions of the same historical events? When textbooks offer conflicting accounts, how do you decide which textbook to believe?
Take 2-3 minutes to write down your thoughts

3. Today
Today we are going to look at two different textbook accounts of the start of the Korean War and try to figure out where they come from, and which one offers the most trustworthy account. Before we do this, we need some background information.

4. Origins of the Conflict
Prior to WWII Korea was an independent nation
1910: Japan forcibly annexes Korea
At the end of WWII, USSR was fighting the Japanese in the northern part of Korea
Country is divided at the 38th parallel
The US will send troops to the southern portion
Does this set up a conflict in the post war era?

5. Korea North Korea South Korea Leader = Kim Il Sung Led by Syngman Rhee
Sets up a communist govt
Backed by the USSR
Called the People’s Republic of Korea
South Korea
Led by Syngman Rhee
He lived in the US for nearly 50 years
Corrupt ruler (dictator)
Anti-Communist
Republic of Korea
Backed by US

6. American involvement
US sends in military experts that said the US should NOT try to defend Korea b/c it would cost TOO much
1948: US withdraws troops
In 1950, after a number of small skirmishes at the border, war broke out between North and South Korea
June , North Korean troops invade South Korea
US wasn’t sure if it was an independent act or if it was with the assistance of the USSR or China

7. Response to invasion
The invasion of the South was a test for the UN and their responsibilities
United Nations established on October 24, 1945 (by 1950 there are 60 member countries)
June 27th UN votes to repel invasion from North Korea
USSR could have vetoed the move, had they been present
So, Why Didn’t the USSR veto it?
Stalin was boycotting the UN b/c they wouldn’t admit communist China into the UN (doubtful this was the ONLY reason)
Stalin wanted to draw the UN into a war to drain it of troops/money
Stalin hoped to reveal that the UN was a tool of the US

8. Summer of 1950
Seoul (capital of South) falls to the North within weeks
North Korea pushes UN forces to coast at Pusan

9. Inchon Landing
Sept. 1950
MacArthur carries out an amphibious landing at Inchon AT the 38th parallel
Led military campaign that recaptured Seoul and halted the communist drive

10. October 1950 Roll Back Policy North was pushed out of the South
US led forces reestablish the 38th parallel as the border
Containment WOULD have been achieved
President/Advisors need to roll back communism
Authorize MacArthur to do this, provided that the USSR/China didn’t become involved
ONLY would use KOREAN troops near border
China had NOT been actively involved in the war, but warned if the UN troops went North = threat!

11. China enters the war UN troops get to the Yalu River by November
Chinese were waiting along the border
China is committed to helping the North
Attack in waves Nov. 27
Chinese/N. Koreans capture Seoul again in January
Reorganizes troops so all go forward slow and steady
March: UN has control of Seoul AGAIN

12. General MacArthur
April: UN troops advance a few miles NORTH of 38th Parallel
Truman doesn’t want to rise all out war with China so insists MacArthur uses ONLY Korean troops near border
MacArthur ignores this request
MacArthur pushes for an invasion of mainland China
Arrogant, vain, didn’t think he should be subordinate to President
FIRED by Truman

13. Stalemate Summer 1951-1953 Bloody fighting along 38th parallel
Most of it is trench warfare

14. Negotiating Peace N. Koreans treated POWs poorly
In order to disrupt negotiations, Rhee releases N. Korean POWs who didn’t want to go home
S. Korea refuses to sign ANY treaty that would keep Korea divided

15. Legacy of war
Truman bypasses Congress’ right to declare war by sending troops to Korea as a “police action”
Summer 1953: cease fire declared
N/S Korea borders stay the same as they did before
54,000 Americans died
2 M. North Koreans/Chinese killed
Called the “forgotten war”

16. Dmz established
2.5 mile wide demilitarized zone set up to separate the two
Heavily fortified, ironically
1 mill. Soldiers
N/S remain separate nations
Technically, still at war, no peace treaty was signed

17. Our job today is think about the question: Who started the Korean War?

18. Class work
You are going to read two textbook accounts of the Korean War, one from North Korea and the other from South Korea In PAIRS read textbook excerpts and answer questions, we will discuss these questions at the end of class

19. Discussion According to each textbook, how did the Korean War start?
Which of these textbooks do you find more trustworthy? Why?
Where else would you look in order to figure out how the Korean War started?
Which textbook comes from North Korea? Which comes from South Korea?

20. How do these documents compare to textbooks we use in our class?