New Title: The Korean War
Keywords:
• Seoul
• Pyongyang
• Dwight Eisenhower
• General Douglas MacArthur
• United Nations (UN)
• De-Militarised zone
• Truce
• 38th Parallel
So where is
Korea?
And why was the
USA involved
there?
How did the Korean War start?
• At the end of WWII, the Americans occupied South Korea and the
Soviets occupied North Korea.
• They could not agree on what sort of government to elect for Korea,
so, by 1948, two independent states had been set up, North Korea &
South Korea, divided by the 38th parallel.
• South Korea was ruled by anti-communist Syngman Rhee and North
Korea by the Communist dictator Kim Il Sung.
• China was also Communist since 1949 and bordered North Korea.
This gave North Korea more confidence. Both leaders ignored their
‘independent states’ and claimed to rule the whole of Korea.
• The trigger cause of the Korean War is unknown, but Stalin had
provided North Korea with tanks and planes, and Chinese
Communists probably encouraged them too.
• The North Koreans claimed that the South Koreans has crossed the
38th Parallel, and were just defending themselves.
Truman Quote
“Communism was acting in Korea, just
as Hitler, Mussolini and the Japanese
had ten, fifteen, and twenty years
earlier. I felt certain that if South Korea
was allowed to fall, Communist leaders
would be emboldened to override
nations closer to our own shores. If the
Communists were permitted to force
their way into the Republic of Korea
without opposition from the free world,
no small nation would have the courage
to resist threat and aggression by
stronger Communist neighbours”
The Korean War
• In June 1950, troops from North
Korea invaded South Korea in
attempt to spread communism
• They tried to take control of the
majority of the country
• After China turning communist in
1949, Truman felt Korea needed
resist the spread of communism
• His fear was of a ‘domino effect’
of communism spreading
throughout Asia
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzPlkGN5LLg
THE DOMINO THEORY/EFFECT
United Nations Intervention
• At the United Nations, the USA
argued that a force should be sent
to defend South Korea
• A motion is passed to send a UN
force made up of mostly USA troops
(A number of other countries also sent troops)
• The US force was to be lead by
WWII hero, General Douglas
MacArthur
• USSR had been supplying the North
Koreans with weapons for years and
continued to supply weapons
during the war
• However, the USSR did not get into
direct conflict with the USA during
the war
THE UNITED NATIONS MEET TO AGREE TO SEND A FORCE TO
SOUTH KOREA (The empty chair belongs to the USSR)
Name:
Job:
Like:
Dislikes:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-X7nbwFxGRU
US Response
• When UN troops arrive,
they succeed in pushing
North Korean communists
back to border with China
• China intervenes and helps
North Korea push the UN
further south again
• There are several back and
forth movements in the war
until a stalemate forms
Turning point in the war
• General MacArthur was in favour of
being more aggressive towards China. He
suggested the use of Nuclear weapons
and possible invasion of China.
• Truman sacks MacArthur but this is
unpopular with the US public
• Turning point in the war comes with
Stalin's death in 1953.
• This sees USSR playing less role in war.
• A truce is signed establishing the border
between North and South at the 38th
parallel
• The new USSR leaders with China agreed
to a ceasefire and a truce was signed
• A demilitarised zone (DMZ) was created
between North and South
Video clip: Korean War
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzPlkGN5LLg
Results of Korean War
• Massive increase in Military spending by USA
• A huge number of US casualties
• Stalemate in the war causes growing dissatisfaction with
Truman as president. Eisenhower becomes the next
president
• War proves a success of ‘communist containment’
• Proved USA was committed to stopping Communism
wherever it was to take place in the World
• Lead to further ill feeling between USA & USSR
• This added to the bitterness following the Berlin Blockade
• This distrust was to get worse with the Cuban Missile
Crisis
1. What caused this situation?
2. What are the different ideologies?
3. Can we blame anyone for the situation?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zDYrFE985g
Inside North Korea today

Korean War

  • 1.
    New Title: TheKorean War Keywords: • Seoul • Pyongyang • Dwight Eisenhower • General Douglas MacArthur • United Nations (UN) • De-Militarised zone • Truce • 38th Parallel
  • 2.
    So where is Korea? Andwhy was the USA involved there?
  • 3.
    How did theKorean War start? • At the end of WWII, the Americans occupied South Korea and the Soviets occupied North Korea. • They could not agree on what sort of government to elect for Korea, so, by 1948, two independent states had been set up, North Korea & South Korea, divided by the 38th parallel. • South Korea was ruled by anti-communist Syngman Rhee and North Korea by the Communist dictator Kim Il Sung. • China was also Communist since 1949 and bordered North Korea. This gave North Korea more confidence. Both leaders ignored their ‘independent states’ and claimed to rule the whole of Korea. • The trigger cause of the Korean War is unknown, but Stalin had provided North Korea with tanks and planes, and Chinese Communists probably encouraged them too. • The North Koreans claimed that the South Koreans has crossed the 38th Parallel, and were just defending themselves.
  • 4.
    Truman Quote “Communism wasacting in Korea, just as Hitler, Mussolini and the Japanese had ten, fifteen, and twenty years earlier. I felt certain that if South Korea was allowed to fall, Communist leaders would be emboldened to override nations closer to our own shores. If the Communists were permitted to force their way into the Republic of Korea without opposition from the free world, no small nation would have the courage to resist threat and aggression by stronger Communist neighbours”
  • 5.
    The Korean War •In June 1950, troops from North Korea invaded South Korea in attempt to spread communism • They tried to take control of the majority of the country • After China turning communist in 1949, Truman felt Korea needed resist the spread of communism • His fear was of a ‘domino effect’ of communism spreading throughout Asia https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzPlkGN5LLg
  • 6.
  • 7.
    United Nations Intervention •At the United Nations, the USA argued that a force should be sent to defend South Korea • A motion is passed to send a UN force made up of mostly USA troops (A number of other countries also sent troops) • The US force was to be lead by WWII hero, General Douglas MacArthur • USSR had been supplying the North Koreans with weapons for years and continued to supply weapons during the war • However, the USSR did not get into direct conflict with the USA during the war
  • 8.
    THE UNITED NATIONSMEET TO AGREE TO SEND A FORCE TO SOUTH KOREA (The empty chair belongs to the USSR)
  • 9.
  • 10.
  • 11.
    US Response • WhenUN troops arrive, they succeed in pushing North Korean communists back to border with China • China intervenes and helps North Korea push the UN further south again • There are several back and forth movements in the war until a stalemate forms
  • 12.
    Turning point inthe war • General MacArthur was in favour of being more aggressive towards China. He suggested the use of Nuclear weapons and possible invasion of China. • Truman sacks MacArthur but this is unpopular with the US public • Turning point in the war comes with Stalin's death in 1953. • This sees USSR playing less role in war. • A truce is signed establishing the border between North and South at the 38th parallel • The new USSR leaders with China agreed to a ceasefire and a truce was signed • A demilitarised zone (DMZ) was created between North and South
  • 13.
    Video clip: KoreanWar https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzPlkGN5LLg
  • 14.
    Results of KoreanWar • Massive increase in Military spending by USA • A huge number of US casualties • Stalemate in the war causes growing dissatisfaction with Truman as president. Eisenhower becomes the next president • War proves a success of ‘communist containment’ • Proved USA was committed to stopping Communism wherever it was to take place in the World • Lead to further ill feeling between USA & USSR • This added to the bitterness following the Berlin Blockade • This distrust was to get worse with the Cuban Missile Crisis
  • 15.
    1. What causedthis situation? 2. What are the different ideologies? 3. Can we blame anyone for the situation?
  • 16.