Cold War, Korean War & Cuban Missile Crisis

What system of government allows citizens to vote for leaders?

Democracy

What economic system is based on private businesses and competition?

Capitalism

What political/economic system involves government control of property and industry?

Communism

What event marked the beginning of the Korean War?

North Korea invaded South Korea in June 1950.

What was the 38th Parallel?

The line dividing North and South Korea, established after WWII.

What city served as the final defensive area for South Korea and UN troops early in the Korean War?

Pusan

What significant military operation did General MacArthur plan during the Korean War?

The Inchon landing.

Who was the leader of South Korea during the Korean War?

Syngman Rhee

What type of government did North Korea have during the Korean War?

Communist dictatorship

What was the outcome of the Korean War in terms of peace treaty?

No official peace treaty was signed; Korea remained divided.

What was the Bay of Pigs Invasion?

A failed CIA-led invasion of Cuba to overthrow Fidel Castro in 1961.

What was the Cuban Missile Crisis?

A 13-day confrontation in 1962 between the US and the Soviet Union over Soviet missiles in Cuba.

What was the chosen US response to the Cuban Missile Crisis?

Naval blockade (quarantine) to prevent more Soviet weapons from reaching Cuba.

Who was the President of the United States during the Cuban Missile Crisis?

John F. Kennedy

What was the role of EXCOM during the Cuban Missile Crisis?

The Executive Committee advising JFK on how to handle the crisis.

What did the USSR agree to in the final resolution of the Cuban Missile Crisis?

Remove missiles from Cuba.

What did the US secretly agree to in the resolution of the Cuban Missile Crisis?

To remove US missiles from Turkey.

What was the significance of the Cuban Missile Crisis in the Cold War?

It marked a moment when both sides stepped back from nuclear war and improved communication.

What was the main theme of the film 13 Days?

It shows how close the world came to nuclear war and emphasizes the importance of calm decision-making.

What was the 26th of July Movement?

A revolutionary movement led by Fidel Castro against the Cuban government.

Who was Fidel Castro?

The communist leader of Cuba after the revolution.

What was the role of the United Nations during the Cuban Missile Crisis?

The UN served as a platform for public debate and negotiation.

What were the long-term effects of the Korean War?

Tension still exists today between North and South Korea.

What characterized North Korea after the Korean War?

It became an isolated communist dictatorship with nuclear weapons.

What characterized South Korea after the Korean War?

It became wealthy, democratic, and industrialized.

What was the significance of the Yalu River during the Korean War?

It was the point where Chinese troops entered the war after UN forces approached.

What was the main reason for the failure of the Bay of Pigs Invasion?

It strengthened Castro's power and embarrassed JFK.

What was the 'Forgotten War'?

The Korean War, due to being less remembered than WWII or Vietnam despite its significance.

Who colonized and controlled Korea from 1910-1945 (Before WWII)

Japan

Who temporarily occuped North Korea and South Korea after WWII and what was the regimes

Soviet Unions occupied North Korea with a communist regime and the US occupied South Korea with a capitalist and democratic regime

Republic of Korea (ROK - South Korea):

Authoritarian capitalist republic led by Dr. Syngman Rhee who was an anti communist so got support from US

Moscow conference

The US and USSR decided in December 1945 that a trustee ship would be imposed in Korea, where they would temporarily occupy Korea to manage affairs

Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK - North Korea)

A communist dictatorship led by Kim II Sung who we’re Allie’s with China and USSR

A southeastern port city. In the opening months of the war, North Korean forces pushed UN and South Korean troops all the way back to this tiny pocket, known as the Pusan Perimeter. The UN forces successfully held this line.

Pusan

A port city on Korea's west coast near Seoul. General Douglas MacArthur launched a brilliant, high-risk amphibious surprise attack here behind North Korean lines, successfully cutting off enemy supply lines and routing the North Korean army.

Inchon

Douglas MacArthur

Supreme Commander of the UN and came up with the Inchon Landing who is leader fired by President Truman for wanting a total organs China using nuclear weapons

Chinese Involvement

Bunch of thousands of people’s volunteer cross the alley river into North Korea to help fight back against the UN advancement creating a bloody stalemate with the South

1953 ceasefire

Stopped active fighting along the demilitarized zone

Alliance for progress

A program made by JFK in 1961 were the US paid approximately $20 million to Latin American countries to convince them to be democratic

Fulgencio Batista

The US-backed, authoritarian dictator of Cuba who was overthrown in 1959.

Che Guevara & Camilo Cienfuegos:

Iconic, core military commanders of Castro’s guerrilla army during the revolution.

Robert Kennedy

The Attorney General in JFK is closest advisor. He was critical in communications and securing the diplomatic deal

Robert McNamara

US secretary of defense who manage the military and impose the naval quarantine

Dean Acheson

Advisor of JFK who wanted decisive military airstrikes against the missiles

Adlai Stevenson

US ambassador of the one who confronted the Soviet ambassador about the missile

Gen Maxwell Taylor and Gen Curtis LeMay

Military officials who pushed for immediate bombing and invasion of Cuba

Nikita Khrushchev

Premier of the Soviet Union who secretly placed nuclear missiles in Cuba.

Andrei Gromyko (Foreign Minister) & Anatoly Dobrynin (Ambassador to US):

Key Soviet diplomats. Dobrynin was the vital link for secret negotiations with Bobby Kennedy.

Alexander Fomin

An unofficial back channel who passed messages to American journalists

Valerian Zorin

The Soviet UN ambassador who denied that there were missiles until photo evidence was shown

The Soviet lie

The Soviets continuously told the US that the weapons being placed were defensive and not nuclear

US EXCOM option one

Air strike of the missile sites

US EXCOM option 2

Invasion in full military takeover of Cuba

US EXCOM option 3

Blockade preventing Soviet ships from entering Cuba

Back channel overtures

secret communications (notably between Bobby Kennedy and Anatoly Dobrynin) to negotiate an actual solution.