The Conflict in Korea (Korean War)

History AQA GCSE

Capitalism

an economic and political system in which a country's trade and industry are controlled by private owners for profit, rather than by the state.

Communism

a political theory derived from Karl Marx, advocating class war and leading to a society in which all property is publicly owned and each person works and is paid according to their abilities and needs.

The Cold War

a state of hostility that existed between communist Soviet Union led bloc (a group of countries or political parties with common interests who have formed an alliance) of countries and the Capitalist West- US led- powers between 1945 and 1990

Proxy War

a war fuelled by major powers, that doesn't involve major powers fighting directly. Usually fought in a smaller country

USSR

Union of Soviet Socialist Republics or the 'Soviet Union'- the land controlled by communist Russia post WWII

Who was leader of the USSR between 1924-1953?

Joseph Stalin

Who was leader of the USA between 1945-1953?

Harry S Truman

Iron Curtain

Winston Churchill's term for the Cold War division between the Soviet-dominated East and the U.S.-dominated West.

Containment

American policy of resisting further expansion of communism around the world

Truman Doctrine (1547)

The promise of containment

Cominform 1947

soviet response to Truman doctrine - enabled USSR to co-orinate Communist parties throughout Europe

NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization)

A 1948 defense alliance initiated by the US, Canada, and 10 Western European nations

Marshall Plan (1948)

A plan that the US came up with to revive war-torn economies of Europe. This plan offered $13 billion in aid to western and Southern Europe on condition they wouldn't go communist. Helped contain communism in Europe and helped our economy as Europe bought from US businesses to rebuild.

Warsaw Pact (1955)

An alliance between the Soviet Union and other Eastern European nations. This was in response to the NATO

How many countries fought in the Korean War?

24

Who controlled Korea before WWII

Japan

Syngman Rhee

Leader of South Korea and wanted unification

Kim Il Sung

Communist leader of North Korea, wanted to unite Korea under communism

Seoul

Capital of South Korea

Pyongyang

Capital of North Korea

MAD (Mutually Assured Destruction)

the situation in the US-Soviet nuclear arms race in which either side could absorb a first-strike and still respond by imposing unacceptable damage on the other side

Berlin Blockade

The blockade was a Soviet attempt to starve out the allies in Berlin in order to gain supremacy. The blockade was a high point in the Cold War, and it led to the Berlin Airlift.

What did the US do to Japan during WWII?

The US dropped 2 atom bombs on Japan

When did WWII end and what happens to Korea?

2nd September 1945 and Korea is divided at the 38th Parallel

What do the USSR get in 1949?

They get their own atom bomb

When does China become communist?

1949

What did the US do in response to China wanting to join the UN in1949?

They vetoed the USSR's proposal for China to join

38th Parallel

Dividing line between North and South Korea

28th June 1950

Communist flags are raised in Seoul

25th June 1950

Korean War begins- North Korea invaded South Korea

Who captures Seoul for the 1st time?

North Korea

Why did the West get involved?

They feared communism would spread

Security Council of the United Nations

branch of the United Nations that aims to protect member nations by investigating and settling disputes; Currently there are 15 members with 5 permanent members (U.S., Russia, Great Britain, France, and China)

UN (United Nations)

an organization of 16 independent states formed in 1945 to promote international peace and security

What did the US persuade the UN to do?

Help South Korea, USSR couldn't veto because they are in the UN

How much of UN troops were American?

50% troops, 93% air forces and 86% navy

Where did the US arrive?

Port Pusan

What was the Pusan Perimeter?

a defensive line of 50 miles by 50 miles around the city of Pusan, in the southeast corner of Korea, held by South Korean and United Nations forces in 1950 during the Korean War; marks the farthest advance of North Korean forces

Doulgas MacArthur

Leader of UN forces

What was MacArthur's plan?

To do an amphibious landing at the port of Inchon- nicknamed Operation Chromite

Who recaptured Seoul the 2nd time?

South Korea

What do UN forces do?

They push the North Korean forces up to the Yalu River

Yalu River

River separating North Korea and China. UN forces close to the Yalu River caused Chinese intervention.

Mao Tse Tung (Mao Zedong)

Leader of Communist China

Chaing Kai-Shek

Nationalist leader of China

What happened in September 1950?

Sent 200,000 Chinese volunteer army into North Korea to stop the UN

Why were the Chinese harder to fight?

They made more men than the UN

What happened by March 1951?

UN forces took back Seoul for the fourth and final time and the war went into a stalemate

When and why was MacArthur fired?

Truman fired MacArthur for insubordination in April 1951, as he wanted to break the stalemate and attacking China with nuclear warfare

Matthew 'Iron tits' Ridgway

Replaced MacArthur as UN forces leader

July 1951

Peace talks begin

Opertion Moolah

Bribe North Korean pilots to defect- it fails only one person defects (no gum sok)

President of USA 1953-1961

Eisenhower

Leader of USSR 1953 - 1964

Khrushchev

What do Khrushchev and Eisenhower think of the war?

They both don't care about winning

27th July 1953

Korean War ends- ceasefire is signed

What were the decisions made in the ceasefire?

1) Korea is divided
2) It's divided at the 38th Parallel
3) There is a demilitarised zone of 2km of either side of the border

When is the officially peace treaty signed?

2018

Why did the Korea War begin?

1) Actions of USSR & Stalin
2) Actions of the US
3) Difference in ideologies

How did the actions of the USSR and Stalin cause the war?

1. USSR refused to cooperate with the UN after China's place in the Security Council was vetoed
2. Stalin and Soviets provided majority of weapons to North Korea and funded their invasion into South Korea
3. USSR provided training for North Korean army
4. Mao Tse Tung promised to support North Korea and did support them

How did the difference in ideologies cause the war?

1. Kil il Sung was determined to unite Korea under communism
2. The Cold War was raging in Europe
3. Stalin was committed to spreading communism
4. Korea had been divided since the end of WWII
5. Syngman Rhee was determined to unite Korea under capitalism

How did the actions of the USA cause the war?

1. Truman was committed to containment
2. USA supported Chiang kai Shek in the Chinese Civil War
3. USA vetoed China's attempt to join the security council

How many USA army wounded, killed and missing?

Wounded: 103,284
Killed/Missing: 36, 568

How many Chinese army wounded, killed and missing?

Wounded: 716,000
Killed/Missing: 600,000

How many South Korean army wounded, killed and missing?

Wounded: 429,000
Killed/Missing: 217,000

How many South Korean civilians killed and missing?

Killed/Missing: 1,000,000 (1 million)

How many North Korean army wounded, killed and missing?

Wounded: 1,500,000 (1.5 million)
Killed/Missing: 406,000

How many North Korean civilians killed and missing?

Killed/Missing: 600,000

Consequences of the Korean War

1. The first direct military conflict between the superpowers in the Cold War
2. Korean remains divided
3. Nearly 3 million soldiers and civilians were killed
4. China proved itself a s a fearsome military and political power
5. Cold War spread from Europe to Asia
6. US expanded its military alliances into Asia
7. US spent over 14% of its total GDP- 30 billion dollars
8. UN proved it can unite to stop aggression with military force
9. US escalated its policy of containment