Conflict in Asia Flashcards
What was Korea split into when the japanese empire was invaded?
North Korea ( under the influence of ussr) and South Korea (under the influence of the USA)
What is the Truman Doctrine?
President Harry S. Truman established that the United States would provide political, military and economic assistance to all democratic nations under threat from external or internal authoritarian forces.
What was the Marshall plan?
The Marshall Plan was an American initiative enacted in 1948 to provide foreign aid to Western Europe. The United States transferred $13.3 billion in economic recovery programs to Western European economies after the end of World War II. The goals of the United States were to rebuild war-torn regions, remove trade barriers, modernize industry, improve European prosperity and prevent the spread of communism.
What was Stalin worried about with west Germany and western allies?
Using money from the Marshall Aid programme, the Allies were helping the Germans to rebuild their economy. They introduced a new, stable currency that would be used throughout their zones and they created jobs for workers in the Western sectors.
At a meeting in London in January 1948, Britain and the USA joined their zones together to create Bizonia to make it easier to administer these areas. France would later join and they changed the name to West Germany. Stalin was not invited to this meeting in London. He was also denied access to the minutes of this meeting. He was worried that the West would take advantage of their stronger position and unite all their zones, and eventually take over the eastern part.
What was the Berlin Blockade?
One of the first Cold War crises when the Soviet Union blocked the Allies access to West Berlin in 1948. It ended in 1949 after daily western airlifts of supplies to their zones made continuing the Blockade pointless.
Stalin did not intend to risk war over Berlin, and he did not intend to ‘drive the Allies out’.
More likely, his intention was to show that the Soviets also had power in Germany which could match the demonstrations of economic power and unity that the West had just shown.
He was using the Blockade as a lever to prevent any further western moves in Germany, rather than attempting some kind of communist takeover.
What was domino theory?
An American idea that if one country fell to communism, others would follow - like a row of dominoes.
What was the policy of containment?
An American policy to try and stop communism from spreading, to restrict it from spreading to other countries.
How was Korea divided?
After World War Two, Korea had been divided at the
38th parallel
into the Soviet-backed communist North Korea, led by Kim Il Sung, and non-communist, American-backed South Korea under the leadership of Syngman Rhee.
What was the course of the war?
June 1950: The North Korean People’s Army advanced quickly and pushed the Southern forces to a small area around Pusan in South Korea.
July 1950: Fearing a communist takeover, the USA sent troops to support South Korea.
The USA appealed to the
United Nations
for help and its
Security Council
agreed to the request. The resolution was passed as the Soviets were boycotting the United Nations in protest at the Chinese communist government not being allowed to take its seat at the Security Council.
September 1950: UN forces, led by the American General MacArthur, landed in Inchon and quickly pushed the North Koreans back over the 38th parallel and by October 1950 they had almost ‘rolled back’ the communists to the Yalu River on the border with China.
October 1950: Not wanting a US-backed state on its border, China invaded Korea and drove the UN forces back below the 38th parallel. General MacArthur called for the use of
atomic
weapons but this was denied by President Truman and MacArthur was sacked.
June 1951: More UN troops were deployed to Korea and the communists were eventually driven back to the 38th parallel.
July 1953: An
armistice
was finally signed at Panmunjom on the 38th parallel which left Korea divided as it had been in 1950 and still is today.
Why did north Korea invade south Korea?
North Korea aimed to militarily conquer South Korea and therefore unify Korea under the communist North Korean regime.
What is a proxy war?
Groups (or countries) fighting on behalf of a larger nation, without that nation actively participating in the conflict.
What is a superpower?
Countries who have huge influence or strength, giving them significant global power such as the USA or USSR.
What is a veto?
a legal power to unilaterally stop an official action.
Why was China not in the UN?
USA blocked its access as the US was anti communist and regarded the nationalists of the rightful government of China. This lead to the USSR protesting against the UN. The USA was the biggest contributor to the UN budget and was therefore in a powerful position to influence the UN decision.
Why did China join the war?
The Americans didn’t stop at the 38th parallel meaning that China would get pressured and the counter attacked.
