history Flashcards
China becomes communist
since 1920s, Chinese communists led my Mao Zedong had been fighting a civil war against Chiang Kai-Sheks nationalists(KMT), USA supported KMT
October 1949, Mao’s communists won control in China and established the People’s Republic of China
USA viewed this as a setback for democracy
USSR was very happy that China was now communist leading to a “treaty of friendship “USSR supported China’s economic, technological and military development
why did the USA get involved
concerned that because of China’s large country, massive population and huge resources that communism would be spread,
USA suspected this was part of Stalin’s plan to spread communism world wide
China became communist just after USSR had detonated its first atomic bomb
Truman was under pressure to stand up to communism
Korea end of ww2
1945, Korea freed from Japanese control by Soviet soldiers in north and us soldiers in south
Partitioned along 38th parallel until elections could be held
USSR wanted communist Korea, USA wanted a capitalist democracy
key events of war
Communist regime in north led by Kim ill sung
capitalist regime in south led by Syngman Rhee
Kim il sung ( with support of Mao and Stalin) invaded South Korea on 25th June 1950. Northern forces quickly captured Seoul
continuing us involvement
USA feared a domino effect would result in spread of communism, changing its policy of containment to rollback- communism should be attached and pushed back. Un condemned attack and put together a military force to stop the invasion
June 1950
north Korean’s army advanced quickly and pushed the Southern forces to a small area around Pusan in south Korea
July 1950
fearing a communist army, USA sent troops to support South Korea
USA appealed to United Nations for help and security council agreed to send troops, request granted because Soviet Union was boycotting the Security Council
September 1950
UN forces led by American General Douglas MacArthur landed in Inchon and quickly pushed North Koreans back over the 38th parallel. By October 1950, they had almost rolled back the communists to Yalu river on border with China
October 1950
not wanted a US backed state on its border, China invaded Korea and drove the UN forces back below the 30th parallel. General Macarthur called for use of the atomic bomb to defend Korea but was sacked and denied for questioning the presidents policies.
June 1951
more UN troops deployed to Korea and the communists were eventually driven back to the 38th parallel. war became a Stalemate. The war took to skies, where American and soviet pilots fought for 2 more years. Soviet pilots were dressed in Chinese markings. ariel battle was kept secret from US population incase they demanded an all out war on the USSR
November 1952
General Dwight Eisenhower won the US presidential election promising he would go to Korea to see how the war could be ended
July 1953
An armistice was signed at Panmunjom on the 38th parallel, which left Korea divided as it had been in 1950 and still is today
conclusion of rollback
USA failed to rollback communism as north Korea remained communism but they did succeed in containing communism and prevented it spreading to south korea
Role of USSR
USSR did not enter the war directly for fear of provoking a world war but helped the North Koreans and Chinese by providing advisors weapons and doctors
USSR sent 63 fighter plains, which had Chinese markings and were flown and soviet pilots dressed in Chinese uniforms
Role of China
MacArthur’s invasion greatly worried China feared the USA would invade China
November 1950 more than 250000 Chinese troops invaded North Korea in November 1950 pushing UN forces over the 38th parallel.
end of war
peace talks began in June 1951 but were unsuccessful
1953- change of leadership of both USSR and USA offered opportunity of end war. Truman was succeeded by Eisenhower(USA) and Stalin died leaving Khrushchev) in control of USSR
A ceasefire was agreed at Panmunjom in July 1953
created permanent border slightly north of the 38th Parallel and a demilitarized zone between the two states
Positive results of the war
Containment had worked- communism had not spread into south Korea
the USA signed a peace treaty ended military occupation and invested heavily in the Japanese economy
US signed agreements with the Philippines, Australia and New Zealand, which confirmed its position as the protector of the region
Negative results of war
more than 2 million people died, resulting in a border little different to where it was during the war
rollback failed
relationship between North and South Korea remained tense and bitter
US-Chinese relations deteriorated further, as US recognized Chiang Kai-Sheks nationalists as Chinas rightful government
3-4 million Koreans died
