How effectively did the USA contain the spread communism? - The Korean War

Question 1

When did the Japanese start controlling Korea?

Answer 1

1910

Question 2

What happened in Korea in WW2?

Answer 2

The Japanese troops based in the north of Korea surrendered to the Soviet Union while those based n the south surrendered to the Americans

Question 3

Where was the temporary dividing line drawn between north and south Korea drawn up?

Answer 3

The 38th parallel of latitude

Question 4

What happened in Korea after the Japanese had surrendered?

Answer 4

Free elections were to be held for a united, democratic Korea

Question 5

When were elections in Korea held?

Answer 5

1948; the elections were separate between the north and south

Question 6

What did the elections in South Korea decide?

Answer 6

The south of Korea became the Republic of Korea, a capitalist dictatorship

Question 7

What did the elections in North Korea decide?

Answer 7

The north of Korea became the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, there was a communist dictatorship
This was supported by China and the Soviet Union

Question 8

When did North Korean soldiers invade South Korea?

Answer 8

25th June 1950

Question 9

Why did North Korea invade South Korea?

Answer 9

Kim Il-Sung wanted a united Korea under communist rule

Question 10

How did the United Nations become involved in the Korean war?

Answer 10

President Truman send the US Seventh Fleet to try to prevent a Chinese attack on Taiwan. He ordered General MacArthur to go to Korea with military supplies

Question 11

When did the UN Security Council meet?

Answer 11

On the day that North Korean troops crossed the border into South Korea

Question 12

What was decided in the UN Security Council?

Answer 12

An American resolution was passed demanding the withdrawal of the North Koreans.
Its passing was made possible by the absence of the Soviet representative on the Security council
This was because at that time, the Soviets were protesting against America’s treatment of communist China, so there were no Russians present to use the veto

Question 13

How did the North Koreans respond to the resolution passed by the Security Council?

Answer 13

North Korea had no intention of withdrawing

Question 14

What did the UN do after the North Koreans refused to withdraw?

Answer 14

A second American resolution was put forward on the 27th of June.
A third resolution 10 days later made clear how military forces were to be deployed

Question 15

Who was sent to assist South Korea?

Answer 15

Troops from American and 15 other countries

Question 16

What was the attitude of the USA to the invasion of South Korea?

Answer 16

Under their policy of containment, the USA was determined to stop further communist expansion
The actions of north Korea were seen as part of Moscow’s attempt to gain world domination

Question 17

What did the USA fear about the invasion?

Answer 17

US feared that success in South Korea would encourage communist China to attack Taiwan
If South Korea and Taiwan fell to the communists, Japan would come under threat
The fall of South Korea, Taiwan and Japan to the communists would represent a major shift in world power balance

Question 18

What was the state of Korea by September 1950?

Answer 18

Only a small corner of Korea was not controlled by the communists

Question 19

Where did UN troops land in Korea?

Answer 19

They landed at Inchon. Here the communists were pushed back into North Korea
Truman decided to pursue the communists and so the UN troops invaded North Korea

Question 20

How did China react to the invasion of North Korea?

Answer 20

Chinese leader Mao Zedong was angered by this

He send a large Chinese army to attach MacArthur’s army

Question 21

What had China force the UN army to do?

Answer 21

In 1951 the UN army was forced to retreat back into the South, followed by the communists

Question 22

What did the UN do after the Chinese interfered?

Answer 22

A UN counter-attack forced the Chinese and North Koreans back to the 38th parallel
President Truman did not want a lengthy or costly war in Asia, but McArthur wanted to carry on into China

Question 23

When was MacArthur dismissed?

Answer 23

April 1951

Question 24

When was the ceasefire agreed to and what was the result?

Answer 24

1953
This left Korea as two separate countries
Truman settled for communism being contained in North Korea

Question 25

What were the results of the Korean War for the United Nations?

Answer 25

The UN had used military sanction against an aggressor, showing that it was more purposeful than the League of Nations
The UN had failed its objective for a “unified, independent and democratic government” for Korea
The massive involvement and influence of the USA made it look more like an American action than one by the UN

Question 26

What were the results of the Korean War for the USA?

Answer 26

40,000 troops died
US policy of containment had been successful
American relations with China and the Soviet Union were now strained