Key topic 5: How effectively did the USA contain the spread of communism Flashcards
Korean war start and end date
25th June 1950-23 july 1953
Between Soviet union and china for the north Vs USA and UN for the south
Domino theory
refers to the domino affect that can be brought about by the spread of communism to nation-states
Head of North Korea
Kim il- sung
served until 1994
Communist guerilla
in 1998, labelled the ‘eternal president of the republic
Head of south Korea
Syngman Rhee
served until 1960
When was the Creation of the 38th paralell
August 1945
US and Soviets agreed to split Korea into two occupation zones
What is containment?
A US policy to stop the spread of communism to nation states
Reason the north invaded the south in 1950
- Kim il- sung believed that the south Korean army was weaker than the Korean peoples army
US and UN response 1950
- In July 1950, Truman ordered naval and aerial forces to support south Korea
- Went an achieved support for UN troops from United Nations security council
- Had the USSR been there request would have been vetoed
- UN supported claim because USSR was absent due to upset over Taiwan being admitted as a delegate
Why were Americans worried and why did they intervene? Korea 1950-53
They were worried about Kim il-sung uniting Korea under communism and the domino theory.
-US officials thought a firm response was the best way to fight communist aggression
- Assumed the North Korean invasion was a soviet plan
What methods did Americans use to contain communism?Korea
Taking UN forces and pushing North Koreans back to the 38th Parallel
What problems did they face?Korea
- chinese joined the war
- General Mcarthur started to puch for more than containment
What was the outcome?Korea
General Macarthur was removed for ‘insubordination’ and replaced by general Omar bradley
- UN forces were able to push back the North Koreans to the 38th parallel where they stayed
Success or failure? Korea
The Korean War was a success for the US policy of containment because…
- South Korea did not become communist
- It proved the effectiveness of the UN, the successor to the LoN
BUT:
- The UN failed to achieve its objective of a unified, democratic Korea
- The Korean War was scarred by major misjudgements and substantial damage to property and life
- The US had used the UN to pursue its foreign policy - the USSR complained that the UN had been used as a capitalist tool against communism
Resolution 84 and when was it passed?
Passed 7th July 1950
UN SAID FOR MEMBERS TO GIVE AMERICA TROOPS
What happened in the Korean war?
June 1950
Kim il Sung invades South Korea
Korea Background
- 1949 Soviets tested their first nuclear weapon RSD-1
-1949 Communists won the Chinese civil war - The US prevented communist China joining the UN
Cuba Background
- Cuba wins independence supported by the US but are under quasi- imperial American rule
- Fidel Castro leads communist uprising and US backs Batista
- Fidel Castro takes power in 1959
- In response, America set up embargo to severely damage Cubas economy
- Cuba turn to USSR for help
quasi imperial american rule
This gave US
- right to intervene in Cuban affairs
- Guantanomo bay
-To control Cuba’s foreign policy
Why was Korea divided?
1945
- Between 1910-1945 Korea was controlled by Japan
-In 1945, Japanese soldiers surrendered to USSR troops in the north and the USA in the south
What happened in the Korean war?
September 1950
The UN forces advance
- UN stormed Incheon
-Other UN forces and South Korean forces advance from Pusan
-The North Koreans were then driven back beyond their original border
What happened in the Korean war?
October 1950
- MacArthur achieved original UN aim
-Americans continued into North Korea - Mao Zedong warned against it and said they would join the war if the US continued
-The UN approved plan to advance into North Korea and by October the US had reached Yalu river
-US wanted more than containment and saw this as an oppurtunity
What happened in the Korean war?
November 1950
200k chines peoples volunteers (chinese army) joined the fight in October.
- worst conditions American soldiers had known as the Chinese knew landscape better and had a more profound cause than americans
What happened in the Korean war?
April 1951
MacArthur is sacked
- MacArthur was ready to invade China and even use nuclear weapons
-Truman felt they had done enough.
- Risk of starting a war with USSR too great
- returned to policy of containment
What happened in the Korean war?
June 1951
-Peace talks begin
- middle 1951 the fighting reached a stale mate at the 38th parallel
- peace talks began between North Korea and South Korea. Fighting continued 2 more years