Korea Flashcards
Rule of the USSR
China had been in a civil war since the 20s. In ‘49 the communist side, led by Mao Zedong, won and established the People’s Republic of China. The USA saw this as a setback for democracy
The USSR agreed to a treaty of friendship supporting China’s economic, technological and military development
The reasons for US involvement in Korea
The US was concerned as China had a massive population and huge resources
The US believed China’s turn to communism was a result of Stalin’s scheming. This also occurred shortly after the the USSR successful atomic bomb test which pressured Truman to stand up to communism more
Korea had been freed from the Japanese by the Soviets in 45
Key events of the war
By the time the US and Soviet forces had left Korea in 49 two separate governments had been established to run the country due to the superpowers indecision on what kind of country Korea would become
The North communist regime was set up by Kim Il Sung and was called the Korean People’s Democratic Republic
The South capitalist dictatorship was established and led by Syngman Rhee and was referred to as the Republic of Korea
Invasion of Korea
Both states sought the reunification of the country but it was Kim Il Sung who acted. After getting the support of Mao Zedong and Stalin he invaded South Korea on 25 June 1950. While it was Kim’s idea was it believed by the US to be Stalin’s
Continuing US involvement
The USA believed that if one country fell to communism then the bordering countries would also fall, this was referred to as Domino Theory
As a result the USA changed their policy from containment to rollback. The belief that communism should and would be pushed back
The UN response
The USSR was unable to object to the UN’s actions as it was then boycotting the UN. This was in protest at the USA’s refusal to allow communist China to sit on the UN security council
Describe 2 reasons why the US became involved in Korea
North Korea invaded the South, US believed Stalin instructed by Kim Il Sung to do this but it was all his idea
Truman vowed to stop communism believing that Stalin was involved and anxious to stop the domino effect because China becoming communist and USSR gained nuclear power leading the US to adopt the rollback policy
