Korea crisis Flashcards
What event marked the beginning of the Korean War?
The Korean War began on June 25, 1950, when North Korean forces invaded South Korea.
What were the two opposing sides in the Korean War?
The war was fought between communist North Korea (supported by the USSR and China) and capitalist South Korea (supported by the United States and UN allies).
What was the outcome of the Korean War in terms of Korea’s division?
The war solidified the division of Korea into two hostile states, leaving Korea divided roughly along the original boundary.
What was the significance of the Korean War in the context of the Cold War?
It marked the first direct military confrontation between superpowers during the Cold War, setting a precedent for future proxy wars.
What was the initial response of South Korean and U.S. forces to the North Korean invasion?
Initial forces were unprepared and pushed back to the Busan Perimeter after just 6 weeks.
What event turned the tide in favor of UN forces during the Korean War?
A daring landing at Incheon by U.S. General Douglas MacArthur in September 1950 enabled UN forces to recapture Seoul.
What was the impact of China’s intervention in the Korean War?
China entered the war in late 1950, pushing UN forces back below the 38th parallel. With 2.9 million estimated
What was the strategic impact of the Korean War on U.S. military policy?
The war demonstrated the U.S. commitment to containment of communism globally and led to the largest peacetime military mobilization in U.S. history.
How did Truman and Eisenhower differ in their approach to the Korean War?
Truman aimed to contain communism without escalating the war, while Eisenhower was willing to use the threat of nuclear weapons as leverage in negotiations.
What was Mao’s victory in China in 1949 used for in the context of the Korean War?
It served as a major propaganda tool for communism, demonstrating that a large country could successfully overthrow a U.S.-backed regime.
What was the role of the UN Security Council during the Korean War?
The UN Security Council authorized military intervention largely because the Soviet Union was boycotting the Council, allowing resolutions to pass without a veto.
What was the impact of MacArthur’s public criticism during the Korean War?
MacArthur’s insistence on nuclear use and public criticism of administration policy led to his dismissal in 1951.
