Korean War Flashcards
After WWII, who occupied North Korea?
The Soviets
After WWII, who occupied South Korea?
The USA
In 1948, what happened to Korea?
It was divided in half
Where was Korea divided?
At the 38th Parallel
Who ruled North Korea?
Kim Il-Sung (Grandfather of Kim Jong-Il)
Who ruled South Korea?
Syngman Rhee
When did Soviet troops withdraw from North Korea?
1948
When did US troops withdraw from South Korea?
1949
Which country had turned Communist in 1949?
China
What did neither North or South Korea accept in 1949?
That the border between them was permanent
What was Syngman Rhee like as a leader?
Not very democratic BUT anti-Communist, which was enough for US support
What was North Korea like under Kim Il-Sung?
A one-party state, similar to the Soviet Union, with limited freedoms
Where had Kim Il-Sung trained to be a leader?
In the Soviet Union
What existed between the North and South?
Bitter hostility
When was the Korean War?
1950-53
When did the Korean War begin?
June 1950
How did the Korean War begin?
North Korea invaded South Korea
By early September, where did North Korean troops control?
All of Korea except for Pusan (south east corner)
Why was Truman worried about South Korea falling to Communist?
He feared the domino effect. He worried if one country fell to communism, others would too
What did South Korea do as a result of the invasion?
Appealed to the UN for support
How many North Korean troops invaded South Korea?
75,000
What did the USA do when South Korea appealed for help?
1) Initially, called on the North Korean forces to withdraw
2) When this was ignored, it pushed through a resolution to send a UN army to Korea