Korean War: America entering the war Flashcards
To find out how did America enter , why did they enter, why was it a risk and how did the US policy change once they entered the war?
When did the NKPA invade South Korea?
They had crossed the 38th parallel and invaded South Korea on the 25th of June 1950
What did Truman do about this?
He appealed to the UN
When did the UN Resolution take place?
25th of June 1950
What did the UN had to say about the attack?
They viewed this attack as an act of aggression initiated without warning and without provocation
What did the UN do about this?
They passed a resolution requiring NKPA to cease hostilities as soon as possible, and withdraw its forces to the 38th parallel
When did Truman decide on the 25th of JUne 1950?
Ordered US troops occupied in Japan to be drafted to Korea
Why was this a problem for Truman?
It was going to take a long time for US troops to arrive
What was Truman’s response?
HE called on UN to pass a second resolution to provide military support for South Korea in order to push back NKPA to the 38th parallel
When did the second UN Resolution pass?
27th of June 1950
What did it call for ?
It called for the creation of a UN Joint Command Force (UNC) that would fight alongside South Korean troops to remove NKPA from South Korea
What did the UN appoint President Truman to?
executive agent to carry out the UNC’s rules of engagement
What was MacArthur appointed to?
commander in the field
What is the traditional (orthodox) view of why USA entered the Korean War?
- It was a war of Soviet directed communist aggression
- The invasion of South Korea was directed by Stalin
- USSR wanted to distract the USA from interfering in communist Europe by starting a war in Korea
What was Truman’s explanation of why he wanted to enter the war?
He wanted to contain communism in Korea in order to prevent communism from spreading further and potentially creating a third world war
Why was Truman under extreme political pressure?
He was under extreme pressure to be seen to defend the free world against the evils of communism
When was Truman’s ‘Truman Doctrine’ Speech?
March 1947
Why did he receive criticism after this speech?
H had depicted communism as a terrifying evil
AND
When China fell to communism Truman came under intense criticisms that he was too soft on communism
What did this mean for Truman?
He was keen to prove his anti-communist credentials by entering the war in Korea
Who started the Red Scare?
Republican Senator Joseph McCarthy
When did the Red scare/ McCarthysim start?
February 1950
How did this start?
McCarthy declared that there were communists working in Truman’s State Department
What did this mean?
This generated hysterical anti-communism amongst Americans and Truman feared that if he was not seen to oppose communism threat, the Republicans might win a great victory over the Democrats in Congressional elections of November 1950
How many Americans approved aiding South Korea?
Polls showed 75%
What happened early in 1950 in relation to the NSC-68?
Truman commissioned the National Security Council to produce a planning paper (NSC-68) to summarise where the USA stood in relation to the USSR and in which direction it should move.
