Korean war and what led up to it (before 1945 AND 1950-53) Flashcards
was China a communist country at that time
yes
by the lat 1800s, who was gaining economic and military dominance in China
Britain and Europe
how did Europe having a strong dominance on China make japan feel
made them worried that they would be next
what did Japan decide to do in 1868
create an empire to be safe from Europe and China
when did Japan attack korea
1894
why did Japan invade Korea in 1894 (2)
- Korea was seen as a vital area for Japan’s security and economic expansion.
- Korea had traditionally been a tributary state of China under the Qing Dynasty and Japan wanted to weaken Chinese influence and establish itself as the dominant power in East Asia.
how was Korea under Japanese rule
Japan became powerful whilst Korea was in misery
examples of what Japan did to Korea and its culture (5)
- removed the language and culture
- korean newspapers banned and replaced
- korean artifacts were brought into museums
- koreans who protested were harshly punished
- korean women were seen as sex slaves for Japanese soldiers
what did the koreans think of the japanese
They hated them
what were japan and China facing in 1927-1945
conflict with each other (The Second Sino-Japanese War)
during the conflict between japan and china, what were the cold war leaders doing
meeting at yalta and potsdam
when was japans infuence in Korea removed and why
1945 due to Hiroshima (Japan surrendered)
what happened to Korea when Japan left
it was split into north and south
who was the leader of North Korea after 1945, and why him
Kim Sung and he was selected by Stalin because he had been nationalist the whole time he was under Japanese rule and had fought with the USSR against Japan in 1945
which part of korea had a dictator
North
who was the leader of South korea after 1945
Syngman Rhee
which country liked Rhee and why
the USA because Rhee was anti communist (also anti-japanese)
by what years did S&N Korea have leaders
1950, both sides had leaders
when did Rhee win elections
by 1948
Rhees aims
unite Korea and make it capitalist and contain communism
was Rhee succesfull with his aims
yes as he managed to keep south korea from being communist BUT wasn’t able to turn whole Korea capitalist
why do the USA include South Korea in their sphere of influence
to make sure they don’t get attacked again and so that they can help with containing communism
Stalins Aims
To avoid war with the USA during the korean war (soviets tried to limit their involvement as much as possible)
AND expansion of communist sphere of influence
was stalin able to achieve his aims
he was able to establish a communist influence in North Korea
Mao was leader of
China
Mao’s aims (2)
- didn’t want a US friendly country on their border + wanted to show they were dangerous + powerful
- wanted national security
was MAO succesfull with his aims
yes because he elimentaed the existential threat and shows they’re powerful by invading south korea
KIM SUNG aims
unite Korea and spread communism under his rule
was Kim Sung succesfull with his aims
not really as in the end he got back to where he started BUT had guaranteed control of North Korea + closer relations with China + USSR
Trumans Aims
rollback communism as well as contain it
was Truman sucessfull in his aims
not with rollback but YES with containment
Eisenhower aims
wanted to end the war
was Eisenhower sucessfull
yes because Stalin died and so USSR began to be more careful.
When he added South Korea to their defense perimeter, the USA made sure not to have a hostile country next to Japan (which was communist) which was crucial and an advantage
why was it beneficial to the USA to add South Korea to their defense perimeter
When he added South Korea to their defense perimeter, the USA made sure not to have a hostile country next to Japan (which was communist) which was crucial and an advantage
Truman was president until
1953, then Eisenhower took over
what happened in July 1950
Kim Sung invaded South Korea (because he wanted to turn it communist)
why did Kim Sung invade South Korea in 1950
he wanted to unite Korea and make it communist
what happened by september Kim Sung invaded South Korea in 1950
by september, he had taken up almost all of South Korea, including the capital Seul and is when the US decided to send 600,000 to support South Korea
how many people did the USA send to help South Korea in september 1950
600,000
who sent forces in to help South Korea
the UN (led by the USA)
What were the UN troops able to do, and how long did it take them
within a few weeks they were able to push the North Korean army back to the 38th parallel
once they pushed North Korean troops back to the 38th parallel , what did the UN forces do
Truman and his military general continued attacking & pushed NK back to almost the Chinese border
by October 1950, how far back did the USA push back North Korea
back to nearly the chinese border
when did China enter the war and why
in October 1950, because they were worried about how far the UN had pushed back North korea, and were scared they would continue into China (bcs china was communist)
over the course of the war, how many troops did China send in aid of North Korea
over 1.5 million
when did the fighting end and why
1953
- Stalin died
- truman no longer president
- General Macarthur had been replaced
who was general Macarthur
USA military general in charge during the war
How did the fighting end
armistice was signed
how was the border between South korea and North Korea by the end of the war
virtually the same as when it started
war was from what to year until which year
1950 (july)-1953
why was America being involved in the war beneficial to stalin
because it took america’s resources and money (huge amounts) put aside into Korean war and it also takes their attention off of Europe so Stalin can consolidate his control and power and grip of Eastern Europe
