MAO- Korean War Flashcards
How long had Korea been occupied by Japan for?
Since 1910
When did the Japanese leave Korea?
1945
What happened after the Japanese left Korea?
Russians invaded across its short common frontier; installed Kim Il Sung as leader in the north of the peninsula
What was Korea partitioned along after the Russians invaded?
38th parallel
Who did the non-Communist south Korea look for help from?
USA
When did Kim step up his interest in conquering the South for Communism?
When it became apparent that the USA was losing interest in Korea
When did the Korean War begin?
June 1950
When did the war escalate?
When the UN authorised a force (mainly American) to defend the south
Why did Mao get involved with the Korean War?
Worried that an American victory would leave China vulnerable to attack from US bombers operating from North Korea
When did Mao intervene?
When the UN/US force crossed into the North
Who manipulated Mao into intervention?
Stalin
Why was Stalin eager to get Mao involved in the war?
Hoped to get Mao and Kim to deal with the Americans, without it draining Russia’s resources
How did Mao take advantage of the outbreak of war?
Took more extreme measures at home
When had the basis of a militarised society been put in place in China?
During the first 12 months of Communist rule
What campaign did Mao launch as soon as the PLA were sent to the aid of North Korea?
Great Terror against counter-revolutionaries in October 1950
What did the more extreme measures Mao took at home enable him to do?
Strengthen the grip of the Party by destroying the lingering remains of Nationalist opposition; remove elements who might emerge as future opponents
Why did the wartime terror increase the power of the Party?
Local leaders were given key roles in organising its details; workers were only too pleased to denounce unpopular colleagues and exploitative bosses
Which foreign groups were persecuted in the wartime?
Americans; Christian missionaries
How did China promote national unity during the war?
Party orchestrated a concerted propaganda campaign against the USA
Who took the lead in organising student demonstrations and anti-American patriotic parades?
Zhou Enlai
What else were the anti-American rallies used to do?
Apply pressure on people to volunteer for the PLA
How was the war funded?
People were pressurised into donating their money and goods; taxes were raised to new levels
How extreme could forced donations be for professionals in the cities?
Up to 3 months salary
When did Beijing launch a germ warfare scare?
February 1952
During the germ warfare scare, where did the government claim that the American planes were dropping cylinders of disease?
North Korea; Manchuria
During the germ warfare scare, which plague-infested animals did the government claim that the Americans were releasing?
Rats; frogs
When was the credibility of the germ warfare scare undermined by the Russians?
April 1953
What did the Party use the paranoia about health concerns with the germ warfare scare to justify?
‘Five pests’ campaign
What were the ‘five pests’?
Flies; mosquitoes; fleas; bedbugs; rats
Which animal was declared to be dangerous alongside the ‘five pests’?
Dogs
How many Chinese lives is it estimated were lost during the Korean war?
1 million
Why did Mao believe that the scale of losses during the Korean war was unimportant?
Population was so vast that the losses would soon be made up
What was the name of Mao’s eldest son, who was killed during the Korean war?
Mao Anying
How did Mao’s eldest son die during the war?
Burned to death in an American incendiary raid on his headquarters
What was Mao’s eldest son working as during the war?
Interpreter for Marshal Peng
How did Mao react to the death of his eldest son?
Took the blow badly; became even more distanced from ordinary people and their sufferings
Why did the war have such damaging effects on the economy?
Had to be entirely refocused in order to supply the military equipment and supplies needed to sustain 3 years of war
How much of government spending went on the military in 1951?
Over 1/2
How much higher was the annual budget of 1951 compared to that of the year before?
75%
Where was most of the Chinese military equipment produced?
Manchuria
Where were food supplies for the army mainly requisitioned from?
Rice from Sichuan; bread from Manchuria
What caused further difficulties for China’s economy?
Trade embargo on Chinese goods imposed by the USA when China entered the war
How did the trade embargo affect China?
Caused a 30% fall in foreign trade in the first 6 months of 1951
What were the indirect economic impacts of the Korea war?
Restricted success of the 1FYP; debts meant that little was invested in education, health provision or vital aspects of the economic infrastructure
Why was China’s prestige significantly boosted by the Korean war?
Its armies had held those of the USA at bay for the best part of 3 years
What were the other benefits for China from its involvement in the Korean war?
PRC could now claim to be the most powerful Communist nation; preservation of a friendly, Communist North Korea gave China greater security
Why did Chinese relations with the Soviet Union suffer due to the war?
Mao soon saw how he had been misled by Stalin at the outset; resented Stalin’s failure to supply air cover to the PLA and get more directly involved in the fighting
Why did Sino-Soviet relations deteriorate further after Stalin’s death?
Although Mao had never trusted Stalin, he had far less respect for Khrushchev
How did America establish itself as the enemy of China post-Korean war?
CIA began plotting to undermine Chinese control of Tibet; Americans moved to replace French in Taiwan; ensured that China was refused admission to the United Nations until 1972
