The causes of the Korean War

Question 1

What was the Marshall Plan?

Answer 1

When Marshall and Truman asked Congress for $17 billion to fund the European Recovery Programme - to get the economy of Europe going again

Question 2

In March 1947, how did President Truman say that the US would come to the aid of any country under threat of communist takeover?

Answer 2

With money and military help

Question 3

What is the policy of ‘containment’?

Answer 3

US policy of attempting to stop the spread of communism

Question 4

What was containment also known as?

Answer 4

Truman Doctrine

Question 5

Why was Stalin suspicious of the Truman Doctrine?

Answer 5

He thought it was a way for the US to control Europe by offering money in return for trade

Question 6

What was the Domino theory?

Answer 6

The idea that if one nation in a region fell under communist control, others would follow

Question 7

What had the USSR developed by 1949?

Answer 7

Nuclear weapons

Question 8

List 5 countries that formed a military alliance called NATO in 1949

Answer 8

Britain
USA 
Canada
France 
Belgium
Other European countries

Question 9

What was the purpose of NATO?

Answer 9

This union was a defence against the USSR and its eastern European allies

Question 10

What was the Warsaw Pact?

Answer 10

A military alliance in response to the formation of NATO

Question 11

List 8 countries in the Warsaw Pact

Answer 11

The USSR
Albania
Bulgaria
Czechoslovakia
East Germany
Hungary
Poland
Romania

Question 12

When did Japan take over Korea?

Answer 12

Early 1900s

Question 13

For long did Korea stay under Japanese control?

Answer 13

Until the end of WW2

Question 14

When did Japan invade China?

Answer 14

1931

Question 15

Who was the leader of the Chinese communists?

Answer 15

Mao Tse-tung

Question 16

When did China become a communist country?

Answer 16

1949

Question 17

Who took charge of North Korea in 1948?

Answer 17

A Korean communist called Kim Il-sung

Question 18

What did Kim Il-sung want?

Answer 18

A united, independent Korea

Question 19

What is the capital of North Korea?

Answer 19

Pyongyang

Question 20

Who became leader in the US-controlled South Korea?

Answer 20

Syngman Rhee, a capitalist with strong ties with the US

Question 21

What did Syngman Rhee and Kim Il-sung both have in common?

Answer 21

They were both Korean Nationalists

Question 22

What is the capital of South Korea?

Answer 22

Seoul

Question 23

Within the UN, who make’s the decisions relating to peace and security?

Answer 23

The ‘Security Council’

Question 24

What does veto mean?

Answer 24

The right to block a decision made by other’s

Question 25

When China became a communist country, what did the Security Council meet to decide on?

Answer 25

Whether the Chinese government should be allowed to join

Question 26

What did the US do when the Security Council met to decide whether China could join?

Answer 26

They vetoed the decision. The USSR were keen for the communist China to join, but the US still regarded Chiang Kai-shek and his supporters as the true government

Question 27

What did the USSR do in protest to the US veto as to whether China could join?

Answer 27

They stormed out of the meeting, and refused to attend the security council for the foreseeable future

Question 28

What 5 states in the Security Council are permanent?

Answer 28

``` Britain France USA USSR China ```

Question 29

What are the terms for a decision being made in the security council?

Answer 29

9 countries must agree, including all 5 permanent states

Question 30

What did Kim Il-sung believe in 1949?

Answer 30

That South Koreans would welcome an invasion by North Korea. He visited Soviet leader Stalin to ask for his support. However, Stalin didn't think the timing was right due to US troops still being in South Korea and an invasion by the North might pull Soviet soldiers into a fight with the US troops

Question 31

Why did Stalin think the situation had changed in 1950 for Korea?

Answer 31

US troops had left Korea Communists had won the civil war in China Soviets had developed their own nuclear weapons that were more equal to the US The Soviets had cracked secret US codes used to communicate with other governments around the world

Question 32

What did the USSR supply North Korea with?

Answer 32

Tanks, Artillery and Aircraft | Began to train their soldiers

Question 33

What did Stalin give permission for Kim Il-sung to do in 1950?

Answer 33

Invade South Korea - but made it clear that Soviet troops would not be directly involved

Question 34

When did North Korean troops invade South Korea?

Answer 34

25th June 1950

Question 35

What did President Truman declare on the 27th June 1950?

Answer 35

That the US would go to the aid of South Korea | That the UN Security Council must meet quickly to decide how to respond

Question 36

What was the response of the UN to the invasion of South Korea?

Answer 36

The Security Council met quickly | The US suggested that the UN should assemble an army and help Korea

Question 37

What did the remaining members (USSR refusing to attend meetings) of the Security Council order?

Answer 37

Ordered North Korea to leave South Korea

Question 38

Why did the UN agree to put an invasion force together and take military action?

Answer 38

Because North Korea refused to leave South Korea

Question 39

Who was given the title 'Commander-in-Chief, UN Command'?

Answer 39

General Douglas MacArthur, from the USA

Question 40

How many UN member states sent troops to fight?

Answer 40

16, including the USA, Turkey, France, South Africa, Australia, Britain and Ethiopia

Question 41

What was the US response to the invasion of South Korea?

Answer 41

President Truman was facing elections in November 1950, and wanted to the US public that he was trying to 'contain' communism He ordered US 7th fleet to patrol the seas around North Korea and South Korea, and sent troops and supplies to help South Korea

Question 42

What was the Soviet response to the invasion of South Korea?

Answer 42

The USSR openly criticised the UN, saying that their list of rules stated that the UN was not permitted to get involved in 'internal events' They said that the USA wanted to make Korea part of the 'American colony' which could be used as a US military base The USSR confirmed they would not interfere with events in Korea