The Korean War 1950-53 and its impact to 1977 Flashcards

1
Q

Why was it difficult to reach a settlement?

Attitudes of the Leaders * [4]

A

Changes in leadership sped up the process

  • Eisenhower elected in 1952, promises to bring the war to an end
  • Eisenhower was aware of pointlessness of the warfare & loss of popular support at home (only 33% support US involvement)
  • Stalin didn’t want to end the war -> wanted to distract US away from Europe
  • 1953 Stalin dies + new President Georgi Malenkov took over in March 1953, wants to reduce tensions w/ US
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2
Q

Why was it difficult to reach a settlement?

Military in charge of negotiations [3]

A
  • Army officials undertaking discussions - too militant:
    e.g. UN Turner Joy, July 1951 - Plants UN flag in middle of the table
  • Army officials not going to effectively make peace negotiations
  • Later, Eisenhower & Malenkov use political negotiators:
    Kennan (US) + Malik (USSR) - only changed due to new leaders
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3
Q

Why was it difficult to reach a settlement?

Prisoners of war

A
  • Truman wants POWs to have FREE CHOICE - China disagrees
  • Uses India as neutral state for POWs to decide
  • NK didn’t want voluntary repatriation
  • SK allowed a mass escape of prisoners.
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4
Q

To what extent was the Korean War a failure for the US?

Aim 1: Containment (Success) [3]

A

Containment: Restored the status quo - division of 2 Koreas at 38th parrallel

  • Inchon landings September 1950 were a success
  • If US stopped in October 1950 and didn’t invade NK they would’ve achieved containment in 1950
  • Containment achieved in 1953
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5
Q

To what extent was the Korean War a failure for the US?

Aim 2: Rollback (Failure) [3]

A

Rollback: Complete eradication of Communism on Korean pennisula
- Originally successful - pushed back onto Yalu river bordering China
- Resulted in Chinese intervention:
MacArthur fired, Frozen Chosin (Winter 1950) 6,000 US casualties of frostbite
- Ceasefire line remained unofficial border

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6
Q

To what extent was the Korean War a failure for the US?

Domestically? [3]

A
  • Cost US $67 billion - generated inflation
  • Greatly damaged Truman’s presidency -> Democrats defeated
  • Led to McCarthyism - paranoia about internal Communist threat:
    schools had atomic attack drills + sales of backyard bomb shelters increased
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7
Q

Was SEATO successful?

Reducing Communist threat * [3]

A

No it wasn’t successful - disbanded in 1977 and didn’t stop Communist expansion

  • No means of enforcing common action against Communist movements within states
  • Appeared to be a way for USA to entrench economic + strategic position in the USA - led to anti-American propaganda
  • Pakistan left 1973
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8
Q

Was SEATO successful?

Promoting economic development [4]

A
  • Technical training centers
  • Grants for agricultural research
  • Awards for literature
  • Medical research
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9
Q

Was SEATO successful?

Dealing with cultural issues [3]

A
  • Pakistan wasn’t included in area protected by SEATO
  • Countries w/i very different religiously and culturally
  • Half the members e.g. Britain, France, USA - not even in South East Asia
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10
Q

What was the Bandung Conference? [3]

A
  • Held in April 1955 in Indonesia
  • 29 states laid the basis for the non-aligned movement
  • Helped promote peace and mediation, avoiding horrors of nuclear war.
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11
Q

‘Chinese intervention was the only reason North Korea was not defeated in the Korean War, 1950-53’ TWEDYA?
Chinese Intervention * [4]

A
  • North Koreans were already pushed back to Yalu River when Chinese sent 150,000 men across
  • 270,000 UN men were overwhelmed by the Chinese human wave attacks
  • Nov. 1950 Frozen Chosin, US surrounded - 6,000 frostbite casualties
  • Mac Arthur loses his job

US forces were winning until Chinese intervention.

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12
Q

‘Chinese intervention was the only reason North Korea was not defeated in the Korean War, 1950-53’ TWEDYA?
Weaknesses in the UN forces [4]

A
  • Problems coordinating a multi-national force
  • Loss of morale of US troops combined with terrible weather - mechanised equipment freezes
  • Mac Arthur directing the battle from Japan!
  • Biggest retreat in US history

Were still winning until Chinese intervention.

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13
Q

‘Chinese intervention was the only reason North Korea was not defeated in the Korean War, 1950-53’ TWEDYA?
Strength of the North Korean Regime [4]

A
  • Kim’ troops were politically active compared to SK army
  • Je Ju uprising - Rhee killed 30,000, so NK more motivated under Kim
  • Support from China & USSR -> T-34’s and Yak fighter jets
  • Able to push SK back to Pussan perimeter
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14
Q

The Korean war ended due to new leadership of the USSR and USA. How far do you agree?
New Leadership

A

Changes in leadership sped up the process

  • Eisenhower elected in 1952, promises to bring the war to an end
  • Eisenhower was aware of pointlessness of the warfare & loss of popular support at home (only 33% support US involvement)
  • Stalin didn’t want to end the war -> wanted to distract US away from Europe
  • 1953 Stalin dies + new President Georgi Malenkov took over in March 1953, wants to reduce tensions w/ US
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15
Q

The Korean war ended due to new leadership of the USSR and USA. How far do you agree?
Backroom Negotiations

A
  • Army officials undertaking discussions - too militant:
    e.g. UN Turner Joy, July 1951 - Plants UN flag in middle of the table
  • Army officials not going to effectively make peace negotiations
  • Later, Eisenhower & Malenkov use political negotiators:
    Kennan (US) + Malik (USSR) - only changed due to new leaders
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16
Q

The Korean war ended due to new leadership of the USSR and USA. How far do you agree?
Chinese position on POWs

A
  • Truman wants POWs to have FREE CHOICE - China disagrees
  • Uses India as neutral state for POWs to decide
  • NK didn’t want voluntary repatriation
  • SK allowed a mass escape of prisoners.
17
Q

Impact of the Korean War on the US [3]

A
  • Cost US $67 billion - generated inflation
  • Greatly damaged Truman’s presidency -> Democrats defeated
  • Led to McCarthyism - paranoia about internal Communist threat:
    schools had atomic attack drills + sales of backyard bomb shelters increased
18
Q

Impact of the Korean war on China and the USSR [3]

A
  • The war poisoned Sino-American relations & contributed greatly to Western opposition to Chinese membership of the UN
  • Encouraged USSR to set China on the road to becoming a nuclear power from 1955
  • Consolidated the power of Mao’s government, which promoted unity through the ‘Resist America’ campaign.
19
Q

Who was more important in the end of the Korean War? i) Eisenhower [3]

A
  • Eisenhower elected in 1952- promises to bring the war to an end
  • Eisenhower repeatedly said he was prepared to use atomic weapons (battlefield nukes), helped persuade peace
  • Eisenhower was aware of the pointlessness of the warfare & loss of popular support at home (only 33% support US involvement)
20
Q

Who was more important in the end of the Korean War? ii) Stalin

A
  • Wanted to continue the war and distract America from Europe, supplied NK with T-34s
  • His death in 1953 led to the takeover of Malenkov as leader
  • Malenkov wanted to ease tensions with US so opted for peace
21
Q

‘Mac Arthur was the main reason the US failed in Korea?’ TWEDYA [3]

A

1) Decision to push for rollback - October 1950 ->Chinese intervention, 300,000 troops
2) Broadcast desire to move 7th fleet into straights of Taiwan -> provokes China more
3) Military mistakes underestimating Chinese - disaster at Chosin, 50% casualty rate

22
Q

Which was a more successful outcome of the Korean War?

i) SEATO [3]

A
  • Only 8 countries signed up, less successful as there were fewer countries committed against communism
  • Of the 8, only 3 were in south-east Asia: Pakistan, Thailand and the Phillippines
  • Disbanded in 1977 due to lack of effectiveness
23
Q

Which was a more successful outcome of the Korean War?

ii) Bandung 1955 [3]

A
  • 29 countries, 55% population
  • Forerunner of the Non-Aligned movement (1960s)
  • Encouraged decline of colonization, hindered expansion of Russia, USA & Britain