The Korean War part 2 Flashcards
Why would the Korean war be considered a US war and not a Un war?
USA + South Korea had provided 90% of the troops + Truman never let M.A communicate with the UN.
Allies disagreed with the US for things like singing the 7th fleet to taiwan, but the US always did what it wanted (as always)
M.A did not communicate with the Un
Why could the Korean war be considered a UN war?
Truman described the war as “UN police action”.
40’000 troops from other nations (15) fought in Korea + 5 countries sent medics + 8 countries provided economic aid and food + panama provided transportation. Everyone say thank you to panama
M.A did not communicate with the Un but that could be excused as communicating in general proved difficult. (ex: Americans did not know the British radio frequency + Turks could not understand what US commanders were telling them, etc.)
Did truman want to abandon korea?
Nope. Even if 1951 polls showed that 49% of Americans felt sending troops to korea had been a mistake and 66% believed the US should abandon korea.
When did the Chinese retake seoul? When did US/UN/ROK forces retake seoul and reached the 38th parallel
Jan 1951
March 1951
What effect did Walker’s replacement Ridgway have on the war?
Inspirational and superb leader -> raised US morale
What else helped the US troops recover?
Chinese supply lines had reached their outer limits and the flatter lands of south korea favoured the tanks and artillery that ridgway possessed in abundance.
Why did Truman dismiss MacArthur in April 1951?
What effect did that have on truman?
Opposed his doctrine of containment
Repeatedly published his disagreements with the president which violated the december 1950 JCS directive that all government officials had to obtain clearance before they publish comments on the war
His president’s approval ratings sank to 26%, as M.A returned home as a hero with a record breaking welcome parade in New york City (half a million).
Over 100’000 letters reached congressmen demanding Truman’s impeachment. + 69% believed it was wrong to sack M.A
What happened in june 1951?
China requested an armistice, due to its losses + needing to concentrate on its domestic issues + fearing that the conflict might escalate. North Koreans and the USSR were also tired of war that was not going to end in Korea’s reunification.
What were the reasons for the US to seek peace?
30’000 lives lost
1951 poll-> majority of americans had turned against Truman’s war
Damaged government fincases
Some feared the conflict might escalate into WW3
JCS did not want to be pinned down in korea as they feared war in europe
Congress believed the biggest threat was the USSR not china
Pressure from allies to end military stalemate
War was damaging the US’ reputation from communist accusations that the US was using bacteriological warfare in korea.
When was the armistice signed?
Why was there a delay?
Why was it signed then?
1953
Both sides feared giving the other the advantage, were preoccupied with saving face and hated each other
Ridgway could barely talk to the Chinese which he called savages.
Truman refused to return chinese prisoners of war to china
New leaders in the US and USSR. Eisenhower was elected and Stalin died in march. The new leaders did not start nor sustain the war and so their prestige was not at stake -> armistice finally signed.
How well was Truman able to stick to his containment policy?
US had proved willing and able to halt communist expansion -> saved south korea
War also ensured Japan’s security and development into a reliable US ally.
Restoration of the status quo in South Korea helped American prestige and credibility.
However the US did fail to reunite china.
How did the Korean war prompt the arms race?
Prompted US and Soviet military build up. Truman accelerated the US hydrogen bomb programme, strengthened NATO and began remilitarization of germany.
how much of turning point was the korean war in the Cold War?
accoridng to historian James Matray 2001: the korean war was a critical turning point in hte hwole cold war, with increased US defence expenditure and commitment to NATO, the poisining of Sino-american realtions. the main legacy of the war is that the US thereafter purused a foregin policy of global intervention and paid an enormous price in death, destructation and reputation.
it shifted the cold war tensions onto Asia and the war infleunced truman to get into vietnam.
