Korean War

Korean War

Throughout the Cold War, the superpowers:

•Argued with each other in the United Nations Assembly.

•Criticized each other through their television programs, news papers, art and films.

•Sometimes threatened military confrontation with each other.

•Sent troops or advisers to help other to disrupt the aims and plans of their opponents.

Anti-Communism in the USA

McCarthy thought that the Soviet Union wanted to get Communist sympathizers in America and tried to find these sympathizers. The government was suspicious of him but didn’t want to resist him so McCarthy won a lot of power in the USA.

The Korean War

McCarthy overstated the influence of communism in the United States. China became a communist country in 1949 after receiving $2 billion for supporting Nationalism between 1946 and 1949. American spies reported Truman that Stalin was using the Cominform to help Communists win power in Malaya, Indonesia, Burma, the Philipines and Korea. South Korea was invaded in 1950.

Background

Korea had been ruled by Japan. After the Second WW, the northern part was liberated by the USSR (communist , ruled by Kim Il Sung) and the South by the USA (anti-communist, ruled by Syngman Rhee). In 1950, the North Korean troops went into South Korea and took control over all except a small corner of south-east Korea.

Truman sent supplies and warships all around Korea and put pressure on the UN to condemn actions of North Koreans, and withdraw their troops. When China became communist, the USA blocked its entry to the UN and the USSR wasn’t going to the UN meetings as a protest. So the USA could influence the UN to send troops against the North Koreans.

UN or USA?

The Americans were the ones who provided more for the South Koreans. The General was MacArthur (American). North Korean’s troops were driven back to the 38th parallel, the original division but MacArthur and Truman didn’t stop. Despite China’s warning that pressing on would mean China getting into the war, the UN approved a plan to advance over North Korea. By October 1950, American troops reached the borders with China, and Chinese troops joined the North Koreans. They had advanced technology supplied by the Soviet Union. UN forces were pushed back to South Korea. Finally, they reached the 38th parallel.

The Allies of America in the UN, convinced Truman that attacking China would be very risk. However, MacArthur went against the UN in March 1951, and attacked china. Truman removed him from his position. Containment was the American policy.

Peace between South and North Korea began in June 1951. Stalin’s death in March 1953 made Chinese and North Koreans less confident, there was an armistice signed in July 1953.

Was Containment the right policy?

Some favoured the aggressive

...