The Korean War

1
The Korean War

• By Adam Spark, Greg Bourolias, Todd Isbister,
  Dave Rodgers

2
Synopsis

• The Korean War was an episode in the Cold War.
  It was a war between South and North Korea, but
  America and Russia were using it to fight without
  having a hot war.
• The USA went to war in Korea for three reasons.
  The first reason was the Domino theory China
  turned Communist in 1949 and Truman feared that
  the next domino would be Japan. The second
  was to undermine Communism and protect the
  American way of life in 1950 the American
  National Security Council recommended that
  America start 'rolling back' Communism.
  Thirdly, Truman realized the USA was in a
  competition for world domination with the USSR.
• Russia went to war because Stalin wanted
  Communism to grow. In 1949, Kim Il Sung
  persuaded Stalin and Mao Tse Tung to support an
  invasion of South Korea.
• In 1950, Syngman Rhee threatened to attack North
  Korea. It was an excuse the trigger for war
  the NKPA invaded South Korea

3
Explain how this was a proxy war. Who were the
power and which side were they on?

• This was a proxy war because it was the
  communist North Korea vs. the capitalist South
  Korea
• It was part of the Cold War because it was the
  communists against the capitalists
• Major countries supporting the North were the
  U.S.S.R. and China
• Major countries supporting the South were the UK,
  Canada, and the U.S.
• It was a way for the western war to fight the
  communists

4
Analyze Americas role and stand on the war. How
did the President view this war? What about
citizens? Other Members of the American
government? Other countries?

• American Role
• Americas in the war was to lead and command the
  UN troops
• They aided South Korea in the war
• At first they were sent to stem the North Korean
  advance not to attack
• President View
• Truman saw the war as an opportunity to fight
  communism
• Citizen View

5
What was the end result of the war? What did it
accomplish or what did it fail to accomplish?

• The war never really ended, but there was a
  signing of a armistice or ceasefire between the
  U.S., North Korea, and China on July 27, 1953,
  but not a peace treaty
• The Korean War failed to unite the country
• This meant that Korea is still split up into the
  communist North Korea and the capitalist South
  Korea
• The end of the war formed the formation of the
  De-Militarized zone between North and South
  Korea, one of the most heavily armed stretches in
  the world

6
Evaluate the importance of this war and how it
is a reflection of the Cold War era?