IBHL1 SGQ13

MWH p. 143-147
1. Background
a. Explain the evolution of control of Korea from 1910 to 1948-Korea was Originally controlled by the Japanesse but when they were defeated in WWII the US and USSR decided to divide Korea among the 38th pararellel Russia in the North and America in the south.
b. What was the leadership situation in Korea in 1949? The UN supervised elections in the south, were Syngman Rhee won as president for the independent Republic. Russian's created the Democratic People's Republic of Korea which Kim II Sung won.
2. Why did the North invade the South?
Possible answers:
a. Kim's idea - It was his own idea.
b. Chinese role - The new Chinese Communist government may have encouraged them.
c. Russian role - Stalin wanting to test Trumans determinatoin.
d. S. Korea's role - South Korea was blamed for it, that they crossed the 38th Parallel.
3. What did the USA do?
a. Why did Truman decide to intervene?
i. He believed it was Stalin's doing trying to spread communism.
ii. Some American's though the appeasement of aggressors would happen again.
iii. Truman wanted to support UNO since Leauge of Nations failed.
iv. He was loosing popularity since he was in the democratic party and the Republicans criticized him for not taking action.
b. What nations joined the US in support of S. Korea?- Japan, though 14 other countries senty troops that were all lead my American General MacArthur.
c. Briefly summarize the course of the war in 1950- The UN quickly cleared the communists out of the south before then end of the Setpember. Truman then ordered a invasion of North Korea so that it would be a united Korea with free elections.
d. How and why did China get involved?- Because they were afraid America would keep going once they took over North Korea.
e. How did the war end?- The Chinese had sent such large forces the only other way may have been to drop atomic bombs which would lead to a full scale war.
4. What were the results of the war?
a. Korea - Left 4 million dead and 5 million homeless the country was devastated.

b. the US - Divided among people, some felt that they did well, others though that they gave up a on a good chance of getting rid of communism.
c. the UN -should it would follow through.
d. China - It showed China was a formidable opponent with a powerful army. China had stopped Korea from being unified.
e. the Cold War - Caused more tenison with China interving and North Korea now communist. Truman's plan for containment was failing because communism was spreading throughout the world.