Week of May 9-13th

Monday- Talk about our forum post leaders, and start notes on the Korean war. Decade presentations will start Wednesday. Notes on bottom. 

Tuesday- Finish notes. 

Wednesday- Start presentations (1950s)

Thursday- Work Day

Friday- Continue notes on presentations

Origins- Korean War

  • Korea was invaded and ruled by Japan in 1910 until 1945
  • Kim Il-Sung original leader of North Korea 
  • Syngman Rhee original leader of North Korea 

  • North invaded and pushed South Koreans in a corner
  • United Nations was set up and voted to send troops to help SK (Douglas MacArthur)
  • Invasion was successful 
  • MacArthur was given strict instructions from Truman to NOT make it look like they were invading China
  • MacArthur wanted to take down communist China
  • MacArthur fired for going against orders 
  • China invades because they think they are going to be invaded and recapture the capital city of SOL

United Nations Police Action 

  • UN Security Council voted to send troops to help SK
  • US, GB, France, China and the Soviet Union were permanent members that could veto the 'police action'
  • Why didn't the USSR and/or China veto this proposal?
    • Taiwan was represented as China
    • China=Taiwan China, not communist China
    • SU-boycotted meetings 

MacArthur Removed

  • MacArthur was removed from command by Truman on April 11, 1951
  • Why?
    • Saying we should take out Communist China
    • Disobeyed Truman's orders
  • Macarthur was succeeded by General Matthew Ridgeway
  • He was able to slowly drive back the enemy to the 38th parallel 

  • Demilitarized zone (DMZ) was established around it, which is still defended today by North Korean troops on one side and South Korean and American troops on the other
  • No peace treaty has ever been signed to this date

Results/Outcomes/Casualties

  • Was the first armed confrontation of the Cold War and it set a model for many later conflicts
  • Created the idea of a limited war, where the two superpowers would and could fight without using nuclear weapons
  • Also expanded the Cold War which to that point has mostly been concerned with Europe
  • 2 million deaths total
  • US had 54000 deaths
  • No one won or lost- stalemate
  • Many cities destroyed 
  • Conventional bonds 

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