5.1.2

The Korean War

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The Korean War

In 1950, North Korean communists invaded South Korea, leading to the first major proxy war.

The invasion of the South

The invasion of the South

  • In 1950 the Northern Communists, backed by the USSR and China, invaded the South.
    • America, backed by the UN, organised a counter-attack.
  • Kim Il-Sung’s North Korean People’s Army was too strong for the Republic of Korea’s forces.
US forces

US forces

  • It was only with the support of General Macarthur’s US forces that the North Korean People’s Army could be held back.
  • However, in late 1950, Chinese People’s Volunteers forced the Americans to retreat.
    • This forced the US to send more troops, eventually allowing them to force the communists back to the 38th parallel, the border assigned between North and South.
The end of the Korean War

The end of the Korean War

  • Clashes carried on until 1953, when America’s new president, Dwight D. Eisenhower, offered peace.
    • The border between the two countries has remained the same ever since.

The Korean War

Asia was becoming the theatre of war between capitalism and communism. The first major conflict was in Korea

US Domino Theory

US Domino Theory

  • The domino theory was part of the US’ policy of containment.
  • The US feared that if one state fell to communism, neighbours would quickly follow.
  • For this reason, it was essential to contain the spread of communism.
Causes of the war

Causes of the war

  • Following WW2, Korea had been split along the 38th parallel.
  • The North was communist and supported by the Soviet Union. It was led by Kim Il Sung.
  • The South was supported by the US and was led by Syngman Rhee.
Course of the war: June - September

Course of the war: June - September

  • In June 1950 conflict began. The North launched an assault on the South.
  • In fear of communist expansion, the US sent forces to help South Korea.
  • In July 1950, the US sought the UN’s support to send aid. This was granted.
  • In September 1950 UN forces, led by General MacArthur arrived to help force back the North Koreans over the parallel.
Course of the war: October - July

Course of the war: October - July

  • In October 1950, China launched an invasion of Korea to force the UN south of the parallel.
    • MacArthur demanded the use of atomic weapons, however this was denied.
  • By June 1951, a stalemate emerged.
  • In November 1952 Eisenhower became president and sought to solve the war.
  • In July 1953 an armistice was signed.
Impact of the war

Impact of the war

  • The war in Korea became a proxy war for the ideological conflict between the US and USSR.
  • Following MacArthur’s bellicose behaviour, the idea of regaining territory from communists (rollback) fell out of favour.
  • The US kept soldiers in South Korea. This placed a strain on Sino (Chinese)-US relations.
Jump to other topics
1

Was the Treaty of Versailles Fair?

1.1

What were the Motives and Aims at Versailles?

1.1.1The Treaty of Versailles1.1.2Roles of Wilson, Clemenceau & George
1.2

Did the Victors Get Everything They Wanted?

1.2.1The Terms: Territory1.2.2The Terms: Reparations1.2.3The Terms: Armaments1.2.4The Terms: War Guilt1.2.5The League of Nations1.2.6French Reaction1.2.7American Reaction1.2.8British Reaction1.2.9Countries Left Out of the Treaty of Versailles
1.3

What was the Impact on Germany up to 1923?

1.3.1German Reaction to the Treaty1.3.2Germany’s Allies1.3.3Economic Impacts: Ruhr & Hyperinflation1.3.4Social Impacts of the Treaty in Germany1.3.5Political Impacts of the Treaty on Germany1.3.6Reducing Reparation: The Dawes Plan
1.4

Could the Treaty be Justified at the Time?

1.4.1Positives & Negatives1.4.2Contemporary Opinions About the Treaty
2

Was the League of Nations a Success?

2.1

How did Weaknesses in the League Lead to Failure?

2.1.1The League of Nations2.1.2Structure of the League: Assembly & Council2.1.3Structure of the League: Special Commissions2.1.4Structure of the League: Permanent Court2.1.5Structure of the League: Secretariat2.1.6Financial Crisis in the World
2.2

The League’s Success in Peacekeeping

2.2.1Successes: International Borders2.2.2Successes: International Agreements2.2.3Failures: Vilna (1920)2.2.4Åland Islands 1920-212.2.5Failures: Corfu 19232.2.6Failures: Bulgaria 1925
2.3

How Important was the League's Humanitarian Work?

2.3.1Refugees, Health, Slavery, Working Conditions 12.3.2Refugees, Health, Slavery, Working Conditions 2
2.4

How did the Depression Impact the League?

2.4.1The Great Depression, 19292.4.2The Manchurian Crisis, 19312.4.3Invasion of Abyssinia, 1935
3

How did Hitler's Foreign Policy Impact the War?

3.1

What were the Long-Term Consequences of Versailles

3.1.1Long-Term Consequences of Versailles
3.2

What were the Consequences of the League's Failure

3.2.1The Disarmament Conference3.2.2Collapse of the League of Nations3.2.3Tension in Europe in the 1930s3.2.4WWII & Failure of the League of Nations3.2.5Weak Nations
3.3

Was the Policy of Appeasement Justified?

3.3.1The Spanish Civil War, 1936-393.3.2The Sudetenland3.3.3Arguments for Appeasement3.3.4Arguments Against Appeasement3.3.5Reasons & Acts of Appeasement3.3.6Impact of Appeasement
3.4

How Important was the Nazi-Soviet Pact?

3.4.1The Nazi-Soviet Pact3.4.2The Polish Crisis & the Outbreak of War
3.5

Why did Britain & France Declare War on Germany?

3.5.1The Guarantee for Poland and the War3.5.2Hitler’s Foreign Policy & Rearmament3.5.3Hitler's Plan3.5.4The Saar3.5.5Remilitarisation of the Rhineland3.5.6The Rome-Berlin Axis3.5.7Germany & Italy in the Spanish War3.5.8The Anti-Comintern Pact3.5.9Anschluss with Austria3.5.10The Munich Agreement3.5.11The Crisis over Czechoslovakia
4

Who was to Blame for the Cold War?

4.1

Why did the US-Soviet Alliance Break Down?

4.1.1Cold War - Definition4.1.2The Grand Alliance4.1.3The 1945 Summit Conferences4.1.4Early US-Soviet Relations4.1.5The Breakdown of the US-Soviet Alliance4.1.6Attitudes of Truman & Stalin4.1.7US & Soviet Attitudes to Peace
4.2

How did the USSR Gain Control of Eastern Europe?

4.2.1The USSR & Eastern Europe
4.3

How did the US React to Soviet Expansionism?

4.3.1The Beginning of the Cold War4.3.2The Truman Doctrine & Marshall Plan4.3.3East-West Boundaries4.3.4Berlin Crisis
4.4

What were the Consequences of the Berlin Blockade?

4.4.1Germany4.4.2Bizonia4.4.3Berlin Blockade4.4.4FRG & GDR4.4.5NATO4.4.6Warsaw Pact
4.5

Who was More to Blame for Starting the Cold War?

4.5.1The Responsibility for Cold War Tensions4.5.2Blame on the USRR4.5.3Blame on the US4.5.4Sharing the Blame
5

Did the US Contain the Spread of Communism?

5.1

The US and Korea, 1950-53

5.1.1The US and Korea: Background to the Crisis5.1.2The Korean War5.1.3The Course of the Korean War
5.2

The US and Cuba, 1959-62

5.2.1Build-Up to the Cuban Missile Crisis5.2.2The Cuban Missile Crisis5.2.3Consequence of the Cuban Missile Crisis
5.3

The US and Vietnam, 1955-75

5.3.1French Rule in Vietnam5.3.2President Eisenhower5.3.3President Kennedy5.3.4The Gulf of Tonkin Incident, 19645.3.5US Tactics5.3.6Vietcong Tactics5.3.7The Vietcong5.3.8The My Lai Massacre, 19685.3.9Vietnamisation5.3.10The Tet Offensive, 19685.3.11Attacks on Cambodia & Laos5.3.12The Bombing of North Vietnam5.3.13The Failure of Vietnamisation5.3.14The Growth of Opposition5.3.15The Draft System5.3.16The Kent State University Shootings, 19705.3.17Political Opposition5.3.18Reasons for Support 15.3.19Reasons for Support 25.3.20Political Support5.3.21Peace Negotiations5.3.22The Paris Peace Accords, 19735.3.23Economic & Human Costs 15.3.24Economic & Human Costs 25.3.25The Strengths of North Vietnam 15.3.26The Strengths of North Vietnam 25.3.27The Weaknesses of the US 15.3.28The Weaknesses of the US 25.3.29Opposition in the US5.3.30Reasons Why USA Lost
6

How was USSR's Control Over Eastern Europe?

6.1

Opposition to Control in Hungary & Czechoslovakia

6.1.1Causes of Opposition6.1.2The Hungarian Uprising6.1.3Czechoslovakia, 19686.1.4Reaction to the Brezhnev Doctrine
6.2

Similarities Between Hungary & Czechoslovakia

6.2.1Hungary and Czechoslovakia 16.2.2Hungary & Czechoslovakia 2
6.3

Why was the Berlin Wall Built?

6.3.1The Berlin Wall 16.3.2The Berlin Wall 26.3.3The U2 Crisis
6.4

Solidarity in Poland & Soviet Influence

6.4.1Solidarity in Poland
6.5

Gorbachev's Responsibility

6.5.1Reagan & Gorbachev6.5.2Reagan and the ‘Second Cold War’6.5.3The Collapse of Soviet Control6.5.4The Collapse of the USSR

Practice questions on The Korean War

Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

  1. 1
    When did the Northern communists invade the South in Korea?Multiple choice
  2. 2
    Who supported who in the Korean War?Fill in the list
  3. 3
    Which of the following about the Korean War are correct?True / false
  4. 4
    Which theory dictated US behaviour in Korea?Multiple choice
  5. 5
    When did the Korean War begin?Multiple choice
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The US and Korea: Background to the Crisis

The Course of the Korean War