Was the Korean War a Product of the Cold War tensions?
Was the Korean War a Product of the Cold War tensions? A. Plan of Investigation. The aim of this investigation is to asses if the Korean War was a product of the Cold war tensions. This investigation evaluates the long and short term causes of the Korean War. As well as looking at the Cold War as a factor for the Korean war I will also go on to evaluate the importance of internal factors such as Korea wanting to become self determined. I will be looking at the role of the opposing ideologies (communism vs. capitalism) and at the role China took in the Korean War. B. Summary of Evidence. In the long term the conflict occurred as a by-product of the Cold War tensions, this began after WW2. The USA no longer saw the Soviet Union as its ally but now as an enemy seeking to dominate the world1. By 1949 the cold war tensions were at boiling point because of such events such as the Truman Doctrine, Marshall Aid, and the Berlin Blockade. The USSR and America also had opposing ideologies (communism vs. capitalism)2. After F.Roosevelt died in April 1945 H.Truman took over as president3. He regarded the Soviet Union as an ideological rival prepared to use treason, disruption, and bullying tactics to promote communism and gain ground and power in Europe4. He saw the creation of satellite states in Eastern Europe as proof of a Soviet aim to spread communist control abroad5. To counter
The US intervention in Korean War was solely because of North Korean agression
'The US intervention in the Korean war was caused entirely by the aggressive behaviour of N. Korea.' How far do you agree with this judgement? The true reason as to why the US intervened in the Korean war has created a lot of conflicting answers from many historians. The aggression behaviour of North Korea inherently contributed into US intervention. Historians believed that this was another event in a civil war that had been raging since Korea had been divided. Kim Il Sung was seen by Stalin as someone who is capable to destroy left wing factions in the north and his ability to unite the people under a communist leadership. On 25th of June 1950 North Korean invaded the south in a clear act of invasion which quickly brought the attention to the US. It is arguable that the Americans, keen on human rights and democracy, provided military assistance to Syngman Rhee in the south in order to stop further expansion of communism. One of the reasons why the Americans urged to stop the spread of communism is due to the pressures from home. The 'red-scare' started by McCarthy threatened Truman's popularity as the people's president. He was accused of supporting communism and employing closet communists under his administration. The fact that North Korea invaded the south provided the perfect opportunity for Truman to take action and convince the public that he was no more communist
Was the Korean War a Product of the Cold War tensions?
Was the Korean War a Product of the Cold War tensions? A. Plan of Investigation. The aim of this investigation is to asses if the Korean War was a product of the Cold war tensions. This investigation evaluates the long and short term causes of the Korean War. As well as looking at the Cold War as a factor for the Korean war I will also go on to evaluate the importance of internal factors such as Korea wanting to become self determined. I will be looking at the role of the opposing ideologies (communism vs. capitalism) and at the role China took in the Korean War. B. Summary of Evidence. In the long term the conflict occurred as a by-product of the Cold War tensions, this began after WW2. The USA no longer saw the Soviet Union as its ally but now as an enemy seeking to dominate the world. By 1949 the cold war tensions were at boiling point because of such events such as the Truman Doctrine, Marshall Aid, and the Berlin Blockade. These flash points had caused tension and misunderstanding between the USA and the USSR because of the actions they took. But because of the opposing ideologies (communism vs. capitalism) if the USA or USSR brought about any policies they would be a direct threat to each other because their ideologies want to achieve different things. After F.Roosevelt died in April 1945 H.Truman took over as president. He regarded the Soviet Union as an ideological
McCarthyism, The Berlin Airlift and The Korean War.
McCarthyism Throughout the 1940s and 1950s America was overwhelmed with concerns about the threat of communism growing in Eastern Europe and China. Capitalizing on those concerns, a young Senator named Joseph McCarthy made a public accusation that more than two hundred "card-carrying" communists had infiltrated the United States government. While the House Un-American Activities Committee had been formed in 1938 as an anti-Communist organ, McCarthy's accusations heightened the political tensions of the times. Known as McCarthyism, the paranoid hunt for infiltrators was notoriously difficult on writers and entertainers, many of whom were labeled communist sympathizers and were unable to continue working. Some had their passports taken away, while others were jailed for refusing to give the names of other communists. The trials, which were well publicized, could often destroy a career with a single unsubstantiated accusation. Among those well-known artists accused of communist sympathies or called before the committee were Dashiell Hammett, Waldo Salt, Lillian Hellman, Lena Horne, Paul Robeson, Arthur Miller, Aaron Copland, Leonard Bernstein, Charlie Chaplin. In all, three hundred and twenty artists were blacklisted, and for many of them this meant the end of exceptional and promising careers. During this time there were few in the press willing to stand up against McCarthy
What were the causes of the Korean War (1950-1953)?
What were the causes of the Korean War (1950-1953)? On 25th June 1950, ninety thousand North Korean soldiers invaded South Koreas border defences, The Korean war had begun, this small scale civil war would escalate into an international conflict. Historically Korea had once been a united country, under Japanese rule for between 1905 and 1945 however, the Japanese were unruly and did not treat the Koreans well. At the end of the Second World War it was decided that the country would be divided along the 38th parallel and occupied by soviet troops in the North and American troops in the South. Syngman Rhee, who had spent some years exiled in America, became the president of South Korea in 1948, while Kim Il Sung, having fought for the Russian red army during the war became leader of the Peoples Democratic Republic (Communist) in North Korea. I intent to outline the causes and contributing factors that eventually led to the Korean War. An underlying factor in this conflict is the two very contrasting political systems in North Korea, The communist North led by Kim Il sung had links with fellow Communist nations such as China and the USSR, In April 1950, Kim Il Sung actually visited Moscow and by May and June Military supplies were being sent to north Korea including 150 T-34 Tanks. Similarly China did not want to have an American influenced democratic country bordering its
The Korean war and the conflict between North and South.
May 1945 the end of the second world war brought a new era of peace in the world. The United States and the Soviet Union emerged from the ashes as the world's new superpowers. It was up to these new superpowers to make up the new post-war world order. The United States and the Soviet Union were allies during the war, but that quickly ended and a new era of mistrust began between these two different ideological superpowers. The United States and the Soviet Union were vieing for influence in Europe as Europe partitioned between the victors of world war two. Both the United States and Russia were seeking as much control of territories around the world as they could. The Soviet Union who suffered the most in world war two (lost 20 million people) was seeking compensation and control of as many countries in eastern Europe as possible. But, Europe wasn't the only place where these superpowers were trying to gain influence, after the partitioning of Europe these two superpowers began concentrating there influence in Asia and mostly Korea. As Hitler and his army was being defeated on all fronts in Europe, the war in the Pacific was still raging. The United States was fighting Japan who in turn
To what extent was the Korean War a product of the cold war tensions?
To what extent was the Korean War a product of the cold war tensions? There is two answers to this question one is yes it was a product of the cold war and the other is no it wasn't a product of the cold war. In this essay we are going to discuss both arguments in much more depth and come to a conclusion to which answer is right. Firstly we will start with the answer yes it was a product of the cold war. The Korean War was a product of the cold war tensions because the cold war was a conflict between to opposing ideologies, communism and capitalism. By 1949 the cold war tensions were at boiling point because of events such as the Truman doctrine, Marshall plan and Berlin blockade, at these events things happened that caused tension and misunderstanding between the east and south. The Truman Doctrine stated that the US would aid any country under attack by armed minorities, it was made because of the situation in Greece but Stalin knew that it was aimed at preventing the spread of communism and this caused Stalin misunderstandings and anger to why this was made. The Marshall plan was aimed at recovering the war-torn Europe by giving out US financial aid but the conditions attached made it impossible for communist countries to be able to receive this aid. Lastly the Berlin Blockade was a flashpoint of the cold war because it almost mounted to actual war between the east and
The Korean War represented total defeat for the Truman Doctrine? H. Brogan. How far would you agree with Brogans assessment of the Korean War?
"The Korean War represented total defeat for the Truman Doctrine?" H. Brogan. How far would you agree with Brogan's assessment of the Korean War? The defeat of Japan in August 1945 left Korea split in two, along the 38th Parallel, with the North under Soviet influence, becoming Communist, and the South closer to American ideology, so Capitalist. Both of the new leaders of the Korea's, Kim Il Sung and Syngman Rhee (North and South Korea, respectively) wanted to unify the country, but under their own government. With the North Korean's attacking the South, the USA felt bound to help, what with the North being Communist, and also being tied by the Truman Doctrine. This war challenged the aims of the Doctrine, and to many it appeared to be a major defeat, H. Brogan in particular, but in a way, it wasn't. One of the aims was to avoid conflict with the USSR, yet "contain" further Communist expansion. Initially, it appears that this was fulfilled, no war was started with the USSR and Communism was kept in North Korea, after a bit of a struggle. However, a deeper examination shows that this isn't entirely true. Although there was no direct conflict with the USSR, they were still involved in the war, supplying the North Korean's with weapons and Soviet military advisers. This really isn't direct conflict, but it does show that there were elements of fighting Russia. The American's
To what extent was the Korean war a product of the cold war tensions?
To what extent was the Korean war a product of the cold war tensions? The Korean war was a product of the cold war tensions because the cold war was a conflict between to opposing ideologies, communism and capitalism. By 1949 the cold war tensions were at boiling point because of events such as the truman doctrine, Marshall plan and Berlin blockade, at these events things happened that caused tension and misunderstanding between the east and south. The truman Doctine stated that the US would aid any country under attack by armed minorities, it was made because of the situation in Greece but stalin knew that it was aimed at preventing the spread of communism and this caused Stalin misunderstandings and anger to why this was made. The marshall plan was aimed at recoving the the war-torn europe by giving out US finacial aid but the conditons attached made it impossible for communist countries to be able to recieve this aid. Lastly the Berlin Blockade was a flashpoint of the cold war because it almost mounted to actual war between the east and west. Stalin blocked all routs off to berlin so America couldnt reach its part of berlin, America then decided to organise a airlift to berlin to deliever aid to the berliners. If any plains were to be shot down would of certainly led to war, this blockade caused and mounted the tensions which had already been there. To now have in 1949 the
Japan after World War II
Japan after World War II The occupation of Japan was, from the beginning to the end, an American operation. General Douglas MacArthur, sole supreme commander of the Allied Power was in charge of it. The Americans had insufficient men to make a military government of Japan possible; so they decided to act through the existing Japanese government. General Mac Arthur became, except in name, dictator of Japan. He imposed his will on Japan. Demilitarisation was speedily carried out, demobilisation of the former imperial forces was completed by early 1946. Japan was extensively fire bombed during the second world war. The stench of sewer gas, rotting garbage, and the acrid smell of ashes and scorched debris pervaded the air. The Japanese people had to live in the damp, and cold of the concrete buildings, because they were the only ones left. Little remained of the vulnerable wooden frame, tile roof dwelling lived in by most Japanese. When the first signs of winter set in, the occupation forces immediately took over all the steam-heated buildings. The Japanese were out in the cold in the first post war winter fuel was very hard to find, a family was considered lucky if they had a small barely glowing charcoal brazier to huddle around. That next summer in random spots new ho uses were built, each house was standardised at 216 square feet, and required 2400 board feet of material
