Starter activity

Pin the tail on Korea!

The Korean WarThe Korean War

1950-531950-53

Your taskYour task

Read the appropriate section of your Read the appropriate section of your textbook and research the following textbook and research the following areas:areas: Causes of conflictCauses of conflict Main events of Korean WarMain events of Korean War Consequences of the warConsequences of the war

What can you find out about the career of What can you find out about the career of GeneralGeneral

Douglas MacArthur?Douglas MacArthur?

Causes of the conflictCauses of the conflict Tensions between USA & USSR extended around worldTensions between USA & USSR extended around world New Communist govts. In China & other Asian countriesNew Communist govts. In China & other Asian countries Conflict between capitalism in south and Communism in Conflict between capitalism in south and Communism in

northnorth Domino effectDomino effect

What did commentatrors mean by the ‘domino effect’?

Causes of conflict in Causes of conflict in KoreaKorea

USSR controlled N.KoreaUSSR controlled N.Korea US established democratic govt. in US established democratic govt. in

South Korea (with military backing)South Korea (with military backing) Syngman Rhee (S.Korea) & Kim Il Syngman Rhee (S.Korea) & Kim Il

Sung (N.Korea) claimed to be Sung (N.Korea) claimed to be presidents of all Koreapresidents of all Korea

Main eventsMain events

N.Korean forces pushed S.Korean N.Korean forces pushed S.Korean into small area around Pusaninto small area around Pusan

Truman called on support on UN Truman called on support on UN Security Council (USSR also Security Council (USSR also permanent member but boycotting permanent member but boycotting meetings after refusal to admit meetings after refusal to admit China to UN)China to UN)

UN forces drove UN forces drove N.Korean troops back to N.Korean troops back to Yalu RiverYalu River

China joined forces with China joined forces with N.Korea (not wanting a N.Korea (not wanting a non-communist non-communist neighbour)neighbour)

UN forces driven backUN forces driven back General MacArthur called General MacArthur called

for use of atomic bombfor use of atomic bomb Fighting settled around Fighting settled around

3838thth parallel parallel 1953, truce signed at 1953, truce signed at

PanmunjomPanmunjom Why was MacArthur (above) both the right and the wrong

man for the job?

ConsequencesConsequences Korean War example of Korean War example of

successful containment successful containment (for US)(for US)

Success for UN (although Success for UN (although it was US puppet)it was US puppet)

China no longer weakChina no longer weak Massive damage to Korea Massive damage to Korea

– 1 in 10 of population – 1 in 10 of population killedkilled

UN seen as a puppet of USUN seen as a puppet of US Increased mistrust – Increased mistrust –

founding of SEATO (SE founding of SEATO (SE Asia Org, copy of NATO)Asia Org, copy of NATO)

ANZUS Pact & peace ANZUS Pact & peace treaty with Japan (1951)treaty with Japan (1951)

Korean farmer & his family fleeing from the fighting.

Why would the US wish to prevent images like these

reaching the American public?

Cartoon by British artist, David Low. During the Korean War, critics said that the USA simply pulled the strings of the UN like a puppet. How does the cartoon support this

view?

Plenary

Your taskYour task

It is 1953. There is a new president, It is 1953. There is a new president, Eisenhower. You have been asked to write a Eisenhower. You have been asked to write a report to him summarising the lessons the US report to him summarising the lessons the US can learn from the Korean War. Your report can learn from the Korean War. Your report should include the following aspects:should include the following aspects: US aims in KoreaUS aims in Korea The importance of UN supportThe importance of UN support Key events of the warKey events of the war How far US achieved its aimsHow far US achieved its aims The role of General MacArthurThe role of General MacArthur Civilian & political consequences of the warCivilian & political consequences of the war

780,000

500,000

70,000 4,50030,000

American soldiersUN soldierNorth Korean soldiersSouth Korean civiliansSouth Korean soldiers