The Cold War - the Korean war

2. LEARNING INTENTIONS
• Describe events during the Korean War
• Explain why the Korean War helped start
the Cold War

3. Tensions between the USA and USSR did not just
exist in Europe, they extended to other parts of
the world too, such as Asia.

4. During the late 1940s,
the USA and USSR were
involved in various
disputes across Europe.
The USA developed a
policy of Containment –
to stop the expansion of
Communism into any new
areas.

5. Within Europe the
Containment policy
included actions such as
the Marshall Plan.
This was designed to stop
European countries
suffering from the
effects of war being
attracted to Communism.

6. Japan ruled Korea but
lost control after the
end of World War Two.
The USSR invaded the
north of Korea during the
war; the USA sent
soldiers into the south.
Both areas had their own
separate governments.

7. In June 1950, North
Korean forces invaded
the south.
The USA feared the
Domino Theory (if all
Korea turned Communist
so would the rest of
Asia) especially after
China became Communist
in 1949.

8. North Korea was given
military support by China
and the Soviet Union.
The United Nations (led
by the USA) then sent
troops into South Korea
to stop the North, and
prevent Communism's
spread.

9. During the first year of
war both sides made and
lost ground; control of
Seoul (a major city in
the south) changed on
numerous occasions.
From 1951 onwards both
sides were largely kept
in their own areas, with
little progress.

10. There were a number of
major battles during the
Korean War.
The Battle of Inchon in
1950 was a major victory
for the United Nations,
giving them control of
Seoul. This started out
as an amphibious invasion
by UN forces.

11. In the 1951 Battle of
Imjin River, British
forces fought a
stronger Chinese army
but held their ground.
Chinese troops had more
success at the 1950
Battle of Chosin
Reservoir saw them
defeat UN soldiers.

12. Most of the Korean War
took place on land
although there were sea
and air battles too.
Various aerial dogfights
took place, often
involving Soviet MiG-15
fighters, and US F-86
Sabre jets, including in
the ‘MiG-Alley’ area.

13. There were naval
battles too, such as at
the Battle of Han
River, which saw
Australian UN troops
fighting China’s navy.
At other times the main
threats to the UN navy
was mines.

14. An armistice (truce) was
eventually reached in the
Korean War in July 1953,
dividing Korea at the 38th
Parallel between North
and South.
This did not end the war
and technically both
countries are still at
war today.

15. The war had a
devastating effect on
Korea and elsewhere.
At least 500,000 troops
(from all countries
were killed). In
addition up to 3
million civilians died
as a result of the
fighting.

16. The Korean War had
shown the US that
military intervention
could stop Communist
expansion (affecting
later events in
Vietnam).
The war also caused
further tension between
the USA and USSR.

17. June 1950 –
September 1950
September 1950 –
October 1950
October 1950 –
December 1950
1951 - 1953