The Korean War began in 1950 when North Korea invaded South Korea, capturing the capital city within three days. The war was mainly fought along the 38th parallel dividing line between North and South Korea. After three years of fighting, a ceasefire was signed on July 27, 1953, but the peninsula remains divided and the countries are still technically at war. Over two million lives were lost in the conflict, including more than 50,000 American soldiers.

1. The Korean WarBy: Jennifer Shirley, Megan Flaherty, & Selena Maddox

2. IntroductionIn 1948 rival governments were established in Korea: The South was called the Republic of Korea and the North was called the People’s Democratic Republic. The Cold War turned violent on June 25, 1950 when North Korea invaded South Korea. North Korea captured the capital within three days. The War was mainly fought on the 38th parallel, which is the line of latitude that separates the Koreas. President Dwight D. Eisenhower vowed to go to Korea and end the war. He succeeded after many threats of nuclear fire. Finally, On July 27th 1953 a treaty was signed for a cease fire. At the end of World War II, Korea was divided into North Korea (Soviet) and South Korea (U.S.) at the 38th parallel. In the end two million lives were lost along with over 50,000 Americans. North KoreaSouth Korea

3. Background: WhoCommunist and Non-Communist forces in Korea better know as North and South Korea were the two sides in the war. The United Nations sided with South Korea. President Truman appoint General Douglas MacArthur as supreme commander. The Chinese Communists joined North Korea’s efforts. MacArthur wanted to invade North Korea and Truman was forced to take him out of power and appointed General Matthew B. Ridgway as commander in chief. Dwight D. Eisenhower ended the war through negotiations with North Korea.

4. Background: WhatThe Korean war was also known as the Forgotten War, the Fatherland Liberation War and the Korean Conflict. The Korean war progressed into a multination conflict because there was power struggle between two opposing governments which were communist North Korea and the republic South Korea. The Korean war ended with a a cease fire between North and South Korea.

5. Background: WhenIn 1919 The first Korean Communist Party was formed in Siberia which is a region in the Soviet Union. On August 10th 1945 two U.S. officials chose the 38th parallel as the dividing line between the two Koreas. North Korean troops marched across the 38th parallel and attacked the South’s army in five different places. on June 25th 1950. The war lasted for three years. The armistice to stop the fighting was signed on July 27th 1953. On October 26th 1958 Chinese troops pulled away from North Korea.

6. Background: WhereNorth Korea marched across the 38th parallel and being attacking the ROK army. The surprise attack on South Korea helped the naval North Korea to capture South Korea. All the South Korean land was occupied by North Korea except for a small piece of land around the port of Pusan. On September 15th Douglas MacArthur had his American and South Korean troops land 200 miles behind the North Korean line. The next day he started a counter-attack on North Korea. He forced them northwards until they reached the Yalu River which was the boundary of Korea and China on October 24th 1950

7. Background: Why At the end of World War II, Japan obtained control over Korea in 1910. Japan then gave Korea up to the Allies. The USA controlled South Korea, and The Soviet Union Controlled North Korea. The Korean war was started because Communist North Korea invaded South Korea during a power struggle. It is believed that the main powers (USA and USSR) were using Korea as a disguise so they could fight each other with out having a hot war.

8. Question of InterestWhy did North Korea decide to invade South Korea?

9. Compare and ContrastNorth Korea officially known as the Democratic Republic of Korea is a communist country while South Korea officially known as the Republic of Korea is a Republic country. These two powers did not fight the war alone, North Korea had help from the USSR while South Korea had the United Nations on their side. When these powers entered the war it gave both North and South Korea access to Nuclear bombs, even though they did not have direct control of the bombs. North Korea started the war when they crossed the 38th parallel and attacked the ROK army.

10. Groups Point of ViewOur group agrees that the war was not only caused by the Koreas, but it was also pushed on by the USA and USSR. We feel that the war could have been avoided through delegations between the two countries. Millions of lives were lost unnecessarily. Also we all agree that the war was started hastily and without much consideration. Also, we think that the goal of the war was not just to merely spread or stop the spread of communism but it was also a battle of land and who would rule.

11. ConclusionThe Korean war was one of the shorter wars only lasting three years and ending with a cease fire between the two countries. The war was fought mostly on the 38th parallel which was the dividing line between the two countries. The war was a battle for land and power, but after many nuclear war threats from President Dwight D. Eisenhower an armistice was signed and the war ended, at least the violence ended. North and South Korean are still at war today, even though there is no actual fighting involved. The two countries still fight over the land, but no violent actions have been taken since the armistice was signed.

12. Works CitedWorks Cited Benson, Sonia G. Korean War Biographies. Ed. Gerda-Ann Raffaelle. N.p.: The Gale Group, 2002. Print.Encyclopedia of Modern Europe: Europe Since 1914: Encyclopedia of the Age of War and Reconstruction. Vol. 3. N.p.: Charles Scribner’s Sons, n.d. 5 vols. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 16 May 2010. <http://find.galegroup.com/‌gps/‌infomark.do?contentSet=EBKS&docType=EBKS.Article&type=retrieve&tabID=T001&prodId=IPS&docId=CX3447000529&userGroupName=cant48040&version=1.0&searchType=BasicSearchForm&source=gale&infoPage=infoMarkPage>.Higgins, Marguerite, Keyes Beech, and Adlai Stevenson. “Korean War.” Rethinking the Korean War. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 May 2010. <http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/‌USAkorea.htm>.“Korean War.” Infoplease. N.p., 2007. Web. 13 May 2010. <http://www.infoplease.com/‌encyclopedia/‌korean+war>.Lofgren, Charles A. Encyclopedia of the American Constitution. Ed. Leonard W Levy and Kenneth L Karst. 2nd ed. Vol. 4. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 16 May 2010. <http://find.galegroup.com/‌gps/‌infomark.do?contentSet=EBKS&docType=EBKS.Article&type=retrieve&tabID=T001&prodId=IPS&docId=CX3425001458&userGroupName=cant48040&version=1.0&searchType=BasicSearchForm&source=gale&infoPage=infoMarkPage>.