The document provides background information on the origins and early stages of the Korean War. It explains that after World War 2, Korea was divided along the 38th parallel, with the Soviet Union occupying the north and the US occupying the south. Both sides established governments of their ideology in their respective zones. Tensions rose as the Cold War escalated, and in June 1950, North Korea invaded South Korea, prompting the UN to authorize countries like the US to provide military support for South Korea. The initial North Korean invasion was successful in pushing South Korean forces back, but a US-led counterattack reversed these gains.

1. Cold War Case Study 1: The Korean War

6. The bitter taste of defeat… If both North & South Korea wanted reunification, why didn’t it happen peacefully (Think of the larger context of the Cold War? 20 words Why might the US be so unprepared for a limited war like Korea? In other words, what false sense of security might the US had? Why? 30 words

8. UN attacks! How important was MacArthur’s decision to invade Inchon in turning the war around to the UN’s favor? Why? 20 words

10. What of China? What is China’s misunderstanding of UN/US intentions, and how does this raise tensions between China and the UN forces? 20 words How does MacArthur’s disobeying of orders set the stage for Chinese intervention in Korea? 20 words Is MacArthur at fault or is Mao to blame for Chinese intervention? Explain. 20 words

12. Chinese Red v s . UN Blue Should the UN/US have used nuclear weapons? List two reasons why they should, and two why they not. Think of geo-political factors, not just the countries actually fighting. If you were Harry S. Truman, would you use nukes? Why or why not. 30 words

20. Casualties in the Korean War

22. Was Containment the Right Policy?

27. Fin