Preview

The Korean War as an episode of the Cold War

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1151 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
The Korean War as an episode of the Cold War
TO WHAT EXTENT WAS THE KOREAN WAR AN EPISODE OF THE COLD WAR?
The Korean war that was fought between the Northerners and Southerners of Korean with the support of the USSR and the United states of America; in the name of United Nations was one of the major events of the cold which increased the tension and contributed so much to the development of the cold war. The involvement of the super powers triggered the extent to which the Korean War can be referred to as one of the episodes of the cold war. In addition, the Korean War was a proxy war; meaning that the super powers (USA and USSR) did not fight directly. In other ways, the Korean War was to some extent an episode of the cold. There were several characteristics that support the fact that the Korean War was an episode of the cold war in the 1950s; some years after the Second World War.
The first thing that has to be noted about the Korean War is the indirect confrontation of the superpowers thus united states of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). These two super powers were of different ideology and beliefs. The USA believed in democracy and was capitalist whilst the USSR was more of dictatorship and was communists. The USSR came in Korea to support the Northern part of Korea which was under the rule of the communist, Kim ll Sung, after the defeat of Japan by the USA. The USSR supported the south because of its ‘sphere of influence’. The USSR saw Korea as an easy access to the newly ‘born’ communist Japan. It had its own economical interests. On the other hand, the USA under the approval of the UN joined by giving military support to the anti-communist Dr.Syngman Rhee, the leader of the South Korea, for several reasons. Some of the reasons were; Truman was convinced that the attack by Kim II Sung was Stalin’s doing and saw it as a Russian plan to spread communism as widely as possible so she had to take action as soon as possible. Also, some Americans saw the invasion as similar to

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    The Korean War began in 1950 when Communist North Korea crossed the 38th parallel into Capitalist South Korea, however, it was not just an ordinary civil war, it involved 3 of the world’s biggest superpowers of the time, USA, China and Russia. Ultimately, their fight was indirectly played out in this small country. However, the main causes of the war can be debated.…

    • 1310 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Mccarthyism In The 1950's

    • 3207 Words
    • 13 Pages

    During the three years of this war, more than 33,000 United States troops in combat were killed. The Korean War had major United States politic effects and brought great change to the United States national security policy during the Cold War. In September 1950, the war had changed drastically after the United Nations forces went about risky attacks behind enemy lines. President Truman made all his mistakes and decisions in order for these effects to come into place. After the outbreak, in 1950, The National Security Council report was approved by Truman which called for “drastic increases in U.S. conventional and nuclear strength and in foreign aid programs.” (Pach, Chester J., Jr.) The Korean War was the first armed confrontation of the Cold War and set the standard for many later conflicts. It created the idea of a proxy war, where the two superpowers would fight in another country, forcing the people in that nation to suffer the bulk of the destruction and death involved in a war between such large nations. The superpowers avoided descending into an all-out war with one…

    • 3207 Words
    • 13 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The invasion surprised the South Koreans. This advancement of the North Korean troops was considered the first military action in the Cold War. It was thought of a civil war at first. President Truman responded immediately by requesting the United Nations Security Council to intervene for the benefit of South Korea. The United States also responded by July with military troops to support South Korea in hopes that they could contain the threat and spreading of communism. The Truman Doctrine which was a policy that the United States put in place to support countries trying to free themselves of the communist threat became the rationale for the United States involvement. The United States feared that this invasion would provoke a wider war with Russia and China or possibly World War III. This idea was stated in the Domino effect theory because the theory stated if one area was influenced by communism then other areas would follow in a domino effect. Finally, in July 1953, the Korean War ended with more than 5 million soldiers and civilians losing their lives. Unfortunately, the Korean peninsula is still divided…

    • 674 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Truman vs Macarthur

    • 525 Words
    • 3 Pages

    First of all, when North Korea surprisingly swept forces across the 38th parallel on South Korea on June 25, 1950 led to conflict to Korean War. After that the United Nations immediately condemned North Korea while President truman and his advisors were still deciding to how to respond. While South Korea took aid from the United Nations to stop the North Korea invasion President Truman decided to take action. He decided to also support the South Koreans with military support. While the United States was aiding South Korea the Soviet Union was aiding the North Korea. President Truman tried his best to help the South Koreans by sending a American fleet into the waters of Taiwan and China. President Truman actions in the korean war was incredible . He tried his best to support South Korea to fight the North Korea and provided anything they need to fight back.…

    • 525 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Berlin Wall Dbq Analysis

    • 990 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Although the United States and the Soviet Union were both Allies who fought against the Axis power during WWII, they had really tense relationships towards the end of the war. The Cold War was the tension that existed from 1947 to 1991 after WWII between powers in the Western Bloc and the Eastern Bloc. Even though it seemed like an inner conflict between the US and the USSR, Cold War actually affected many other regions of the world, including Europe, Asia, and Latin America. Both countries Germany and Korea were impacted significantly by the Cold War conflicts.…

    • 990 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    During the events of the Cold war, many proxy wars began to engulf disputed, independent nations that were considered of importance. Two major wars being the Vietnam war, and the Korean war. The cause of the United State’s involvement in both wars, was the attempt to fight the spread of Communism. The president of the US at the time of the Korean war, Dwight D. Eisenhower, had an ideology that if a country became Communist, then Communism would spread to neighboring countries. Which influenced the United States to become involved in both. Although the circumstance of both wars being different, the overall political objective was to fight Communism.…

    • 621 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The period of the Cold war began in 1945 following World War II after the defeat of Hitler, Germany and Japan. The Cold War wasn’t a one time event, rather it was a long period of fighting between the leadership of the Western World and Eastern Europe. The two countries known as superpowers led the charge with the Western side led by the USA and Eastern Europe led by the Soviet Union. Although once allies during World War II, mistrust with the leadership of Joseph Stalin and his leadership caused the USA to take a stand against the communist country. Although a war was never formally declared, the two super powers fought indirectly through proxy wars, space race, and arms race.…

    • 275 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Korean War

    • 635 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Korea was a different sort of war in numerous ways. To begin, Korea was not to be a major part of the Soviet Communist expansion plan. Stalin originally did not favor invading South Korea but believed that it would be a small step in expanding and that the U.S would not care too much. Having this be the case, no one knew that the war would carry on for years, certainly not the United States. This attack was a surprise for the U.S and Truman responded quickly. This war was again different because the war was supposed to restore the boundaries to the original 38th parallel. Instead, MacArthur was ordered to push into North Korea and the Chinese became engaged in the battle. The move into the North changed the battle grounds of the war. Now, the U.N was not only defending non-Communist South Korea, but also attacking a larger China. Forces being pushed back called for MacArthur to ask for larger scale attacks, even involving nuclear missiles to be used on China. Having deviated from the original plan to this extent, Truman could not continue and needed to say “no.” This leads to the fact that MacArthur’s claim that “there is no substitute for victory” was problematic in the case of Korea because victory meant launching a full-out attack on China. The U.S at the time was mainly concerned with the U.S.S.R and not the Chinese. Launching…

    • 635 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    “Men joined the Marine Corps for many reasons . . . I’d joined up to dodge the draft and ended up being sent to war” (Brady 8-9). This brief yet poignant statement begins the story of how James Brady ended up serving in the Korean War. As a young adult the draft was being reinstated and Brady did not feel the desire to fight in a war. He and a few of his friends decided instead to join the Platoon Leaders Class with the Marines, which had students spend two summers at the marine Corps Schools in Quantico, Virginia. After these two summers, graduates would become Lieutenants, but they could not be drafted. Shortly after Brady graduated, the war began in Korea and his class learned they had to prepare to be sent out. The Coldest War: A Memoir of Korea is a first-person narrative of Brady’s life during the war, including his time as a platoon leader, his interactions with other members of the military, and his own personal thoughts during this time.…

    • 699 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Truman was being pressured to not appear weak or soft when it came to anticommunism. So when North Korea invaded, Truman saw this as the perfect opportunity for the United States to prove their devotion to stopping communism. Truman almost immediately committed United States forces to help South Korea. President Truman feared that communist powers would continue to grow and spread if action was not taken. He wanted to do everything in his power to contain communism. In a speech he gave to his staff two days after the invasion, he said “There's no telling what they'll do, if we don't put up a fight now." Truman wanted to send a message the Soviets and China letting them know communism was going to be contained. That being said, it was not America’s job to end communism in Europe or Asia. President Truman’s decision to get The United States involved in the Korean War was constitutionally wrong. Truman never sought an official declaration of war from congress, he just acted on his own thoughts and feelings. Congress did not neglect their responsibilities, it did not seem as though congress thought the United States needed to get involved. Under the Constitution, the president does not have the power to declare war. Therefore, Truman did not have the power to send American troops into battle without an official declaration or permission from congress. Only congress has the power to declare war and all fourth a militia. Truman violated the Constitution by making decisions he was not authorized to make. Truman could have sent troops if The United States was under attack, but they were not. The argument can be made that America was not officially going to war with Korea and that Truman was only helping out the United Nations as a police action. America took the lead in the war but they did so under the rubric of the United Nations…

    • 2339 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The Korean War started with communist North Korea invading anti-communist South Korea. The United States, who were already in North Korea to some extent joined forces with South Korea to help them against the North Korean invasion. They saw the Korean War as a fight against communism and felt that if North Korea was able to take over South Korea it would lead to communism spreading and taking over one area at a time until there were none left. President Truman felt it vital to get involved before it reached that point.…

    • 510 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Better Essays

    The Korean War also referred to as the “Forgotten War,” set an unforeseen reconstruction into the Air Defense Artillery branch of the modern Army. This bloody war was an important event in the world or the Air Defense Artillery branch. The contingency missions of today’s Army were solidified during the Korean War and it helped cement the Air Defense Artillery motto of “First to Fire.” There were many important events that occurred for ADA during this war. From the first air defense unit arriving to the key battles that took place, this conflict provided significant advancements for air defense in the U.S. military. The Korean War commonly referred to by many as “The Forgotten War,” should never be forgotten by Air Defense Artillery, as…

    • 1325 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Cold War with the Soviet Union was escalating, and second, the war in Korea was…

    • 5019 Words
    • 21 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Which was more important in developing the Cold War, the Berlin Crisis or the Korean War?…

    • 424 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Korean and Vietnam Wars

    • 2528 Words
    • 11 Pages

    The Korean War would be a radical step in fighting wars, as well as the feelings people had toward the war. All wars in American History fought before the Korean War were based on either national survival or the gain of territory. A strong conflict was created between the Soviet Union and the United States. From this conflict, tension was so strong that wars were fougt in the midst of this Cold War. The Korean War was the first America ever waged that was not fought for national survival, for territory, for manifest destiny or for hegemony. Korea was the first ideological war;" (Coppel, 505).…

    • 2528 Words
    • 11 Pages
    Powerful Essays