Korean War [1950-1953]
Korean War [1950-1953]
•What was the situation in Korea after the Second World
War?
•America’s policy was to contain Communism
•In 1949, China became Communist and it seemed like
containment had failed in Asia.
•Korea was ruled by Japan, but at the end of World War II, it
was divided between the USA and the USSR along the 38th
parallel until a government could be elected to run the whole
country.
•August 1948, the Americans set up the Republic of Korea in
the south, with Syngman Rhee as the first president. A month
later, the Russians set up the Korean People’s Democratic
Republic in the north, ruled by Kim II Sung, a Red Army
captain. Each man claimed to represent the whole country.
Korean War [1950-1953]
Kim Il-Sung
Syngman Rhee
“Domino Theory”
Korean War [1950-1953]
Korean War [1950-1953]
Casualties in the Korean War
4,500
30,000
NK & Chinese soldiers
and civilians
70,000
SK civilians
500,000
SK soldiers
780,000
USA soldiers
Other UN soldiers
Korean War [1950-1953]
Korean War [1950-1953]
Questions to be answered using the VAC info Sheet
1. What are the origins of the Korean War? When did it start and when did
it end?
2. How was North Korea and South Korea divided?
3. What organization led the attack that forced the North Koreans out of
South Korea?
4. How did Canada become involved in the Korean War? Name the other
countries who were also members of the “Commonwealth Force”.
5. What did the Canadian Army do to earn a U.S. Presidential Citation in
1951?
6. The UN emerged from the Korean War with its prestige enhanced.
Why?