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July 22, 2013
06.04 The Korean War
Somebody ... / Wanted ... / But ... / So ...North Korea / communist elections to be held in the entire country. / it was apparent that the communist north and the democratic south were separate regions. / with support from the Soviet Union, the North Korean army launched a surprise attack on South Korea on June 25, 1950.
General MacArthur / to invade China to defeat the Communist Chinese. / Chinese forces crossed the Yalu and drove the UN force south of the 38th parallel thus, joining the war on North Korea’s side. / in April 1951, Truman announced that he was relieving MacArthur of his command, believing MacArthur was responsible for the sour turning point in the war.
President Truman / to relieveMacArthur of his command. / this caused an uproar in the United States as much of the public backed MacArthur in thecontroversy that followed. / Truman carefully presented his case to the public and, public opinion slowly turned to support Truman.
China / UN forces to remain out of China. / UN forces led by General Macarthur pressed for permission and tried to gain public support to invade China. / Chinese forces joined the war on North Korea’s side & crossed the Yalu and drove the UN force south of the 38th parallel.
United Nations / to propose economic sanctions against North Korea or use an international peacekeeping force. / the Soviet Union refused to honor the economic sanctions / the decision was made to send a force to Korea.
- How didGeneral Douglas MacArthur react to the events in Korea? What was his stance on the Korean War?
The events that occurred in Korea, China joining the war against the UN forces, caughtGeneral Douglas MacArthur by surprise as he believed the Chinese would not join the war when his force reached the Yalu River. As a result, in April 1951, President Truman announced that he was relieving MacArthur of his command.
- How did President Truman respond to the events in Korea? What was his stance on the Korean War?
President Truman responded to the events in Korea by basically firing General Douglas MacArthur and blaming him for the sour turning point in the war, as Chinese and North Korean forces pushed UN forces backsouth of the 38th parallel.The opposing sides were basically back to their positions prior to the North Korean invasion.
- Which leader's actions were the most justifiable—General MacArthur's or President Truman's? Support your claim with evidence from the lesson.
President Truman’s actions were more justifiable because MacArthur assured Truman that the Chinese army would not join the war when his force reached the Yalu River. Obviously, MacArthur had been wrong in his assessment of the Chinese.Next,MacArthur pressed Truman for permission to cross into China, but Truman reminded MacArthur several times that MacArthur needed to follow orders and there was no intent on the part of the United States or the UN to invade China. But it was too late, when Chinese forces crossed the Yalu and drove the UN force south of the 38th parallel. It was MacArthur’s actions that resulted in the sour turning point in the war and China’s entry into the war.
- Would the outcome of the Korean War have been different had General MacArthur not been fired? Why or why not? Support your claim with evidence from the lesson.
Although General MacArthur deserved to get fired, he should not have been fired during the war, as the outcome of the Korean War would have been different. It was a discouragement to the soldiers to lose their leader and guidance who had been with them from the beginning of the war. Also, General MacArthur was experienced and even though he made a huge mistake and a bad assessment he would have made up for it and redeemed himself.