Title: The U.S. Enters the Vietnam War Labels: Vietnam_War, JFK, Cold_War, LBJ, Ho_Chi_Mihn, Gulf_of_Tonkin, Diem
The answers are due on Friday prior to class
1. Many neutral observers in Vietnam were critical of US policy. Explain why.
Much of the US policy in Vietnam was based of off ignorance and the fear that if Vietnam became Communist, all of South East Asia would follow. There were also many incidents where civilians, women, children and the elderly were massacred. The most famous incident was My Lai Massacre.
2. Explain how US politicians would have defended their policies.
They would have defended their policies by citing the defeat of communism as the goal. Calley, when on trial for the My Lai massacre said that they went to Vietnam to kill Communism not people. US politicians would have taken a similar stance to defend their policies, claiming that all actions taken were necessary to contain communism.
3. The following events are not listed in correct date order. Place them in the correct chronological order. (Write the year inside the parenthesis, i.e. (1965). Then note the reason for each U.S. action, and how it brought the U.S. into deeper involvement in Vietnam.
The reasons you can choose from are: No direct involvement; financial support; political involvement; military involvement. Also, note what events triggered the increased involvement.
Assassination of JFK - Johnson becomes president (1963)-political/military involvement
Formation of South Vietnam (1955)-political involvement/financial involvement
Gulf of Tonkin Incident (1964)-political involvement
Number of 'advisers' reaches over 11,500 (end of 1962)-military involvement
JFK sends military advisers (1962)-military involvement
U.S. Marines land at Da Nang (1965)-military involvement
U.S. stops elections in Vietnam (1954)-political involvement
U.S. supports South Vietnam government after army overthrow Diem (1963)-political involvement/financial involvement
Viet Cong attacks on U.S. and South Vietnam bases (1960)-military involvement
Viet Cong formed (1960)-no direct involvement here
4. Choose two events that you think were critical in getting the U.S. involved in a war in Vietnam. Explain
your choice.
Two events that were critical in getting et US involved in a war in Vietnam were, when the Viet conga attacked South Vietnam bases and the assassination of JFK. When JFK was assassination LBJ took his place. LBJ was much more ready and willing to become involved in the Vietnam War that JFK had been and after the Gulf go Tonkin incident, congress passed et gulf of tontine resolution giving him ugh amounts of power. When the Viet Cong first began to attack South Vietnamese bases, JFK began sending many military advisers over to help fight them.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
The Cuban Missile Crisis
Tues., April 27 Homework
In your Cold War file folder in your Google Docs account, read pages 350 to 351 of Cuban Missile Crisis.
Answer the following questions and post them to your blog.
Title: The Cuban Missile Crisis Labels: Cuban_Missile_Crisis, Bay_of_Pigs, Khrushchev, JFK, McNamara, Cold_War
The answers are due on Wednesday prior to class.
1. Kennedy described Wednesday, Oct. 24 and Saturday, Oct. 27 as the darkest days of the crisis. Use the information on page 350 to explain why.
On October 24, and October 27
ON october 24 missile carrying ships and a soviet submarine approached the US blockade. On the 27 Kennedy recieves a letter from Krushchev saying that he will on remove the missiels from Cuba if Kennedy removes the missiles from Turkey. kennedy cannot accept these conditions.
2. Do you think that nuclear war was ever a possibility in this crisis?
I think it was a small possibility becasue if any of the each countries actions were percived as threatening to the other country, it could have begun conventional war that escalated into nuclear war. However I think both countries wanted to avoid nuclear war, decreasing the chance.
3. Is Source 26 a Soviet or an American cartoon? Explain your answer by referring to the details in the cartoon.
It is an American cartoon. Kennedy is arm wrestling Krushchev. Kennedy looks serious while Krushev seems to be struggling and is sweating heavily.
4. Using Source 27 list any evidence you can find for and against each of the explanations.
I think that it is possible that they wanted to bargain with the US becaue Krushchev does say in his second letter to Kennedy that he would remove the missile from CUba if the US removed their missiles fromTurkey.
I think that it is also possible that they wanted to test the US because both countries were not really sure of where the other xcountry stood in the arms race and testing the US would show if they really had the power to back themselves up.
I think it is also possible that they wanted to get the upper hands in the arms race becasue the US had missiles in Turkey and that would make it easy for them to attack the USSR. However if the USSR has missiles in CUba, this is less likely.
I do not think it is likely that they wanted to trap the Us becasue a nuclear war would cause unreparable damages to both sides.
Why did the Soviet Union place nuclear missiles on Cuba?
To bargain with the USA
To test the USA
To trap the USA
To get the upper hand in the arms race
To defend Cuba
5. Choose the explanation(s) that you think best fit what you have found out about the crisis. Explain your choice.
I think the best explanations are that teh USSR wanted to bargain with the US and defend Cuba. In his fisrt lette rto Kennedy, Krushchev says that he would not need the missiles if he did not feel Cuba was threatened. This is a legitimate threat because with the US's policy of containment it would seems possible they would attack Cuba to get rid of the Communists there. I think it is also likely that the USSr was trying to bargain in the US becaus in Krushchev's second letter to the US he says he will remove the missiles in Cuba if the US removes their missiles in Turkey. Wothout missiles in Turkey there would be a lesser likelyhood of the US attacking the USSR.
In your Cold War file folder in your Google Docs account, read pages 350 to 351 of Cuban Missile Crisis.
Answer the following questions and post them to your blog.
Title: The Cuban Missile Crisis Labels: Cuban_Missile_Crisis, Bay_of_Pigs, Khrushchev, JFK, McNamara, Cold_War
The answers are due on Wednesday prior to class.
1. Kennedy described Wednesday, Oct. 24 and Saturday, Oct. 27 as the darkest days of the crisis. Use the information on page 350 to explain why.
On October 24, and October 27
ON october 24 missile carrying ships and a soviet submarine approached the US blockade. On the 27 Kennedy recieves a letter from Krushchev saying that he will on remove the missiels from Cuba if Kennedy removes the missiles from Turkey. kennedy cannot accept these conditions.
2. Do you think that nuclear war was ever a possibility in this crisis?
I think it was a small possibility becasue if any of the each countries actions were percived as threatening to the other country, it could have begun conventional war that escalated into nuclear war. However I think both countries wanted to avoid nuclear war, decreasing the chance.
3. Is Source 26 a Soviet or an American cartoon? Explain your answer by referring to the details in the cartoon.
It is an American cartoon. Kennedy is arm wrestling Krushchev. Kennedy looks serious while Krushev seems to be struggling and is sweating heavily.
4. Using Source 27 list any evidence you can find for and against each of the explanations.
I think that it is possible that they wanted to bargain with the US becaue Krushchev does say in his second letter to Kennedy that he would remove the missile from CUba if the US removed their missiles fromTurkey.
I think that it is also possible that they wanted to test the US because both countries were not really sure of where the other xcountry stood in the arms race and testing the US would show if they really had the power to back themselves up.
I think it is also possible that they wanted to get the upper hands in the arms race becasue the US had missiles in Turkey and that would make it easy for them to attack the USSR. However if the USSR has missiles in CUba, this is less likely.
I do not think it is likely that they wanted to trap the Us becasue a nuclear war would cause unreparable damages to both sides.
Why did the Soviet Union place nuclear missiles on Cuba?
To bargain with the USA
To test the USA
To trap the USA
To get the upper hand in the arms race
To defend Cuba
5. Choose the explanation(s) that you think best fit what you have found out about the crisis. Explain your choice.
I think the best explanations are that teh USSR wanted to bargain with the US and defend Cuba. In his fisrt lette rto Kennedy, Krushchev says that he would not need the missiles if he did not feel Cuba was threatened. This is a legitimate threat because with the US's policy of containment it would seems possible they would attack Cuba to get rid of the Communists there. I think it is also likely that the USSr was trying to bargain in the US becaus in Krushchev's second letter to the US he says he will remove the missiles in Cuba if the US removes their missiles in Turkey. Wothout missiles in Turkey there would be a lesser likelyhood of the US attacking the USSR.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
The U.S. Attemps to Contain Cuba
In your Cold War file folder in your Google Docs account, read pages 347 to 349 of Cuban Missile Crisis.
Answer the following questions and post them to your blog. Your answers are due Tuesday prior to class.
Title: The U.S. Attempts to Contain Cuba Labels: Cuban_Missile_Crisis, Bay_of_Pigs, Khrushchev, JFK, McNamara, Cold_War
1. Why was Cuba so important to the United States?
Americans owned most of the businesses there and had a huge naval base there.
2. Why do you think the Americans chose to equip Cuban exiles rather than invading themselves?
This would have prevented any American lives from being lost and would have prevented a war between the US and Cuba.
3. Why did the invasion fail?
At the Bay of Pigs the exiles were met with 20,000 Cuban troops who were armed with tanks and modern weapons.
The invasion failed because
4. Compare Source 17 on page 345 (in the Arms Race.pdf reading) with Source 24 on page 348. Describe how the Soviet Union missiles on Cuba changed the Cold War balance of power.
Soviet missiles on Cuba gave the Soviets a prescence closer to the US. before, the US would have been able to launch missiles at the Soviets from close proximity, however the Soviets would not had been able to do the same. But with Soviet Missiles on Cuba, they could now easily launch missiles on the US from Cuba.
Answer the following questions and post them to your blog. Your answers are due Tuesday prior to class.
Title: The U.S. Attempts to Contain Cuba Labels: Cuban_Missile_Crisis, Bay_of_Pigs, Khrushchev, JFK, McNamara, Cold_War
1. Why was Cuba so important to the United States?
Americans owned most of the businesses there and had a huge naval base there.
2. Why do you think the Americans chose to equip Cuban exiles rather than invading themselves?
This would have prevented any American lives from being lost and would have prevented a war between the US and Cuba.
3. Why did the invasion fail?
At the Bay of Pigs the exiles were met with 20,000 Cuban troops who were armed with tanks and modern weapons.
The invasion failed because
4. Compare Source 17 on page 345 (in the Arms Race.pdf reading) with Source 24 on page 348. Describe how the Soviet Union missiles on Cuba changed the Cold War balance of power.
Soviet missiles on Cuba gave the Soviets a prescence closer to the US. before, the US would have been able to launch missiles at the Soviets from close proximity, however the Soviets would not had been able to do the same. But with Soviet Missiles on Cuba, they could now easily launch missiles on the US from Cuba.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
The American Dream in the 1950's
Title: The American Dream in the 1950s Labels: Baby_Boom, Eisenhower, Interstate_system
This is due tomorrow prior to class.
For each term or name, write a concise sentence or two explaining its significance.
1. Baby Boom
A baby boom is when the birthrate over a certain period of time (like a few decades) is unusually high which occurred right after WWII
2. Dr. Jonas Salk
Dr, Jonas Salk developed the vaccine for the crippling disease polio.
3. Interstate Highway System
The interstate highway system was 41,000 miles of highway across the nation linking major cities and suburbs to workplaces, schools and shopping centers.
4. Franchise
Franchises were companies with multiple location spread over a distance, offering similar service and products (McDonald's is an example).
5. In a paragraph, describe in detail how Americans spent their leisure time in the 1950s
In the 1950's, Americans had more leisure time than ever. Americans were able to participate in leisure sports such as golf, bowling and fishing. Americans were also able to attend sporting events more frequently than ever and filled up football and baseballs stadiums. Americans also began reading frequently, often books by popular authors such as Daphne du Maurier, JD Salinger, Earnest Hemingway and John Steinback. They also began reading magazines like Sports Illustrated. Comic books became popular and so id televised sports programs. Many Americans also began to take on do-it-yourself projects. Leisure time in the 1950's allowed americans to engage in a wide variety of pursuits.
This is due tomorrow prior to class.
For each term or name, write a concise sentence or two explaining its significance.
1. Baby Boom
A baby boom is when the birthrate over a certain period of time (like a few decades) is unusually high which occurred right after WWII
2. Dr. Jonas Salk
Dr, Jonas Salk developed the vaccine for the crippling disease polio.
3. Interstate Highway System
The interstate highway system was 41,000 miles of highway across the nation linking major cities and suburbs to workplaces, schools and shopping centers.
4. Franchise
Franchises were companies with multiple location spread over a distance, offering similar service and products (McDonald's is an example).
5. In a paragraph, describe in detail how Americans spent their leisure time in the 1950s
In the 1950's, Americans had more leisure time than ever. Americans were able to participate in leisure sports such as golf, bowling and fishing. Americans were also able to attend sporting events more frequently than ever and filled up football and baseballs stadiums. Americans also began reading frequently, often books by popular authors such as Daphne du Maurier, JD Salinger, Earnest Hemingway and John Steinback. They also began reading magazines like Sports Illustrated. Comic books became popular and so id televised sports programs. Many Americans also began to take on do-it-yourself projects. Leisure time in the 1950's allowed americans to engage in a wide variety of pursuits.
Monday, April 12, 2010
The Arms Race
Title: The Arms Race Labels: Arms_race, Eisenhower, U2_Incident, Khrushchev, Soviet_Union, MAD, Containment
Your answers are due by 8:20 a.m. Monday, April 12.
1. Read Source 12. What methods do you think Dulles had in mind to 'liberate captive peoples' without a war?
Dulles might have had in mind to lend aid to these countries or set up anti-communist alliances nearby or to continue in the arms race without actually having a war.
2. Look at Source 13. Would you agree that the Communist world was encircled? Explain your answer.
No I would disagree with this because on one side of the soviet world there is a substantial amount of land before there is a country involved in an anti-communist alliance.
3. Carefully examine the verticle timeline on page 343. Then look back at Source 12. Do you think the development of nuclear weapons was what Dulles might have had in mind?
Yes I think that it is possible that Dulles had the development of nuclear weapons in line because overtime the Soviets advance on the timeline the US attempts to catch up or get ahead of them and if the us developed nuclear weapons the soviets would not want to start a war with them because they would be under-equipped.
4. Look at Source 16. What is the Soviet cartoon saying about the U-2 plane?
The Soviet cartoon is saying that the U-2 plane is being used by America to spy on the soviets.
5. Read the Factfile on page 344. Explain why the USSR was so angry about the US spy flights.
The USSr was to angry about US spy flights because the flights violated soviet air space. The new planes the U-2's could not be shot down at first because they flew so high and this allowed the US to receive valuable information about soviet technology. later when Eisenhower admitted to having spied on the soviets he refused to apologize or promise to stop.
6. How would the USA justify this violation of Soviet territory?
They could justify this by claiming that was the soviet's job to keep spies out of their territory.
7. If the USSR had had U-2 planes, do you think it would have used them? Why?
I think that the USSr would have used the planes because it would have allowed them to collect al lot of information on US technology which would probably have allowed them to create more and more powerful weapons, propelling them forward in the arms race.
8. Look at Source 17. Why do you think the USA had missiles based in Europe?
It would have been easier launch missiles in Europe that from the US.
9. Define the term 'nuclear deterrent' in not more than 20 words.
A nuclear deterrent is a nuclear weapon that is not intended to be used other than in an arms race.
Your answers are due by 8:20 a.m. Monday, April 12.
1. Read Source 12. What methods do you think Dulles had in mind to 'liberate captive peoples' without a war?
Dulles might have had in mind to lend aid to these countries or set up anti-communist alliances nearby or to continue in the arms race without actually having a war.
2. Look at Source 13. Would you agree that the Communist world was encircled? Explain your answer.
No I would disagree with this because on one side of the soviet world there is a substantial amount of land before there is a country involved in an anti-communist alliance.
3. Carefully examine the verticle timeline on page 343. Then look back at Source 12. Do you think the development of nuclear weapons was what Dulles might have had in mind?
Yes I think that it is possible that Dulles had the development of nuclear weapons in line because overtime the Soviets advance on the timeline the US attempts to catch up or get ahead of them and if the us developed nuclear weapons the soviets would not want to start a war with them because they would be under-equipped.
4. Look at Source 16. What is the Soviet cartoon saying about the U-2 plane?
The Soviet cartoon is saying that the U-2 plane is being used by America to spy on the soviets.
5. Read the Factfile on page 344. Explain why the USSR was so angry about the US spy flights.
The USSr was to angry about US spy flights because the flights violated soviet air space. The new planes the U-2's could not be shot down at first because they flew so high and this allowed the US to receive valuable information about soviet technology. later when Eisenhower admitted to having spied on the soviets he refused to apologize or promise to stop.
6. How would the USA justify this violation of Soviet territory?
They could justify this by claiming that was the soviet's job to keep spies out of their territory.
7. If the USSR had had U-2 planes, do you think it would have used them? Why?
I think that the USSr would have used the planes because it would have allowed them to collect al lot of information on US technology which would probably have allowed them to create more and more powerful weapons, propelling them forward in the arms race.
8. Look at Source 17. Why do you think the USA had missiles based in Europe?
It would have been easier launch missiles in Europe that from the US.
9. Define the term 'nuclear deterrent' in not more than 20 words.
A nuclear deterrent is a nuclear weapon that is not intended to be used other than in an arms race.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Eisenhower & The Cold War
Read Chapter 26, section 4, Two Nations Live on Edge, (pages 828-833). This section discusses the Hydrogen Bomb, Brinkmanship, the CIA in the Middle East and Latin America, the Warsaw Pact, the Eisenhower Doctrine, the Space Race, and the U-2 Incident. Please place your answer to your blog.
Title: Eisenhower & The Cold War Labels: Space_Race, Sputnik, Eisenhower_Doctrine, U-2_Incident, Brinkmanship, H-Bomb, Cold_War
This is due Thursday, April 8 prior to class.
How did the United States react to the following 7 events, and why?
1. The Soviet Union exploded its first atomic bomb in 1949.
This triggered fear in the US and the two superpowers began competing in an amrms race.
2. In 1951, the Iranian prime minister placed the oil industry in Iran under the Iranian government’s control.
The US was afraid that they would turn to the Soviet's for help after Britain stopped buying from them and gave them lots of money.
3. The Guatemalan head of government gave American-owned land in Guatemala to peasants.
The CIA took over the Guetemalan government because they thought they were communist sympathizers.
4. In 1956, Britain, France, and Israel invaded Egypt and occupied the Suez Canal.
The Eisenhower doctrine said that the US would protect the middle east from communist countries, this is because the Soviet union was winnning support from Egypt.
5. Soviet tanks invaded Hungary and fired on protesters in 1956.
The United states did not help them because the Truman doctrine did not extend to non-satellite countries. The hungarians were very disapointed.
6. In 1957, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik.
The United States began investing a lot of oney into their space programs as to not let the Soviets get ahead of them. In 1958 the US launched its first satellite.
7. In 1960, the Soviet Union brought down an American U-2 piloted by Francis Gary Powers.
Eisenhower initiall denied that it was a plane for spying but the Soviet's had evidence against it and demamded an apology. Eisenhower refused to appologize and the Soviet Leader Krushchev refused to attend the summit. This inicdent renewed tensions between the Soviets and the US.
Title: Eisenhower & The Cold War Labels: Space_Race, Sputnik, Eisenhower_Doctrine, U-2_Incident, Brinkmanship, H-Bomb, Cold_War
This is due Thursday, April 8 prior to class.
How did the United States react to the following 7 events, and why?
1. The Soviet Union exploded its first atomic bomb in 1949.
This triggered fear in the US and the two superpowers began competing in an amrms race.
2. In 1951, the Iranian prime minister placed the oil industry in Iran under the Iranian government’s control.
The US was afraid that they would turn to the Soviet's for help after Britain stopped buying from them and gave them lots of money.
3. The Guatemalan head of government gave American-owned land in Guatemala to peasants.
The CIA took over the Guetemalan government because they thought they were communist sympathizers.
4. In 1956, Britain, France, and Israel invaded Egypt and occupied the Suez Canal.
The Eisenhower doctrine said that the US would protect the middle east from communist countries, this is because the Soviet union was winnning support from Egypt.
5. Soviet tanks invaded Hungary and fired on protesters in 1956.
The United states did not help them because the Truman doctrine did not extend to non-satellite countries. The hungarians were very disapointed.
6. In 1957, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik.
The United States began investing a lot of oney into their space programs as to not let the Soviets get ahead of them. In 1958 the US launched its first satellite.
7. In 1960, the Soviet Union brought down an American U-2 piloted by Francis Gary Powers.
Eisenhower initiall denied that it was a plane for spying but the Soviet's had evidence against it and demamded an apology. Eisenhower refused to appologize and the Soviet Leader Krushchev refused to attend the summit. This inicdent renewed tensions between the Soviets and the US.
Monday, April 5, 2010
The Red Scare (1950's)
Read Chapter 26, section 3 in your textbook. (pages 822-827) and answer the following questions.
Title: The Red Scare (1950s). Labels: Red_Jello, Red_Scare, McCarthy, McCarthyism, Rosenbergs, Blacklist, Alger_Hiss
This assignment is due on Tuesday, April 6 at the beginning of class.
For each term or name, write a concise sentence or two explaining its significance.
1. HUAC
HUAC began to investigate communist influence in Hollywood to try and prevent communist propaganda in films.
2. Blacklist
The Blacklist was a list of people in Hollywood who were believed to be communist.
It ruined the careers of over 500 actors writers and directors.
3. Alger Hiss
Alger Hiss was a state department official who was accused of being a Soviet Spy.
Soviet released cables seemed to prove his guilt.
4. Ethel and Julius Rosenberg
Ethel and Julius Rosenburg were indicated in the case of Fuchs, who had given information to the Soviets about atomic bombs. They were executed for espionage.
5. Joseph McCarthy
McCarthy was a famous anti-communist activist who made many unsupported accusations.
6. McCarthyism
Named after Joseph McCarthy, McCarthyism was when McCarthy made many attacks and accusations against suspected communists.
7. In a paragraph, describe the motivations and actions of Joseph McCarthy during the 1950s. What prompted his actions? What did he do? What happened as a result of his actions?
Joseph McCarthy motivations for his attacks on suspected communists were purely self-serving. McCarthy was a senator from Wisconsin who had been labled as "ineffective". McCarthy needed an issue to take on the win another election. He used people's irrational fear of communism to his advantage and made many false and unsupported claims against believed communists. McCarthy made accusations against the US army which resulted in a televised Senate investigation. The Senate comdemned him for improper conduct.
Title: The Red Scare (1950s). Labels: Red_Jello, Red_Scare, McCarthy, McCarthyism, Rosenbergs, Blacklist, Alger_Hiss
This assignment is due on Tuesday, April 6 at the beginning of class.
For each term or name, write a concise sentence or two explaining its significance.
1. HUAC
HUAC began to investigate communist influence in Hollywood to try and prevent communist propaganda in films.
2. Blacklist
The Blacklist was a list of people in Hollywood who were believed to be communist.
It ruined the careers of over 500 actors writers and directors.
3. Alger Hiss
Alger Hiss was a state department official who was accused of being a Soviet Spy.
Soviet released cables seemed to prove his guilt.
4. Ethel and Julius Rosenberg
Ethel and Julius Rosenburg were indicated in the case of Fuchs, who had given information to the Soviets about atomic bombs. They were executed for espionage.
5. Joseph McCarthy
McCarthy was a famous anti-communist activist who made many unsupported accusations.
6. McCarthyism
Named after Joseph McCarthy, McCarthyism was when McCarthy made many attacks and accusations against suspected communists.
7. In a paragraph, describe the motivations and actions of Joseph McCarthy during the 1950s. What prompted his actions? What did he do? What happened as a result of his actions?
Joseph McCarthy motivations for his attacks on suspected communists were purely self-serving. McCarthy was a senator from Wisconsin who had been labled as "ineffective". McCarthy needed an issue to take on the win another election. He used people's irrational fear of communism to his advantage and made many false and unsupported claims against believed communists. McCarthy made accusations against the US army which resulted in a televised Senate investigation. The Senate comdemned him for improper conduct.
Korean War Lessons
I've shared a new document with you in your Cold War file. It is titled Korean War. Read this and answer the prompt below. (Also, if you want to read about the Korean War in your Americans textbook, it is 26-2)
Prompt:
It is 1952. A new president, Eisenhower, has been elected in the US. Your task is to write a report for him on what lessons the United States can learn from the war. Your report should advise the President on:
the US aims in Korea
how the support of the UN helped
how far the US achieved its aims
whether MacArthur should have been allowed to invade North Korea
why MacArthur was removed
the military and civilian cost of war
For each point you will need to use the sources and text on pages 338-41 to compile your answer.
Finally, make up your own mind as to whether, on balance, the policy of containment succeeded and then write up your ideas as a balanced report.
The Korean War has demonstrated many lessons to the U.S. The U.S., in its fight against communism had given its support to the anti-communist South Korea and so when communist controlled North Korea attacked, the U.S. hoped to drive North Korea away. Because the Soviet Union was boycotting the UN, the UN could assist he U.S.'s cause. ALthough most of the UN force sent to Korea was American, additionally support from 18 states including Britain sent troops. The UN was able to quickly drive the North Korean forces out of South Korea, which was the U.S.'s original goal. However, the US general MacArthur was not satisfied with this. MacArthur, along with Truman, wanted to remove communism from all of Korea. However North Korea had the support of the Chinese, which MacArthur underestimated. The UN's troops we pushed back into South Korea. Even then MacArthur wanted to continue the war, even if that meant using nuclear weapons, but Truman was satisfied with achieving the US's original goal of pushing North Korean troops out of South Korea. MacArthur's attack on North Korea resulted in intense fighting and of course, many civilian and military deaths. had MacArthur been able to continue as he wanted and use a nuclear weapon the toll would be much higher and could have begun a war with China and the USSR. Truman removed MacArthur after ignored UN instruction and threatened China.
The US's policy of containment seems to have been effective. The Korean War can be counted as a success for containment because it did just that and contained communism to North Korea. Although further efforts to bring down communism in all of Korea were very unsuccessful, the UN was able to counter North Korea's attack on South Korea and push the communist troops back. Had this not happened than South Korea might have been taken over and turned into a communist state. Mac Arthur aggressive policies however seem to have been counter-effective as they would have in all probability have launched a war with China or the USSR. China had already shown in North Korea how hard they were willing to fight and if they would have won a war against the US, communism would have spread even more.
Prompt:
It is 1952. A new president, Eisenhower, has been elected in the US. Your task is to write a report for him on what lessons the United States can learn from the war. Your report should advise the President on:
the US aims in Korea
how the support of the UN helped
how far the US achieved its aims
whether MacArthur should have been allowed to invade North Korea
why MacArthur was removed
the military and civilian cost of war
For each point you will need to use the sources and text on pages 338-41 to compile your answer.
Finally, make up your own mind as to whether, on balance, the policy of containment succeeded and then write up your ideas as a balanced report.
The Korean War has demonstrated many lessons to the U.S. The U.S., in its fight against communism had given its support to the anti-communist South Korea and so when communist controlled North Korea attacked, the U.S. hoped to drive North Korea away. Because the Soviet Union was boycotting the UN, the UN could assist he U.S.'s cause. ALthough most of the UN force sent to Korea was American, additionally support from 18 states including Britain sent troops. The UN was able to quickly drive the North Korean forces out of South Korea, which was the U.S.'s original goal. However, the US general MacArthur was not satisfied with this. MacArthur, along with Truman, wanted to remove communism from all of Korea. However North Korea had the support of the Chinese, which MacArthur underestimated. The UN's troops we pushed back into South Korea. Even then MacArthur wanted to continue the war, even if that meant using nuclear weapons, but Truman was satisfied with achieving the US's original goal of pushing North Korean troops out of South Korea. MacArthur's attack on North Korea resulted in intense fighting and of course, many civilian and military deaths. had MacArthur been able to continue as he wanted and use a nuclear weapon the toll would be much higher and could have begun a war with China and the USSR. Truman removed MacArthur after ignored UN instruction and threatened China.
The US's policy of containment seems to have been effective. The Korean War can be counted as a success for containment because it did just that and contained communism to North Korea. Although further efforts to bring down communism in all of Korea were very unsuccessful, the UN was able to counter North Korea's attack on South Korea and push the communist troops back. Had this not happened than South Korea might have been taken over and turned into a communist state. Mac Arthur aggressive policies however seem to have been counter-effective as they would have in all probability have launched a war with China or the USSR. China had already shown in North Korea how hard they were willing to fight and if they would have won a war against the US, communism would have spread even more.
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