Cast of the US comedy MASH set during the Korean War (1950-53). Why do you think the US got involved in Korea?

Who or what was to Who or what was to blame for the blame for the

extension of Cold extension of Cold War to the Far War to the Far

East?East?To explain events which sparked To explain events which sparked the war in Koreathe war in Korea

To evaluate the historiographical To evaluate the historiographical debate over the causes of the debate over the causes of the

Korean WarKorean War

Aims

Reasons for US Reasons for US involvementinvolvement

‘‘Domino theoryDomino theory’ & ‘’ & ‘Roll backRoll back’’ Unwilling to repeat experience of Unwilling to repeat experience of

Eastern EuropeEastern Europe Communist People’s Republic of Communist People’s Republic of

China (1949)China (1949) Intervention from China & USSRIntervention from China & USSR Red scare & McCarthyism (1950s)Red scare & McCarthyism (1950s) Internal pressure - NSC-68Internal pressure - NSC-68

Your taskYour task

Read p.63-4 of Phillips and find out Read p.63-4 of Phillips and find out what sparked the Korean War in what sparked the Korean War in 1950.1950.

Kim il Sung, North Korea (1948-1994)

Syngman Rhee, South Korea (1948-60)

Causes of Korean WarCauses of Korean War Debate over who made first Debate over who made first

movemove: North claimed S : North claimed S Korean troops seized N Korean troops seized N Korean town of Haeju; South Korean town of Haeju; South claimed it had been invaded claimed it had been invaded by Northby North

Disputes over elections after Disputes over elections after WWIIWWII – UN committee – UN committee dominated by USdominated by US

Characteristics of Characteristics of governments in N & S Korea:governments in N & S Korea: anti-communist leadership in anti-communist leadership in S Korea & v Democratic S Korea & v Democratic People’s Republic in N KoreaPeople’s Republic in N Korea

Withdrawal of US & USSR Withdrawal of US & USSR troops after 1949troops after 1949: S Korea : S Korea left vulnerableleft vulnerable

Your taskYour task Read pp.64-6 and note down the key ideas of Read pp.64-6 and note down the key ideas of

each historiographical viewpoint.each historiographical viewpoint. You have to make a pitch to the class to prove You have to make a pitch to the class to prove

that your view of the causes of the Korean War that your view of the causes of the Korean War is correct. Each group will take a different is correct. Each group will take a different historiographical view point. Use evidence historiographical view point. Use evidence from your own knowledge to support your from your own knowledge to support your views, but you can’t use notes or textbooks.views, but you can’t use notes or textbooks.

Traditional / orthodox viewTraditional / orthodox view Revisionist viewRevisionist view Local factors approachLocal factors approach Domestic pressures on TrumanDomestic pressures on Truman

Traditional viewTraditional view

Responsibility of North – view endorsed Responsibility of North – view endorsed by David Rees, ‘Korea: Limited War’by David Rees, ‘Korea: Limited War’

Truman intervene to protect Koreans Truman intervene to protect Koreans from Communist aggressionfrom Communist aggression

UN was used as a cover for US foreign UN was used as a cover for US foreign policypolicy

US feared further Communist US feared further Communist expansion – domino theory – after expansion – domino theory – after revolution in China, 1949revolution in China, 1949

Revisionist viewRevisionist view

Stalin was too cautious to prompt a war Stalin was too cautious to prompt a war in Korea – view endorsed by Kathryn in Korea – view endorsed by Kathryn Weathersby in ‘Stalin, Kim il Sung & Weathersby in ‘Stalin, Kim il Sung & the Prelude to War’, Khrushchev's the Prelude to War’, Khrushchev's memoirs & recent Russian historiansmemoirs & recent Russian historians

Stalin was a facilitator rather than Stalin was a facilitator rather than originator of waroriginator of war

Stalin wished to forestall an attack by Stalin wished to forestall an attack by SouthSouth

Local / international Local / international factorsfactors

Local war which drew in Local war which drew in superpowers – view endorsed by superpowers – view endorsed by Bruce Cumings, ‘Origins of the Bruce Cumings, ‘Origins of the Korean WarKorean War

US policy of containment escalated US policy of containment escalated civil war into Cold Warcivil war into Cold War

US, USSR & China used Korea to US, USSR & China used Korea to play out international differencesplay out international differences

Truman’s foreign policyTruman’s foreign policy

Domestic political pressure – Domestic political pressure – Truman acccused of being ‘soft’ on Truman acccused of being ‘soft’ on CommunismCommunism

Red Scare & McCarthy witch hunt Red Scare & McCarthy witch hunt gathering popular support in US in gathering popular support in US in early 1950searly 1950s

Hawks in US administration put Hawks in US administration put pressure on Truman to act decisivelypressure on Truman to act decisively

Your taskYour task Work in teams. Study sources O-R on p.67. Work in teams. Study sources O-R on p.67.

Identify what the author’s interpretation of Identify what the author’s interpretation of the causes of Cold War.the causes of Cold War.

What evidence would you use to support What evidence would you use to support this?this?

What evidence would you use to challenge What evidence would you use to challenge this?this?

Extension. Explain why you feel your Extension. Explain why you feel your interpretation is the most accurate. Use your interpretation is the most accurate. Use your own knowledge to write a conclusion. Try to own knowledge to write a conclusion. Try to dismiss any counter-arguments as well.dismiss any counter-arguments as well.

What the sources sayWhat the sources say

Source O: ‘No one and everyone was Source O: ‘No one and everyone was responsible’responsible’

Source P: USSR supported the invasion Source P: USSR supported the invasion of North Koreaof North Korea

Source Q: N Korea thought US Source Q: N Korea thought US withdrawal signalled abandonment of withdrawal signalled abandonment of Korea to communismKorea to communism

Source R: Superpowers used Korea as Source R: Superpowers used Korea as a way of playing out Cold War power a way of playing out Cold War power politics but avoiding direct conflictpolitics but avoiding direct conflict

This house believes that it was American foreign policy that ‘crystallised the Cold War’?

.

HomeworkHomework

How far do you accept the view of How far do you accept the view of Source K that it was American Source K that it was American foreign policy that ‘crystallized Cold foreign policy that ‘crystallized Cold War?’?War?’?

Answer this question using sources Answer this question using sources K to N on p.61-2 plus your own K to N on p.61-2 plus your own knowledge. Use the writing frame knowledge. Use the writing frame and if necessary the topic sentences and if necessary the topic sentences your teacher providesyour teacher provides

ExtensionExtension

Produce a factoid on Kim Il Sung aka Produce a factoid on Kim Il Sung aka ‘The Eternal President’. Examine his ‘The Eternal President’. Examine his early life, beliefs, involvement in the early life, beliefs, involvement in the Korean War and lasting influence. Korean War and lasting influence. You may also wish to compare him You may also wish to compare him with his successor, his son Kim Jong with his successor, his son Kim Jong Il aka ‘The Dear Leader’.Il aka ‘The Dear Leader’.

Team America

PlenaryPlenary

Reasons for US involvementReasons for US involvement Historiography of Korean War: Historiography of Korean War:

orthodox, revisionist, orthodox, revisionist, local/international factors, local/international factors, Truman’s foreign policyTruman’s foreign policy

Extension. Who was to blame?Extension. Who was to blame? What tips would you give an A What tips would you give an A

level student tackling source-level student tackling source-based questions for this paper based questions for this paper for the first timefor the first time