Where were North and South Korea divided before the war? What happened leading up to and during WWII?

At the Yalta Conference of February 1945, the wartime Allies agreed to divide Korea temporarily along the 38th parallel until the country was reunified.

Soviet troops occupied the North
U.S. troops occupied the South

What was the nature of the two regimes? Who were they allied with?

38th parallel

North Korea: The Soviet Union
South Korea: United Nations

How and when did the Korean War begin?

The North Korean troops attacked on June 25th 1950 and caught South Korea by surprise

U.S. troops left South Korea in 1949 and South Korea could not defend themselves against the attack
2 months North Korean troops had pushed the South Korea army almost into the Sea, western government quickly and acted to help South Korea

What was the U.S. response and how did the UN play into the conflict?

The United Nations condemned the invasion and sent a multinational force led by the United States General douglas MaCarthur

Troops from the United States, Britian, Austrailia and 12 other countries began landing in South Korea in July 1950


 

Major events:

  1. Initial NK success

    The North Korean attack began on June 25th, 1950 and caught South Korea totally by surprise.

    U.S. troops had left South Korea in 1949, and the South Koreans could not defend themselves against the attack.
    Within two months, North Korean troops had pushed the South’s army almost into the sea!

  2. U.S./allied gains

    Western governments quickly acted to help South Korea.

    The United Nations condemned the invasion and sent a multinational force led by U.S. General Douglas MacArthur.
    Troops from the U.S., Britain, Australia, and 12 other countries began landing in South Korea in July 1950

  3. Chinese entry

    United Nations troops were driven South

    September 1950 — MacArthur launches a massive amphibious assault on inchon, behind enemy lines, and pressed north toward the chines border
    China felt threatened by the invasion and sent 180,000 troops into Korea

  4. Soviet Union

    Communist leaders took over china

    Kin Il Sung becomes the teacher of NK and asks China and the Soviet Union to support its invasion of the South to reunite Korea
    Bot countries approved but neither wanted to be involved in fighting

  5. Armistice

    The war ground went on for another 2 years before an armistice was eventually signed in the city of Panujom, bringing peace to the divided country.

    North and South Korea remained divided roughly at the 38th parallel
    In total about 2 million soldiers and up to 2 million Korean civilians lost their lives.

Space Race:

What was Sputnik?

What was the government response? (Education, NASA)

Significance/identification of John Glenn and Apollo 11

Cuban Missile Crisis:

Cuban Revolution of 1959 (events and significance).

Strained relations between Cuba and the US (Castro and Bay of Pigs).

Cause of the Cuban Missile Crisis.

How did Kennedy respond and how did the crisis end?

Berlin Wall:

Describe the Berlin and Wall and why it was built.

What was the U.S. response to the wall?

How were East Germans affected by the wall and what did they do to resist? What were the consequences?

When and why did the wall come down?

Espionage:

Describe the spy agencies (KGB and CIA).

Who are the Rosenberg’s and what did they do. What happened to them?

What is the relationship between espionage and the Second Red Scare?

What is the role of spying in pop culture?

Nuclear Arms Race:

Describe the Manhattan Project.

Who developed which bombs and when?

Development of delivery technology.

How many weapons did/does the U.S. and Russia/U.S.S.R. have and what other countries developed them?

What is deterrence and Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD)?

Discuss Strategic Arms Limitation Treaties (SALT) and Strategic Arms Reduction Treaties (START).