Confrontation and Communism in Asia
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- Created by: Erin W
- Created on: 13-06-17 15:55
The Korean War - Background
- During WW2 Korea was occupied by Japan.
- Korea was liberated by Soviet soldiers in the north and US soldiers in the south.
- Partitioned on the 38th parallel of latitude until elections could be held - USA and USSR couldn't agree on a type of government.
- North Korea - communist under Kim Il Sung - brought in welcomed reforms for workers.
- South Korea - capitalist dictatorship under Syngman Rhee - unpopular and spiteful but had backing of USA.
- Both states sought reunification of the country.
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The Korean War
- June 1950 - N. Korean forces invade South.
- Within days the capital, Seoul, had been taken.
- US feared a 'domino effect' - many countries would then fall to communism.
- United Nations forces (mainly American) - led by General Douglas MacArthur landed at Inchon in September 1950.
- Pushed N.Korean forces above 38th parallel (beyond its orders) - this worried China (thought USA would invade it).
- China invaded N.Korea and pushed UN forces back to the 38th parallel.
- MacArthur asked Truman for permission to counter attack (and atomic bombs) - Truman refused (didn't want conflict to escalate or USSR involvement).
- April 1951 - MacArthur sacked after criticising President's policy.
- War continued for two more years - Soviet Air Force dressed as Chinese pilots (Stalin didn't want to be seen involved).
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Results of Korean War and Ceasefire
- 1953 - Khrushchev takes over USSR and Dwight D. Eisenhower new US President - two new leaders wanted peace.
- July 1953 - a ceasefire was agreed.
- Permanent border (just north of 38th parallel) agreed and demilitarised zone created.
- Containment had worked - no communism in S.Korea.
- Relationships between North and South Korea very tense.
- USA invested alot of money into Japanese economic recovery - to prevent it becoming communist.
- USA became 'protector' of area - agreements made with Phillipines, Austria, and New Zealand.
- Military side of NATO expanded (previously was mainly political).
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Cuban Missile Crisis Background
- Cuba - large Caribbean island 90 miles from Florida.
- 1959 - Cuban revolution.
- Old ruler Bastista overthrown by group led by Fidel Castro - Castro formed a communist government.
- Trade between USA and Cuba declined - this worried USA
- Cuba and USSR soon became close trading partners.
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Bay of Pigs Disaster
- 1961 - John F Kennedy became US President.
- JFK informed by CIA of planned invasion of Cuba - with help from anti-Castro Cuban exiles.
- Kennedey approved invasion - it went wrong.
- USA expected support from Cuban population - didn't materialise.
- Attempt knowns as 'Bay of Pigs Disaster' after the bay where they landed.
- Made Kennedy look weak and inexperienced.
- Made Castro look heroic - gained him national suport in Cuba.
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The Build up to Crisis
- Castro concerned USA wouldn't give up - Cuba turned to USSR.
- 1962 - USSR sent nuclear missile building equipment to Cuba.
- Missiles would be able to reach most American cities.
- This was to counterbalance US missile bases in Turkey which could reach most Soviet cities.
- Kennedy set up ExComm - group of political advisors to help deal with crisis - they suggested invasion of Cuba.
- By 1962 - US Air Force had gathered enough evidence to prove missiles were being built and Soviet ships were on route to provide more.
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Cuban Missile Crisis
- October 1962 - JFK enforces a naval blockade surrounding Cuba.
- 26th October - U2 spy plane is shot down over Cuba. Khrushchev sends Kennedy telegram saying he will remove missiles if USA ended blockade and didn't take over Cuba - Kennedy agrees.
- 27th October - second telegram saying USSR would only remove missiles if USA removed missiles from Turkey - no reply from Kennedy.
- 28th October - Khrushchev agrees to Kennedy's offer and removal of missiles begins.
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Results of Cuban Missile Crisis
- Nuclear war had been avoided.
- Publicly looked like a victory for Kennedy - but Kennedy had agreed on 27th October to remove missiles from Turkey anyway.
- Castro remained in power in Cuba.
- Both USA and USSR agreed that similar confrontation should be avoided - a telephone hotline between Washington and Moscow set up.
- USA and USSR agreed to hold talks to reduce the number of nuclear weapons each had - resulted in Partial Test Ban Treaty 1963.
- Kennedy praised Khrushchev for compromising.
- Khrushchev made to look weak in USSR - replaced in 1964.
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The Vietnam War Background
- WW2 - Vietnam occupied by Japanese.
- Vietminh (Vietnam army) led by Ho Chi Min declared Vietnam independant at the end of the war.
- This worried French - wanted to regain control and stop communism spreading into Vietnam.
- 1954 - French badly defeated in Dien Bien Phu - this lead to armistice.
- Vietnam divided along 17th parallel of latitude.
- North - under Vietminh control
- South - under control of anti-communist Ngo Dinh Diem.
- Election was to reunite country - never happened.
- US supported south with money, weapons, and military advisors.
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Beginning of the War
- Not all in South Vietnam were happy and wanted to re-join with the north.
- They formed the National Liberation Army - Vietcong.
- Vietcong - led by Ho Chi Minh.
- Vietcong launched a series of guerrilla attacks against South Vietnamese government.
- South Vietnamese government not very popular - seen as corrupt.
- Ngo Dinh Diem eventually overthrown and assassinated.
- Shortly after - JFK assassinated and succeeded by Lyndon B Johnson.
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The Tonkin Resolution
- August 1964 - N.Vietnamese attacked US destroyer on the Bay of Tonkin.
- President Johnson increased military presence in Vietnam.
- Over next three years US attacks against Vietcong increased.
- USA used chemical weapons e.g. napalm and Agent Orange.
- By 1968 - over 1/2 million US troops in Vietnam.
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Why did USA Struggle to Defeat Vietcong?
- US army mostly made up of young, inexperienced conscripts.
- Vietcong used guerrilla tactics - they didn't wear uniforms so they could blend with surrounding civilian population.
- Vietnamese supplying their army through Ho Chi Minh Trail - outside Vietnam war zone.
- Vietcong developed a vast network of underground tunnels to support soldiers and confuse Americans.
- US army lost support through indiscriminate attacks.
- March 1968 - 350 Vietnamese villagers killed in My Lai massacre.
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Ending of Vietnam War
- Jan 1968 - Tet Offensive launched against US forces.
- Vietcong got as far as Southern capital, Saigon before they were driven back - made US realise they could not win war.
- US public opinon and effects of war also played a part.
- 1968 - Richard Nixon became president - determined to remove USA from Vietnam without looking weak.
- He increased levels of boming against the North.
- Ordered secret bombings against close countries - Cambodia etc.
- Introduced Vietnamisation - gradual withdrawal of US troops.
- 1973 - peace treaty signed - USA removed and POW released.
- Seen as 'peace with honour'
- Within two years - communists fully occupy Vietnam.
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Results of Vietnam War
- Huge military and civilian losses.
- Many US veterans suffered severe mental and physical trauma.
- Vietnam and its citizens were devestated by war.
- Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos all became communist.
- USA spent $120 billion on the war.
- Showed that when faced with Guerilla tactics, US could be defeated.
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