THE KOREAN
WAR HISTORY
Korea’s Background, its division
& the role of historical actors
TABLE OF CONTENTS
01 BACKGROUND
Introduction & Korea in the early 20th century
02 DIVISION OF KOREA &
HISTORICAL CHARACTERS
03 COURSE OF THE WAR
Development of KW 1950 – 1953
04 AFTERMATH OF THE KW
01
BACKGROUND
Korea in the Early 20th
century
Korea in the
20th century
● Strategic position in East Asia
● Control of Korea in its early years
oscillated between China and Japan
● 1905: ____________________________
● 1910: ____________________________
● Japanese were brutal = ___________
_____________
Korea in the
20th century
● Some resistance groups were
supported by communists in
China & USSR
● __________________ led such a
group: fought a guerrilla war
against Japan. Military
involvement _______________
_______________ of the North
Koreans
Korea in the 20th century ● Allied leaders met at
__________________________
_____________
● Agreed Korea should be
given ____________________
(eventually) but no
specifics were discussed
● __________________________
__________________________
__________________________
__________________________
DIVISION OF KOREA &
HISTORICAL CHARACTERS
How did historical characters contribute to the outbreak of the
Korean War?
02
Division of Korea into
North & South
● After Japan’s fall, Korean towns
and villages formed ____________
______________ to _______________
and ____________________________
_______________
● US and USSR differed over how to
administer Korea
● UN called for ___________________
_____________
How did actions of historical actors
contribute to the start of KW?
DIVIDE &
CONQUER Split the class into 5 groups
Each group will become an ‘expert’ in one historical character
Instructions:
1) Use textbook pages 74-83
Look for actions/policies/events that happened under your character’s leadership
2) Refer to SLS package sections B & C
Use the activities to supplement your research on your assigned character
3) Summarise actions/policies/events in table
Include point-form key details, dates etc.
4) Explain how (3) drove them closer to KW
How did these actions/policies/events contribute to tensions that led to KW?
How did actions of Kim Il Sung contribute to
the start of KW?
Year of What happened? How did this increase the
action/policy/ chances of Korean War
event breaking out?
Kim Il Sung
DPRK
(North Korea)
How did actions of Syngman Rhee contribute to
the start of KW?
Year of What happened? How did this increase the
action/policy/ chances of Korean War
event breaking out?
Syngman Rhee
ROK
(North Korea)
How did actions of Harry Truman contribute to
the start of KW?
Year of What happened? How did this increase the
action/policy/ chances of Korean War
event breaking out?
Harry Truman
USA
How did actions of Josef Stalin contribute to
the start of KW?
Year of What happened? How did this increase the
action/policy/ chances of Korean War
event breaking out?
Josef Stalin
Soviet Union
(USSR)
How did actions of Mao Zedong contribute to
the start of KW?
Year of What happened? How did this increase the
action/policy/ chances of Korean War
event breaking out?
Mao Zedong
Communist
China
Share with your new groups!
Kim Il Sung Syngman Rhee Harry Truman Josef Stalin Mao Zedong
DPRK ROK USA Soviet Union Communist China
(North Korea) (South Korea) (USSR)
Who do you think is to blame for the
start of the Korean War?
“North Korea caused the
Korean War.”
How far do you agree
with this statement?
Explain your answer.
03
COURSE OF WAR
Development of KW
TB pg 85 - 90
KOREAN WAR CASUALTY COUNT
1.6%
70.9%
27.5%
SOURCE PRACTICE: TB page 86, Source 8.8
How useful is this source
in its portrayal of the
communists in the
Korean War? Explain your
answer.
SOURCE PRACTICE: TB page 86, Source 8.8
How useful is this source
in its portrayal of the
communists in the
Korean War? Explain your
answer.
Development of the
Korean War
● North Korea invades South Korea
on __________________
● Truman sends ___________________
___________________ & pressures
_____________________ to condemn
North Korea’s actions and order
them to withdraw
Development of the Korean War
● USSR could have vetoed UN’s
decision to intervene in Korea
● But USSR was _____________ the UN
in protest for UN’s ________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
● ___________________________________
___________________________________
____________________
SLS Package Section F
1) Refer to TB pages 85 - 90
5-10 mins
2) Complete SLS Section F
10 – 15 mins
04
AFTERMATH
OF THE KOREAN WAR
AFTERMATH OF THE KOREAN WAR
CIVILIAN ISSUE OF THE
CASUALTIES POWs
1953
KOREA DIVIDED
DEVASTATED DMZ ESTABLISHED
ECONOMIES
US FOREIGN
POLICY
See next slide
Impact of the Korean War on US
Foreign Policy
Fighting of Proxy Wars Creation of Alliances & Escalation of Increase in Military Power
Tensions
• 1st proxy war in the • Increased US determination to pursue • US intensified its military
Cold War policy of containment in Asia power to militarily enforce
• Example of how a local • US stationed troops and significant air policy of containment
dispute could escalate power and naval ships in S. Korea and • Pre-1950: Scaling down
into a superpower in Japan of forces
conflict • Extension of network of alliances • 1951: Doubled armed
beyond NATO (SEATO, CENTO) forces size
• USSR counters NATO with the • Pre-KW: NATO spent
Warsaw Pact. Views alliances as 5.5% of GDP on military
attempting to encircle the communist • Post-KW: NATO spent
world 12% of GDP on military
Korean families: Buses cross DMZ into Korean families divided by war meet
North Korea for rare reunions (2018) for heart-wrenching reunions (2018)
Korea’s Divided Families: Time and the South Korea proposes meeting with
Vanishing Hopes of the First Generation (2020) North on family reunions (2022)
Every Chuseok a stark reminder
for families separated during
the Korean War that time is
running out (2023)
Will North &
South Korea
ever reunite?
Slidesgo
CREDITS: This presentation template was created by Slidesgo, including
Flaticon Freepik
icons by Flaticon, and infographics & images by Freepik
