1. The Korean War Haley Burgett, Georgia Hagy, Aimee LaBrecque,
Michael Sculley, Matthew Christie

2. The Start of the War
After WW2, the United States and USSR split Korea into the north and the south..
The North had Soviets backing a Stalinist regime under the rule of Kim II-Sun
created the North Korean Peoples' Army
equipped with Russian tanks and artillery
the South had an American-backed government under the presidency of Syngman Rhee
openly declared aim was the imposition of national unity by force
By 1948, two separate governments had been set up.
Both governments claimed to be the legitimate government of Korea
Neither side accepted the border as permanent
The conflict with communism vs. anti communism was rising to create a problem.
June North Korea launched 223,000 soldiers and 150 tanks across the border into South Korea and war began

3. Countries Involved South Supporters:
South Korea, 21 United Nations Countries
Australia was one of the first to contribute military personnel from all three services
largest UN contributor was United States; at one stage had 140,000 deployed in direct combat roles in Korea
Great Britain, Canada, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Colombia, Ethiopia, South Africa, New Zealand, Turkey, Greece, Thailand, Philippines and Luxembourg sent fighting units
Norway, Sweden, Denmark, India, Italy contributed military hospitals and field ambulances

4. Countries Involved North Supporters: North Korea, China, Soviet Union
Soviet Union’s contribution was vital
included medical units from their allies Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Bulgaria and Romania
provided diplomatic support, strategic and tactical planning (including planning of the invasion of South Korea) and essential logistical support
They supplied and trained the air forces of China and North Korea
2,200,000 Chinese served in Korea

5. Outcome of the War
On July 27, 1953, an armistice was signed and the fighting stopped.
Korea returned to the “status quo ante bellum” (the way things were before the war).
The U.S. succeeded in checking off Communist expansion, which cost them a lot of money and many lives.
The war caused massive damage to both North and South Korea's economy and infrastructure.
South Korea was then able to modernize and industrialize with the help of the United States.

6. Despite the signed truce, the conflict was not settled and Korea remains divided into two nations

7. The Korean War set a tone for cold war tension between two superpowers
The Korean War set a tone for cold war tension between two superpowers. Showed that the two superpowers, United States and Soviet Union, could fight a “limited war” in a third country

8. The Historical Personalities Involved
Major people in the Korean War were Douglas Macarthur, the commander of the US and UN forces combatting the North.
U.S. President Truman, decided to intervene in the Korean War, by following his policy of containment, to stop the spread of communism.
The ruler of China, Mao Zedong, sent the military to help out North Korea.
Stalin sent fighter planes and pilots to the North. Also the South's President Syngman Rhee and the North’s leader Kim II-sung were involved in the Korean War.

9. Douglas MacArthur
Mao Zedong
Kim II-sung
Harry S. Truman
Syngman Rhee