The Korean Police Action

I. Korea in the Cold War

A. Hot spots in the Cold War

actual imperialism?

symbolic struggles?

nuclear power and "limited wars"

puppet states and civil wars

presidential v. congressional decision

the role of the U.N.

elephants and grass

B. Korea after WWII

establishing a republic

the USSR in the north

no one in the south

60 plus political parties

Committee for the Preparation of Korean Independence

the Korean People's Republic, Aug. 1945- Feb. 1946

internal conflicts: class, ideology, economics and politics

authority from outside

USA: Syngman Rhee

USSR: Kim Il Sung [?]

Nationalist China: Kim Ku

Communist China: ?

C. The Two Koreas

USA-USSR meetings, 1946-1947

the U.N. decision, Sept. 1947

the 38^th parallel

II. The Korean Police Action, 1950-1953

A. Chronology

incident at the 38^th parallel, June 25 1950

the Southern advance, June-Aug. 1950

the Inchon landing to the Yalu, Sept.-Nov., 1950

China enters the war, Nov. 25-28, 1950

stalemate

Old Baldy

Truman fires MacArthur, Apr. 1951

the great flag debate

peace, July 27 1953

B. Questions about the Korean War

who attacked who?

the role of the USSR

why did China become involved?

the role of Japan

who won?

dress rehearsal for Vietnam?

C. Residual issues

interpreting refugees

North and South Korea

"brain-washing"

landmines

Amerasians