The Korean War

Michael Castillo

4/22/2014

US History Honors

06.04 The Korean War

somebody | Wanted | But | So |

North Korea | To hold communist elections in the country | The country was separated by the Democratic South and Communist North | North Korea launched a surprised attack and took over a lot of the country. |

General MacArthur | To invade China in order to defeat the North Koreans | The Chinese pushed UN forces back to the 38th parallel | Truman relieved General MacArthur of his command for not following orders. |

President Truman | To fire MacArthur because they had a showdown years before. | MacArthur was a great general and the public was in favor of General MacArthur | Truman relieved him after refusing to take orders and after MacArthur failed to invade China. |

China | Wanted to prevent Americans and democracy from entering their country. | General Mac Arthur was given permission to invade China in order to defeat them. | China joined North Korea and pushed UN forces back to the 38th parallel |

United Nations | Keep the peace or propose and economic sanction against North Korea | the Soviet Union would not honor the economic sanctions | UN decided to send forces to North Korea |

1. How did General Douglas MacArthur react to the events in Korea? What was his stance on the Korean War?

General Macarthur was surprised because he did not expect China to join the war and push the UN forces back to the 38th Parallel. He thought the only way to win the war was to defeat China but did not realize how large and powerful the Chinese army is.

2. How did President Truman respond to the events in Korea? What was his stance on the Korean War?

President Truman decided to relieve General Truman for not following orders and being pushed back to the 38th parallel. The war continued to be a seesaw with very little progress.

3. Which leader's actions were the most justifiable—General MacArthur's or President Truman's? Support your claim with evidence...