Transcript Chapter 18 Lesson 3 Day 1

The United States and the
USSR Use Proxies

Fighting proxy wars: During the
Cold War, the United States and
Soviet Union each wanted to make
their political and economic
systems dominant. They engaged
in proxy wars, each supporting the
side with a matching political
orientation.
The Korean War Involved
the Soviet Union, China, and
the United States


A divided Korea: After World War II, the Soviet Union
and the United States divided Korea into two zones, with
the plan of holding elections to reunify Korea. As U.S.Soviet relations grew worse, two separate governments
emerged in Korea—a communist government in the
North and an anti-communist government in the South.
The Korean War: War broke out in Korea in 1950 when,
with the approval of Joseph Stalin, the Communist
government in North Korea invaded South Korea.
Fearing further communist expansion, the United States
sent troops to help repel the invaders. The Chinese sent
troops to reinforce the North. The war continued until
1953 with neither side a victor and with Korea divided at
the 38th parallel, just as it had been at the war's outset.
Discussion

What roles did the Soviet Union,
China, and the United States
play in the Korean War?
Stalin, the head of the Soviet
Union, gave North Korea
permission to attack South Korea.
The United States sent troops to
repel the invaders, and China sent
troops to aid North Korea.
Background

Because Japan had controlled Korea since 1910,
Korea did not have its own government at the end of
World War II. Claimants to power were divided into two
main groups—committed Marxists who had fought the
Japanese as part of Chinese guerrilla armies and
members of a Korean nationalist movement. The
United States and the Soviet Union agreed to divide
the country at the 38th parallel for administrative
purposes. When the two sides could not agree on a
formula for a unified Korea, President Truman
persuaded the United Nations to assume responsibility
for the country. Military forces in the North and South
increased; however, resistance by communist
supporters in the South slowed the growth and training
of its army. In early 1949, North Korean leader Kim IlSung asked Soviet leader Joseph Stalin for permission
to launch a conventional invasion of the South. In early
1950, Stalin approved an invasion.
Discussion

the Soviet Union was a permanent
member of the United Nations Security
Council with the power to veto any
resolution that comes before the Council.
At the time the UN Security Council
approved a resolution condemning the
invasion of South Korea, the Soviet
Union could not veto the proposal
because its delegate had been
boycotting the meetings to protest
China's having no representation in the
United Nations.
Discussion

How do you think UN
involvement affected the Korean
War?
when the UN gets involved on one
side of an issue, it might sway
world opinion in favor of that side.