POST WAR KOREA
Olivia Mangion, Alex Whittingham, Andrew Milliken, and Steve Hamerski
Olivia Mangion, Alex Whittingham, Andrew Milliken, and Steve Hamerski
BACKGROUND
Russo-Japanese War- Imperialism in Korea was the main cause of the Russo-Japanese war. In 1904, Japan had strong interests in taking over Korea. However, the Japanese were angered by Russia, who had just invaded North Korea.Arguments and dislike for each other formed between Russia and Japan, and war seemed inevitable. War started in 1904, and it began with surprise attacks from the Japanese. Before and during the war, Russia didn't see Japan as a threat at all, but they underestimated the Japanese army. War continued until 1914, and Japan was victorious. They won the war, and Korea as a colony. At first, Japan promised to only 'help' Korea as a country, but over time, Japan controlled most of Korea's technology and communication systems. Korea had been imperialized by Japan.
Korean War- The Korean War began in 1950, just a few years after WWII. WWII caused Korea to become divided into North Korea and South Korea. The two regions having very different views, lifestyles and outside influences. North Korea was helped by the Soviets and the Chinese, and the region was turned into a communist country. South Korea, however, was supported by the United States, and had more democratic views. The two countries, North Korea and South Korea, were split by a border called the 38th parallel. The border got its name from the line of latitude that the border lies on. The war began when North Korea sent about 75,000 troops across the 38th parallel into South Korea. North Korea's army was made much stronger by the artillery that was given to them by the Soviets. South Korea had its own support though, General Douglas Macarthur of the United States. He planned a surprise attack that caused half of North Korea's army to surrender and the rest retreated. The war continued until 1953, when the North Koreans had been driven back across the 38th parallel. After the war, the 38th parallel became the official border between the two countries, North Korea and South Korea.
INDEPENDENCE
''Declaration of Independence (March 1, 1919)
We hereby declare that Korea is an independent state and that Korean are a self‑
governing people. We proclaim it to the nations of the world in affirmation of the principle of
the equality of all nations, and we proclaim it to our posterity, preserving in perpetuity the right
of national survival. We make this declaration on the strength of five thousand years of history
as an expression of the devotion and loyalty of twenty million people. …''
[Translated by Han‑Kyo Kim]
The March 1st Movement- March 1, 1919 marks a turning point in the history of Korean independence. After being a colony of Japan since about 1914, independence movements started to grow all throughout Korea. The March 1st Movement, however, was the biggest and most important movement for independence. Koreans joined together in the streets and protested against the Japanese. Symbols of Korean nationalism were spread throughout the protesting, such as the waving of the Korean flag. Although this didn't grant Korea from Japan, March 1st is celebrated in Korea today.
Korea did not gain independence from the March 1st Movement. North Korea gained independence on August 15, 1945. South Korea became free on August 13, 1948.
''Declaration of Independence (March 1, 1919)
We hereby declare that Korea is an independent state and that Korean are a self‑
governing people. We proclaim it to the nations of the world in affirmation of the principle of
the equality of all nations, and we proclaim it to our posterity, preserving in perpetuity the right
of national survival. We make this declaration on the strength of five thousand years of history
as an expression of the devotion and loyalty of twenty million people. …''
[Translated by Han‑Kyo Kim]
The March 1st Movement- March 1, 1919 marks a turning point in the history of Korean independence. After being a colony of Japan since about 1914, independence movements started to grow all throughout Korea. The March 1st Movement, however, was the biggest and most important movement for independence. Koreans joined together in the streets and protested against the Japanese. Symbols of Korean nationalism were spread throughout the protesting, such as the waving of the Korean flag. Although this didn't grant Korea from Japan, March 1st is celebrated in Korea today.
Korea did not gain independence from the March 1st Movement. North Korea gained independence on August 15, 1945. South Korea became free on August 13, 1948.
Containment:
After WWll the US President Harry S. Truman wanted to stop Russia from expanding its borders. to stop this the policy of containment was created.Containment is “provided a conceptual framework for a series of successful initiatives undertaken from 1947 to 1950 to blunt Soviet expansion.” To stop the soviets from expanding any further into Korea which they already had expanded on to the Korean peninsula. The Korean Peninsula was divided between Russia and the US, the North was controlled by the Soviets and the south by the United States. when the Soviets first took control of the Peninsula they controlled all of it until the US invaded and pushed the Soviets to the north. which the north had been surrender to the soviets by the Japanese. This event caused the making of the 38th parallel. This chain of events also caused the conflict between the Koreans who supported communism and the non-communist Koreans.
After WWll the US President Harry S. Truman wanted to stop Russia from expanding its borders. to stop this the policy of containment was created.Containment is “provided a conceptual framework for a series of successful initiatives undertaken from 1947 to 1950 to blunt Soviet expansion.” To stop the soviets from expanding any further into Korea which they already had expanded on to the Korean peninsula. The Korean Peninsula was divided between Russia and the US, the North was controlled by the Soviets and the south by the United States. when the Soviets first took control of the Peninsula they controlled all of it until the US invaded and pushed the Soviets to the north. which the north had been surrender to the soviets by the Japanese. This event caused the making of the 38th parallel. This chain of events also caused the conflict between the Koreans who supported communism and the non-communist Koreans.