| Korean War
During the early part of the 1900s, Japan seized control of Korea. Japan
kept control of its Korean neighbor for over 35 years with often harsh
policies and an attempt to eradicate Korean culture in favor of Japanese
ideas and ways. As the end of World War II drew to a close, the allied
leadership promised the Korean people that after Japan was defeated, Korea
would be able to regain its independence. However, the former Soviet Union
shared a border with Korea, and the USSR wanted a to expand into Korea
themselves. So the USSR communist regime under Joseph Stalin declared
war on Korea and invaded it just shortly before Japan surrendered to the
United States.
After the World War II surrender, Japanese troops did not immediately
leave Korea. So United States officials met with the officials of the
USSR to decide on how to remove Japanese troops from Korea. The United
States agreed to Soviet occupation of the northern part of Korea with
the U.S. occupying the southern part. The dividing line was the 38th parallel
of north latitude. The southern part was called the Republic of Korea
and the northern portion the People's Democratic Republic of Korea.
Efforts to reunify Korea failed. North Korean forces invaded South Korea
in 1950 and President Harry Truman authorized the use of American land,
sea, and air forces in Korea to defend South Korea. Shortly thereafter,
15 other nations that belonged to the United Nations joined the U.S. in
fighting the North Koreans.
Sample some of the following activities to learn more about the Korean
War.
Places To Go | People To See | Things To Do | Teacher Resources | Bibliography
Places To Go
The following are places to go (some real and some virtual) to find out
about architecture.
South
Korea
North
Korea
Virtually visit North and South Korea. North Korea is the Democratic People's
Republic of Korea and is ruled by the Communisty party. Its capital is
Pyongyang. South Korea is the Republic of Korea, and its capital is Seoul.
Korean
War Project - Maps
Visit Korea via this collection of maps that detail the country and the
military offensives.
Korea:
The Land of the Morning Calm
This site offers articles, pictures, and videos describing military service
and involvement in Korea both past and present.
People To See
Douglas
MacArthur
Spend time with General Douglas MacArthur. President Harry Truman appointed
him as supreme commander in the Korean War. He was later replaced by General
Matthew B. Ridgway. Read the text or listen to an audio file of his farewell speech to Congress where he said, "Old soldiers never die; they just fade away."
Visit his gravesite in Norfolk, Virginia.
CNN
Interactive : Families of U.S. Korean War MIAs to meet with North
Koreans
Meet some families whose sons or daughters are still missing in action
from the Korean War and learn about their efforts to work with the North
Korean government.
The
Men of the Korean War
Meet a Marine rifle platoon that fought throughout the Pusan Perimeter
battles, in Inchon, and across the Han River to help in the recapture
of Seoul.
Eyewitness:
A North Korean Remembers
This site features a perspective on the events surrounding the Korean
War from the point of view of a North Korean. Young Sik Kim's account
of his childhood (1935-1955), which is published on this site, is arranged
chronologically. His memoir describes Japan, the Soviet Union, and America's
occupation of North Korea.
Things To Do
Korean
War
Learn about the history of the war, see images, and read personal accounts
of the men and women involved. This site also has a "Just for Teachers"
section with classroom activities.
Korean War
Find information about the history of the Korean War, a timeline of the
events, a guide to the artillery that was part of the war, information
about the military units, photographs, and more.
Korean War
American troops were not the men and women involved in the Korean War.
Learn about the United Nations forces from Australia, Belgium, Canada,
Colombia, Ethiopia, France, Greece, Luxembourg, as well as other countries.
50th Anniversary
of the Korean War
Examine a timeline of the war and read personal remembrances from Korean
War veterans.
Eyewitness:
A North Korean Remembers
Read the remembrances of a North Korean citizen and soldier in the war.
Taking
Sides: M*A*S*H & the Struggle of Life Against Death
Remember the popular television program M*A*S*H which was about the Korean
War. The program ran from 1972 to 1983.
Kilroy Was Here
Read personal remembrances of Korean War veterans.
U.S.
Navy Ships: Sunk & Damaged in Action during the Korean Conflict
The United States ships that were sunk in the Korean War were not sunk
by big guns or aircraft. Find out what method the Korean army used to
damage US war ships.
Military
History: Korean War (1950-1953)
Find general resources about the war, information about aerial and naval
operations, personal narratives, and information about the participation
of other countries in the conflict.
Teacher Resources
Lesson Plans/Webquests
Bibliography
- Bachrach, Deborah. Korean War. San Diego, CA : Lucent Books, c1991.
- Gay, Kathlyn. Korean War. New York : Twenty-first Century Books, 1996.
- Green, Carl R. The Korean War Soldier at Heartbreak Ridge. Mankato, MN, U.S.A. : Capstone Press ; Chicago : Distributed
by Childrens Press, c1991.
- Isserman, Maurice. The Korean War : America at War. New York : Facts
on File, c1992.
- McGowen, Tom. The Korean War. New York : Franklin Watts, c1992.
- Smith, C. Carter. The Korean War. Englewood Cliffs, N.J. : Silver
Burdett Press, c1990.
- Stein, R. Conrad. The Korean War : The Forgotten War. Hillside, N.J.
: Enslow Publishers, c1994.
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