The Cold War and The Korean War

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Over the course of the 1950s, no event captured the tension of the infamous Cold War more than the Korean War. Fought to prevent the spread of communism in Korea, the Korean War was a bold political victory for the United States because America sent a clear message to the entire world, as it was the first military action of the Cold War, that the spread of communism will not be tolerated by the strongest military in the world, the United States. In addition, the Korean War was an economic benefit for the United States due to the increase of military spending and preserved the freedom of the South Korean people. However, the Korean War is often labeled as the “forgotten war” due to the failure of the United States to eliminate communism in Korea as well as its end in a stalemate. In truth, the Korean War was a military, political, and economical victory because it proved to the world that the United States would take a militant stand against the spread of communism, preserved the freedom of the South Korean people, as well as produced an economic boom that was fueled by the increased military spending.

Prior to World War II, Korea was controlled by Japan after their victory in the 1904-1905 Russo-Japanese War (“Korean War”). After the collapse of Japan in 1945, Russia and the United States agreed to divide Korea into two parts. The result was the southern half going to the United States and the northern half going to the Soviets with the divider being the 38th parallel, which equally bisected the peninsula and left the capital, Seoul, to the Americans (“Korean War”). This was only supposed to be an interim solution until a new government could be set up, but the Soviets sealed off their territory and instilled communist ideals. O...

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...ntext. Web. 10 Apr. 2014. Primary Source
"The Korean War." American Decades Primary Sources. Ed. Cynthia Rose. Vol. 6: 1950-1959. Detroit: Gale, 2004. 213-218. U.S. History in Context. Web. 10 Apr. 2014. Primary Source
"Korean War." The Cold War--1945-1991. Gale, 1992. World History in Context. Web. 10 Apr. 2014.
"Korean War." Europe Since 1914: Encyclopedia of the Age of War and Reconstruction. Ed. John Merriman and Jay Winter. Vol. 3. Detroit: Charles Scribner's Sons, 2006. 1581-1584. World History in Context. Web. 10 Apr. 2014.
"Korean War (1950–1953)." Gale Encyclopedia of U.S. History: War. Vol. 2. Detroit: Thomson Gale, 2008. Global Issues In Context. Web. 10 Apr. 2014.
Pach, Chester J., Jr. "Korea, Impact of." Americans at War. Ed. John P. Resch. Vol. 4: 1946-Present. Detroit: Macmillan Reference USA, 2005. 103-105. U.S. History in Context. Web. 10 Apr. 2014.

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