How to do Historical Argument #1: Korean War (1950s)
What you need to know:
1) In the years after World War II, many countries (Germany, Vietnam, Korea, etc.) were divided between Communist and Capitalist forces. In the case of Korea, the question was whether the US should have been involved in the conflict there (1950-1953). The U.S. relationship with the two countries today–especially nuclear-armed North Korea–is of course one of the most important diplomatic questions of our time. Understanding some of this history is needed to be informed about the current political situation in East Asia.
2) You have available to you a series of readings in a folder. Read the “overview” and “timeline” of the history of the Korean War–these are the secondary sources to help acquaint you with the subject. The others are primary sources (PRIMARY SOURCES are documents from the past–any of the documents that have a past date on them, e.g., 1950s in this case). These primary sources will allow you to answer the question below. I will upload all of these resources here.
3) Answer the question: Was the United States justified in being involved in the Korean conflict? Was it the right decision for the US to defend South Korea and make war with North Korea, or would American interests (and global interests) have been better served by an isolationist approach?
Write one paragraph that provides your main answer. Was the United States justified in taking part in the Korean War?
Write a second paragraph that includes at least one quotation from a primary source document. Use a quotation that supports your answer of whether the US was right or wrong to be involved in the Korean War.
Write a third paragraph that includes at least one quotation from a different primary source document. Use a quotation that supports your answer about US involvement (or not) in the Korean War.
Write a fourth paragraph that includes at least one quotation from a different (third total) primary source document. Use a quotation that supports your answer about US involvement (or not) in the Korean War.
You will have four paragraphs total: one overall answer and three that use specific quotations from the primary sources available. You only have to use three of the primary source documents. You do not have to use all of them.
