Korean War timeline

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Annex A: Understanding History and War. Discussion, Study, and Examination Questions:

  1. What is history? Define history. What is the historian’s task? What is historiography? Is history a science? Is history an art? Explain. Delineate the major problems in writing history. What does an understanding of history and historiography tell us about humanity about ourselves? Who are the authors of the books used in this class? Given their backgrounds what problems might they have in writing an accurate narrative of, and explanation for specific events?
  2. What is war? What are the causes of war? Is man by nature warlike? Is it possible to end war? What is Hobbes’ thesis on human nature? Do you agree or disagree with his thesis? What is Rousseau’s thesis on human nature? Do you agree or disagree with his thesis? (See handout: “The Causes of War,” by Adrian R. Lewis)
  3. Who was Carl von Clausewitz? Delineate the five tenets of Clausewitz. Explain his concept of the total and limited war? World War II was the most total war in human history. Why? Explain Clausewitz’ thesis of the “remarkable trinity.” According to Clausewitz how do you win a war? Explain Clausewitz’ thesis on “friction,” “the center of gravity,” and the “culmination point.” Explain Clausewitz analytical tool on the levels of war.
  4. What is policy? What are political objectives? How are political objectives determined? What is strategy? How is strategy developed? What are the connections between policy and political objectives, political objectives and strategy?
  5. What was the Atlantic Character? Why was the document developed? Who was responsible for it, and why does it matter?
  6. What is doctrine? What is the relationship between technology and doctrine? What were the most significant technological and doctrinal developments in the conduct of war in the twentieth century? How does doctrine influence strategy?
  7. Define the following terms: pursuit, unity of command, interior line, strategic consumption, economy of force, mass, objective, surprise, limited war, artificial limited war, insurgency, counterinsurgency, annihilation, exhaustion, and attrition.
  8. Trace the evolution of military technology from the Civil War to World War II. Using technology explain the outcome of the Civil War, World War I, and World War II. How did technological developments influence the conduct and outcome of each war?
  9. How did the relationship between technology and doctrine change after World War II? Why?
  10. What are “Joint Operations?” What are “Combined Operations?” Delineate the problems involved in conducting joint and combined operations. What is the Goldwater-Nichols Act? Why was it developed? What is the “Whole of Government” approach to war?
  11. Who was the father of modern strategic bombing doctrine? What exactly was his thesis on the role of the bomber in modern warfare? How did the British, Americans incorporate air war doctrine into their practices of war? Why did the British and Americans adopt strategic bombing doctrine, and why did the Germans, French, Italians, Russians, and Japanese fail to adopt it? Which air doctrine was most effective, the British or American? Why?
  12. What is a state? What is a nation? Can a state fight total war? Can a nation fight total war? Explain. Consider Clausewitz’s “remarkable trinity.”
  13. What resources are required to achieve "superpower" status? What makes the United States a superpower? What made the Soviet Union a superpower?

Identify and State the Significance of the Following Terms

  • Strategy
  • Doctrine
  • Policy
  • Generalship
  • Combat Power
  • Center of Gravity
  • Joint Operations
  • Combined Operations
  • Total War vs. Limited War
  • The American Way of War
  • The levels of War
  • Command of the Air
  • Carl Von Clausewitz
  • Giulio Douhet
  • On War
  • Alfred Thayer Mahan
  • The Influence of Sea Power Upon History

Annex B: The Cold War and Korean War. Discussion, Study, and Examination Questions:

  1. What was the significance of the Cold War? What was the "Cold War?" Describe and characterize the Cold War? Chronologically delineate the events that led to the Cold War. What are the major arguments on the causes of the Cold War? Which argument do you believe is most accurate? Why? When did the Cold War end? Explain the collapse of the Soviet Union?
  2. Why study the Korean War? Why study Korea? What is the significance of the Korean War? Consider this question from the perspectives of North and South Korea, the Chinese, the Americans, and the Soviets.
  3. Who is Stalin? What influence did he have on the outbreak and conduct of the Korean War? What impact did World War II have on the Soviet Union? What were Stalin’s political objectives in the post-World War II world? What were Stalin’s political objectives in the Korean War? Consider this question from both perspectives. Did Stalin achieve them?
  4. Who is Mao Zedong? What influence did Mao have on the outbreak and conduct of the Korean War? What impact did World War II have on the People’s Republic of China (established in 1949)? What were Mao’s political objectives in the Korean War? Characterize the Chinese national army, the PLA, the People’s Liberation Army? What kind of army was it? Was it a match for the U.S. Army? Explain.
  5. What was the nature of the relationship between Mao and Stalin? How did that relationship influence the conduct of the Korean War?
  6. Who is Kim Il Sung? Discuss his background and the significant influences on his life. What did he do during the long war between the Japanese and Chinese (World War II, 1937-1945)? What role did he play in the establishment of Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK)? Why did Stalin support Kim Il Sung? What relationships were most important to his position as the political leader of North Korea?
  7. Who is Syngmen Rhee? Describe his background. Why did the U.S. Military Government in Korea, under General John R. Hodge (USAMGIK) support Rhee for the position of President of Republic of Korea (ROK)? What influence did Rhee have on the conduct of the Korean War? What influence did he have on the peace process between the Chinese and American military leaders?
  8. What are wars of national liberation? What caused these wars at the end of World War II? What is imperialism? What is a revolutionary war, an insurgency war, a civil war? What type of wars were the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and the French Algerian War?
  9. It is argued that nuclear technology revolutionized warfare. Did it? If so, how? Describe and characterize this revolution in warfare. How did the revolution in warfare influence the conduct of war in Korea and Vietnam?
  10. What is a limited war? What is the difference between limited war and total war? What is the difference between limited war and artificial limited war? Why does this matter?
  11. The 1947 National Security Act (along with the 1949 Amendments) created the national command structure of the United States, including the Department of Defense, the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the U.S. Air Force, the Central Intelligence Agency, the National Security Council, and other organizations, that saw us through the Cold War. How effective or ineffective was this structure and this form of organization? Describe this system. What did it create? What did it fail to create? What were its strengths and weaknesses? How did if function. What is the “Iron Triangle?” What was Eisenhower’s concern about the Iron Triangle? Was it a valid concern?
  12. Civilian control of the military is a major tenet of the American, constitutional democracy. How did the founding fathers seek to insure civilian control of the armed forces? Are the measures they put into place still operative today? What changes have taken place to strengthen the system of civilian control? What are the repercussions of these changes? Does the system impede the ability of the United States to successfully fight war?
  13. Who was George Kennan, and what was the "Policy of Containment? How did Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon, translate this policy into political objectives? What was the "Truman Doctrine?"
  14. When and why was Korea divided into two states at the 38th Parallel? What role did the United States play in this event? What role did the Soviet Union play in this event? What role did the Koreans play in this event?
  15. Korea’s geographic location and circumstances are of strategic importance. Analyze Korea’s geographic situation in context of Korean history from the late 19th century to the end of World War II. Discuss the role of China, Soviet Union, and Japan in the making of modern Korean history.
  16. Analyze Korean terrain in context of military requirements: G-1 Personal, G-2 Intelligence, G-3 Operations, G-4 Logistics, and G-5 Civilian Affairs. What are the dominant considerations regard to conducting military operations in Korea? Did the risks outweigh the benefits for the United States in 1950? Explain your answer.
  17. Characterize the geography and terrain of the Korean peninsula. Explain how geography and terrain influenced the deployment of forces and the conduct of the war from the perspectives of all combatants. Delineate the advantages and disadvantages from the perspectives of each state.
  18. North Korea in the space of a few years developed an effective Army. Explain the development of the Korean People’s Army (KPA). From what sources was it drawn? Why was it effective against ROKA and US Army forces? What were it strengths and weaknesses? Explain the development of the ROKA. What were it strengths and weaknesses?
  19. Why did North Korea invade South Korea? What role did Stalin and the Soviet Union play? What role did Mao Zedong and the People’s Republic of China play? Delineate the various arguments on the causes of the Korean War and the influence of the two Communist leaders. How did the Korean War benefit Stalin and Mao?
  20. Why did the KPA delay its offensive in Seoul for several days? What were the results of this delay? Consider all sides in your response, the DPRK, ROK, PRC, S.U., and the U.S.
  21. Why did the United States intervene in the Korean War? Delineate the arguments for and against intervention. Which argument do you believe would have best accomplished the political objectives of the United States? Explain your answer.
  22. What was the condition of the United States Army at the start of the Korean War? Was the Army prepared to fight? If not, why? What was the condition of the U.S. Eighth Army in Japan in 1949? Explain why the Eighth Army was in this condition. What was its primary mission in 1949? What was the organization of the U.S. Army?
  23. Who is Bruce Cumings? What is his primary thesis on the causes of the Korean War? What is his assessment of the policies and strategies of the United States in regard to Korea? What is his assessment of the South Korea, North Korea, and the U.S. Army?

Identify and State the Significance of the Following Terms:

  • Harry S. Truman
  • The Joint Chiefs of Staff
  • The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
  • The Secretary of Defense
  • The President of the United States
  • Trusteeship
  • Dean Acheson
  • George Marshall
  • “The Iron Triangle”
  • The National Security Act of 1947 and Amendment of 1949
  • The National Command Structure
  • National Strategy
  • National Military Strategy
  • Omar Bradley
  • Douglas MacArthur
  • Matthew B. Ridgway
  • Dwight Eisenhower
  • Syngman Rhee
  • Joseph Stalin
  • Bruce Cumings
  • Kim Il Sung
  • Mao Zedong
  • George Kennan
  • The Truman Doctrine
  • The Policy of Containment CIA
  • Limited War and Total War
  • Military Industrial Complex
  • National Security Council

Annex C: The Korean War, Discussion, Study, and Examination Questions:

  1. Divide the Korean War into phases using changes in national, strategic objectives as the point of transition. Explain the thinking behind each transition in strategy. Divide the Korean War into phases using major ground operations as the point of transition. Explain the thinking behind each operational transition.
  2. Who is General Douglas MacArthur? What was his plan for saving Korea? Assess MacArthur’s generalship during the Korean War. What mistakes did he make?
  3. What was Task Force Smith? What was the mission of the Task Force? Was this a valid mission? Did the Task Force achieve its objective? What happened to Task Force Smith? TF Smith became a symbol for the United States and particularly the U.S. Army. What was the significance of this symbol?
  4. What was the significance of the Port of Pusan to the U.S. war effort? What was MacArthur's strategy for retaining control of the Port of Pusan? Who was General Walton Walker? How did he fight the battle for the Port of Pusan?
  5. What type of maneuver was the Inchon landing operation? What was the significance of the operation? Delineate the view of those opposed to conducting the Inchon operation. Delineate the view of those in favor of conducting the operation. Given your knowledge and understanding of operations and tactics do you agree with those in favor of the operation, or those opposed to it? What was the significance of the Inchon Landing?
  6. Why did United Nation forces cross the 38th parallel? Was this decision in concert with the stated political goals of the United States and United Nations? Explain the thinking of Truman and his generals.
  7. What was MacArthur’s operational plan to complete the destruction of the KPA once the decision was made to cross the 38th parallel? Define the mission pursuit and exploitation. The MacArthur’s plan was deeply flawed. Why? Delineate the plan, identify its defects, and explain why it was permitted to go forward.
  8. Who was Omar Bradley? What role did he play in the Korean War? Was this role in concert with the rank and position he held?
  9. Why did the Chinese Volunteer Army (CVA) intervene in the Korean War? What is the difference between the PLA (People’s Liberation Army) and the CVA? Did the Chinese fight a limited or total war? Explain your answer. When did Mao Zedong decide to enter the Korean War? What considerations went into his decision? What was the determining factor? Delineate the various arguments on the Chinese decision to intervene?
  10. Characterize the Chinese conduct of war. What were the strengths and weaknesses of the Chinese army? How did the CVA defeat the United States Army in November of 1950?
  11. Consider the PRC’s decision to enter the war. What would have happened had they entered the war sooner, when U.S. and ROK forces were surrounded in the Pusan Perimeter? What would have happened if they entered the war later? Assess the Chinese timing for intervention.
  12. Why were the United States and United Nations surprised by the Chinese invasion? Explain this intelligence failure.
  13. Assess the performance of the U.S. Army in Korea. Consider each year of the war. What problems precluded the Army from maximizing combat effectiveness?
  14. Assess the performance of the Republic of Korea Army (ROKA). Consider each year of the war? What problems precluded the ROKA from maximizing combat effectiveness? Did racism influence the American treatment and perspective of the ROKA? What were KATUSAs? What role did the play in the performance of the U.S. Army in Korea? Why were they necessary?
  15. Assess the performance of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA)/Chinese Volunteer Forces (CVF) in Korea. Characterize the Chinese army in terms of doctrine, equipment, training, weapons, technology, leadership, professionalism, and culture.
  16. Who is Matthew B. Ridgway? What impact did he have on the Korean War? What is the thesis in his book, The Korean War? Do you agree or disagree with his thesis? Explain your answer. Examine Ridgway’s leadership. How was he able to turn the Eighth Army around?
  17. What influence did airpower have on the conduct and outcome of the Korean War? What is the thesis of the proponents of airpower? Who are the authors of this thesis? Has this thesis ever been proven decisive in war? Assess the performance of airpower in the Korean War. What did it achieve and fail to achieve?
  18. Why did Truman relieve General MacArthur? Make the argument for and against relief. Do you agree or disagree with Truman’s decision? Explain your answer. What did the American people and Congress think of Truman’s decision?
  19. Why did the United States and United Nations decide to halt the advance of the United Nations forces in the spring of 1951? What were the repercussions of this decision? Do you believe this was the best decision given the circumstances? Explain your answer.
  20. Characterize the Chinese defense at the 38th parallel in late 1951. What were the strengths and weaknesses of the Chinese defenses? Characterize the American defense at the 38th parallel in late 1951. What were the strengths and weaknesses of the American defense? How were these defenses reflections of the societies that produced them?
  21. Discuss and analyze the negotiating while fighting phase of the war. Analyze the peace process in Korea. How was an “armistice agreement” reached? What were the flaws and tragedies in the process? Consider both sides. What should we have done differently? Who is Charles Turner Joy? What was his argument on the peace process?
  22. How did Eisenhower bring the war in Korea to an end? Why was Truman unable to bring the war to an end? Consider Eisenhower’s assessment. Do you agree with him? Develop a comprehensive explanation for the Chinese decision to negotiate an end to the fighting.
  23. What lessons did Ridgway and the Army learn from the Korean War? What lessons did Eisenhower and his administration learn from the Korean War? Who learned the most significant lessons in regard to U.S. national security and future wars? Explain.
  24. Why was the Korean War so unpopular in the United States? Why did support of the American people deteriorate throughout the war?
  25. Explain the outcome of the Korean War? Did the United States win or lose the Korean War? Delineate both arguments. Which argument do you believe is most accurate? How did the PRC, SU, US, ROK, and Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK, North Korea) benefit from the war? What was the significance of the Korean War?
  26. Was the Korean War a limited or total war? Consider the war from the perspective of North and South Korea, from the perspective of China, and from the perspective of the United States and the Soviet Union.
  27. Who is David Halberstam? What is his thesis? Do you agree or disagree with his thesis? Explain your answer.
  28. Who is Chen Jian? What is his thesis on China’s road to the Korean War? Do you agree or disagree with his argument? Explain your answer.

Identify and state the significance of the following terms:

  • Inchon
  • Eighth Army
  • Task Force Smith
  • Walton Walker
  • Douglas MacArthur
  • Chosin
  • 38th Parallel
  • Matthew B. Ridgway
  • Omar Bradley
  • Eisenhower
  • CCF
  • Policy of Containment
  • Kim Il Sung
  • Syngman Rhee
  • United Nations
  • Limited war
  • Panmunjom
  • Louis Johnson
  • PLA
  • Occupation forces
  • J. Lawton Collins
  • 23rd Infantry
  • Chipyong-Ni
  • Bloody Ridge
  • Heartbreak Ridge
  • Dean Acheson
  • Atomic Age
  • Chou En-Lai
  • Gen. William F. Dean
  • ROK Army
  • Kaesong
  • George Kennan
  • Turning movement
  • Indian fighting
  • KMAG
  • NKPA
  • Koje Island
  • George Marshall

Annex D, The Korean War, Discussion, Study, and Examination Questions:

  1. Define victory in the nuclear age. Characterize the dilemma facing the American people in the age of nuclear weapons. Have we seen the end of total war between the great powers of Earth?
  2. What was Eisenhower’s military policy and strategic doctrine? How did the Korean War influence his military policy and national security strategy? What was the thinking behind his “New Look?” How did Eisenhower plan to defend the U.S. and its interests? What was the argument against his strategic vision? Assess Eisenhower’s performance as leader of the “free-world.” Was Eisenhower bluffing?
  3. Describe the national security establishment put in place by the Eisenhower Administration. Describe Eisenhower’s foreign and military policies. How did Eisenhower maintain peace during his tenure as President?
  4. What influence did the Japanese have on the ROK and ROKA? Explain the continuing Japanese influence on the ROK.
  5. Define the term “Comfort Women.” Who were these women? Describe what happen to them. Why does this matter in 2016?
  6. In July 1950 U.S. Forces killed hundreds of unarmed civilians, men, women, and children, near the village of No Gun Ri. Why did this atrocity take place? Develop a comprehensive argument to explain why this crime against humanity took place. How did the U.S. Army and Government respond to the news of this atrocity? Explain the American response.
  7. What was the significance of the Korean War to the United States? How did it influence U.S. policy and strategy in the 1950s and during the Vietnam War? What impact did the Korean War have on the American people? Why is it called, “the forgotten war?” How significant was the impact of the war?
  8. What was the significance of the Korean War for Koreans? Consider life in both North and South Korea. What is the economic situation in North Korea? What is the economic situation in South Korea? What does the contrasting situation in North and South Korea tell us about the nature of communism, about hereditary political leadership, about a closed society, and about the consequence of war? What about China?
  9. Is the People’s Republic of China a revisionist power, or a status quo power? What are the indicators? What does the development and expansion of the Chinese PLA Navy tell us about Chinese intentions? Why does the PRC continue to support the DPRK? Is another Korean War possible?
  10. Why did North Korea pursue nuclear weapons? What role did the China play? What role did Russia play? What should the United States do about North Korea’s nuclear weapons? Is North Korea a threat to the security of the United States? Explain your answer.
  11. Discuss and analyze the national security implication from the rise of China, economically, militarily, and technologically; the expansion of the Japanese military, particularly Naval and Air Forces; the expansion of the North Korean nuclear and missile program and the aggressive behavior of Kim Jung Un, and the economic expansion of South Korea? What role should the U.S. play, if any?
  12. Who is Kim Jung Un? What do we know about him? Is he a threat to peace and stability on the Korean peninsula? If so, why?

Identify and state the significance of the following terms:

  • Revolution in warfare
  • Defense Intellectuals
  • Khrushchev
  • U-2
  • TRIAD
  • The Bomber Gap
  • The Missile Gap
  • Sputnik
  • Pentomic Division
  • John Foster Dulles
  • USS Enterprise
  • MIRV
  • The Communist Monolith
  • The Domino Theory
  • Flexible Response
  • NSC 68
  • The New Look
  • Massive Retaliation
  • SAC
  • Berlin Blockade
  • Bernard Brodie
  • Paul Nitze
  • J. Robert Oppenhimer
  • Suez Crisis, 1956
  • Quemoy-Matso Crisis, 1954
  • MAD, SALT

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