Hist 102 Short Paper: How Did The United States Begin

Hist 102 Short Paper Tim Kay Onlyhow Did The United States Becom

How did the United States become involved in The Korean War? A Short Paper Assignment allows you, early in the course, to demonstrate your research skills to your instructor and to receive feedback that will benefit you when you write research papers for future courses. With this assignment, you will learn how to do proper research and write a short paper. You are allowed to choose your own topic, as long as it fits the subject and time period of this course - American history since 1877. This means no papers on Hitler or the Holocaust, or George Washington.

If you have any questions on subject matter, please contact your instructor. This is your opportunity to look a little deeper at a subject that interests you. This short paper must be a minimum of three double-spaced pages of text (Times New Roman, font size 12), exclusive of the title page, bibliography, and other end matter. You must consult a minimum of two academically credible sources. Please note that Wikipedia, History.com, Biography.com, encyclopedias, and the Henretta course textbook are NOT academic sources for this assignment.

Your bibliography and citations may be in APA, MLA, or Chicago Style format. Students majoring in history must use Chicago Style format. The short paper needs to be submitted through the assignment section for grading. If you use any of the information from your sources word-for-word, you must cite the source by using endnotes, footnotes, or parenthetical citations. If you read the information and write it in your own words and it is not common knowledge, then you must cite the source because you are paraphrasing someone's information.

There is a Military History Style Manual available in the Resources section, in the Research and Writing folder. This manual is in .pdf format and certified in Chicago Style, and may be downloaded for your use. The manual is very helpful if you want to know how to properly use Chicago Style.

Your short paper must include a cover/title page with your name, course number and title, instructor's name, and date, as well as a title for your paper. To properly space between the title page and the main text, or the main text and bibliography, do NOT rely on line spacing adjustments; instead, use "Insert - Break - Page Break" from the Word menu to ensure each begins on a new page. Use proper English, avoid abbreviations and contractions, and write in a formal, academic tone, avoiding passive voice and first/second person pronouns (I, you, we, etc). Before submitting, check your grammar and run spell check.

Remember, the way you speak is not the way you write an academic paper. Please use the appropriate file label as follows: lastnamefirstnameHIST102ShortPaper.

Paper For Above instruction

The Korean War, which erupted in 1950, was a pivotal conflict in the history of the Cold War era and marked a significant turning point in American foreign policy and military engagement. The United States became involved in the Korean War due to a combination of geopolitical concerns, ideological commitments, and responses to international developments following World War II. Understanding the factors that led to U.S. involvement requires a comprehensive analysis of the postwar international order, American perceptions of communism, and the specific context of Korean tensions.

Following the end of World War II, Korea was divided along the 38th parallel into Soviet-occupied North Korea and American-occupied South Korea, setting the stage for Cold War confrontations. The Soviet Union’s influence extended into North Korea, while the United States committed itself to defending South Korea from communist expansion. The Cold War era was characterized by a struggle for global influence between the Soviet Union and the United States, with Korea becoming a flashpoint for this ideological and geopolitical conflict. The Truman Administration perceived the Korean conflict as a test of U.S. resolve to contain communism, aligning with the broader containment policy articulated by diplomat George F. Kennan (Gaddis, 2005). The United States saw the potential fall of South Korea to communism as a threat to regional stability and an erosion of American credibility in the postwar international order.

American fears of communist expansion were further heightened by the successful communist revolution in China in 1949 and the establishment of the People's Republic of China. The loss of China was seen as a major setback for the United States and intensified fears that communism was spreading unchecked across Asia (Leffler, 1992). In this context, U.S. policymakers believed that a failure to respond decisively to North Korea’s invasion of South Korea would embolden other communist movements and undermine American global leadership (Stueck, 1995). Consequently, the U.S. decision to intervene militarily was motivated by a desire to demonstrate commitment to defending South Korea and to prevent the domino effect that could threaten other nations in Asia and beyond.

Moreover, the invasion of South Korea by North Korean forces on June 25, 1950, catalyzed American action. The United Nations quickly condemned the attack, and with the United States taking a leading role, a coalition was formed to support South Korea. President Harry S. Truman authorized U.S. military intervention under the banner of collective security. This decision was driven by the principle of containing communism and upholding international order, following the precedent set by the League of Nations and the United Nations (Hastings, 1987). The swift U.S. response was also influenced by the desire to maintain American credibility in the face of Soviet aggression, especially given the recent Communist victory in China.

In conclusion, the United States became involved in the Korean War as a result of Cold War geopolitics, fears of communist expansion, and the commitment to uphold international security and American credibility. The invasion of South Korea by North Korean forces was perceived as part of a broader Soviet attempt to expand communism in Asia, and U.S. intervention was aimed at containing this threat within a framework of international cooperation. The Korean War thus exemplifies the Cold War policies of containment, military engagement, and the desire to preserve American global leadership during a period of intense ideological rivalry.

References

• Gaddis, J. L. (2005). The Cold War: A New History. Penguin Books.
• Hastings, M. (1987). The Korean War. Simon & Schuster.
• Leffler, M. P. (1992). A Preponderance of Power: National Security, the Truman Administration, and the Cold War. Stanford University Press.
• Stueck, W. (1995). The Korean War: An International History. Princeton University Press.