NAME DATE CLASS Primary and Secondary Sources Activity netw rks

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Primary and Secondary Sources

Activity

netw rks

The Cold War

National Security Council Report about Korea, 1950

Background

Following World War II, threats of a Communist takeover of the world by the Soviets or the Chinese fueled the fears of democratic nations. The United States viewed the United Nations as a vehicle to prevent this takeover. Korea was the first test. When the North Koreans--who had been armed and encouraged by the Soviets--attacked South Korea in 1950, it seemed only natural that the United States should come to the aid of the South Koreans. Exactly how that would be accomplished would be tricky.

Copyright ? The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission is granted to reproduce for classroom use.

Directions: The excerpt below comes from a report to the National Security Council, which is an advisory board to the U.S. president regarding international security issues. It was dated July 25, 1950, just one month after North Korea invaded South Korea. The United States was contemplating sending troops to aid the badly equipped and outnumbered South Koreans. Read the document and answer the questions that follow.

1. The NSRB [National Security Resources Board] recommends that United States action in the event Soviet forces enter the Korean hostilities be considered on the basis that such a situation is most likely to occur within the next six months . . .

2. The overt entry of major Soviet forces into the Korean hostilities might occur under two sets of circumstances. It could occur either conjunctive with other Soviet aggression elsewhere in the world or it could occur in isolated form in Korea.

3. If the Soviets overtly enter the Korean fighting on a major scale in conjunction with Communist aggression elsewhere in the world, United States action should be one of participation in UN retaliation against Soviet Russia . . .

4. If overt Soviet action should be confined to the Korean theater, certain alternatives should be considered. . . . [T]hese alternatives in this instance would seem to be restricted to two general courses of actions: a. Comparatively immediate retaliation against the Soviet Union, subsequent to Presidential direction and in execution of United States war plans for all of such forces as we have in-being at the time. This retaliation to be made, if possible, in behalf of the United Nations, and in conjunction with the initiation of full-scale mobilization of the United States. b. Attempt to confine the United States-Soviet combat to the Korean theater as long as possible in order to gain time to build further material strength and again additional international support . . .

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Primary and Secondary Sources

Activity Cont.

netw rks

The Cold War

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5. In any event, it is recommended that every immediate and continuing effort be made to recruit at least token participation by other nations on behalf of South Korea in order that, should an overt Soviet action eventually occur in Korea, its aggressive effort would be directly against the greatest possible number of UN member nations. --from A Report to the National Security Council, 1950

Copyright ? The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission is granted to reproduce for classroom use.

1. Analyzing Information What is the basic theory of this document with regard to U.S.?Soviet clashes in Korea?

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2. Identifying Central Issues What are the two military scenarios envisioned in this document?

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3. Determining Cause and Effect According to the report, if a Soviet attack occurred, what actions would the United States likely take?

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4. Drawing Conclusions Look at point #5. Why would it be advantageous for the United States to have backing from the United Nations?

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5. Evaluating Primary Sources In understanding the course of the Korean War, how important is this document?

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