The+Reasons+for+American+involvement+and+for+the+war+in+general+-+p8

=The Korean War=

By: Hayley

The Korean War is one of the most significant wars in U.S. history, but it happens to be one of the most overlooked. It began in Europe, but spread quickly to China and Korea. China had controlled Korea since 1910 until the end of World War II and after the war, the Allied powers split Korea into two separate regions on the 38th parallel. The northern part of Korea was controlled by the Soviet Union, and the southern part was controlled by the United States. Governments in both the north and the south were set up.

The Korean War began on June 25, 1950 when North Korea and their Soviet-trained army crossed the 38th parallel into South Korea. Because the U.S. controlled South Korea, the president at the time, Harry Truman had to make a very important decision: Should the United States try to stop the invasion made by North Korea? Also wanting to help South Korea was the United Nations. Leading the United States and the UN was General Douglas MacArthur. He also lead troops from 15 other countries, but the majority of the troops were American and South Korean.

The Korean War is an important topic because it was a main part of the 1950's. America played an important role in the war by wanting to stop the spread of Communism to further countries. It is important for Korean history but also important for American history because it was very soon after World War II that we went into the Korean War. Overall, the reason for American involvement and for the war in general is a very important part of American and Korean history.

Harry S. Truman
Harry Truman was the 33rd president of the United States. Harry was born in Lamar, Missouri on May 8, 1884 to John Anderson Truman and Martha Ellen Young. His father worked various jobs, which did not help out financially so, therefore, his mother was the rock of the family and kept everyone together. Growing up, Truman helped out his father-in-law in managing the family farm. Later, they moved to Independence, Missouri. Harry grew up with his two siblings, John and Mary. Truman had poor eyesight and could not participate sports, so he spent time reading.

Truman was engaged to Elizabeth "Bess" Virginia Wallace in 1917, but soon after he had to leave to fight in World War I. After his return, the couple got married and had a daughter, Mary Margaret on February 17, 1924. As years passed, his political backround and experience began to grow. It grew so much that in 1945 he became the vice president of Franklin D. Roosevelt. On April 12, 1945 Roosevelt died and Truman took over the office of presidency. Many, many years passed and on December 26, 1972 Harry S. Truman died.

Harry Truman played a very important role on the topic of reasons for American involvement in the Korean War. He brought America into the war wanting to accomplish many things. The main thing he wanted was to prevent the spread of Communism in Asia. Truman fought very hard for everything he did and I think that it is important that people know the effort that was put into making America and the world a better place.

Why is this important?
This topic is important to history because it was an American attempt to stop Communism in Asia. The Korean War was especially important for Korean history because the countries are currently still seperated. My topic also explains the reason why America was involved and why the Korean War started in the first place. We also learn about why the United States got involved. This is important because in past wars the U.S. did not get involved until another country attacked us.

Work Cited
"The Korean War." The Cold War. Woodbridge, CT.: Primary Source Microfilm, 2000. Student Resource Center - Gold. Thomson Gale. Cook Memorial Public Library. 5 Feb. 2007 .

Schwiekart, Larry, and Dennis Lynch. "Cold War: The Korean Conflict (1950s)." American Decades. Ed. McConnell, Tandy. Online ed. Detroit: Gale, 2003. Student Resource Center - Gold. Thomson Gale. Cook Memorial Public Library. 6 Feb. 2007 http://find.galegroup.com/srcx/infomark.do?&contentSet=GSRC&type=retrieve&tabID=T001&prodId=SRC-1&docId= EJ2113101896&source=gale&srcprod=SRCG&userGroupName=ccscm&version=1.0

Fincher, E.B. The War in Korea. New York: A Grouler Company, 1981.

Foley, Michael. Harry S. Truman, Philadelphia: Chelsea House Publishers, 2004.