Katie Felton

Mr. Haskell

World History

20 May 2005

 

Korean and Vietnam Wars

 

Korean War: I think that Korean War should not be forgotten by people because over 4 million people died in this war. Though some say it should be referred to as the "Korean Conflict" or a police action because the participants never officially declared "war.” Some veterans disagree that the fighting in Korea between 1950 and 1953 just as bitter as any other war. In recent years, the Korean War has been called "The Forgotten War," because it has been overshadowed by the more direct memories of Vietnam, Desert Storm and the fiftieth anniversary commemorations of World War II. They divided Korea into two parts North and South Korea after the Second World War.  Prior to that time, Korea had been a colony of Japan, though the Korean people continually worked to regain their freedom. Their dream finally came within reach when the Allied powers of World War II pledged independence, though they failed to specify the details effecting the establishment of a government.

 

 

Vietnam War:  The most famous battle for control of a colony was the Vietnam War. Vietnam had iron and coal mines in the north, rubber plantations and rice fields in the south. The French desired to keep these valuable natural resources, and, as a result, they would not let Vietnam become independent. The Vietminh, a communist group led by Ho Chi Minh, led the nationalist movement in Vietnam. The Vietminh had control of the Vietnamese countryside and he used hit and run tactics to corner the French in cities. The U.S. saw Ho Chi Minh's victory in Vietnam as a threat to the rest of Asia. This caused a thing call the domino theory. This was an important part of U.S. foreign policy which dictated that it one country feel to communism, its neighbors would as well. This led the U.S. to try as hard as they could to prevent Vietnam from becoming communist. The U.S. invaded Vietnam and won in the end.