Korean War and formation of Israel

Warm-up

•Why was the United Nations created?

Vocabulary

• Veto (in the UN)- Each permanent member of the Security Council has the power to kill any resolution before the Security Council with a veto.

Review: Structure of the UN• The UN has three major parts:– The UN Security Council• Consists of 5 permanent Nations that have veto power

as well as ten other nations that rotate every two years• Resolutions passed are binding (they must be followed)

– The UN General Assembly• Consists of all of the members in the UN and need a

2/3rds majority to pass any resolution• Resolutions passed are non-binding (do not have to be

followed)

– The UN Secretariat • Lead by the UN secretary general• Provides reports and other information necessary for

the UN

Goals of the UN

• The goals of the UN are to promote peace and prevent war between member nations.

• It was created after WWII to make sure that no other World War every occurred.

Map of the Middle East

Formation of Israel

• Jewish people had been discriminated against for most of European history but suffered severe crimes during WWII.

• The land which now is Israel had been a British protectorate that they turned over the UN in 1948.

• On November, 29th, 1947 the UNGA voted in favor of a Partition Plan that would create two countries (Israel and Palestine)

The U.S., The UN and Israel• The United States supported the partition plan

in the UN for Israel. • Truman believed that after the devastation of

the Holocuast the Jewish people needed a homeland.

• He also believed it was necessary to have a democratic ally in the Middle East ( a region he thought the Soviets may gain power.

Map of Korea

Korean War: Background• Japan had controlled Korea since 1910 so after

WWII, a new government had to be set up in Korea.

• U.S. forces occupied the Southern half of Korea and Soviet troops occupied the Northern half.

• The U.S. asked for there to be national elections in Korea but the Soviet Union vetoed this proposal in the UN

• Thus the U.S. and Soviet Union both established governments in their area of occupation.

Korean War: The Start

• The U.S. and Soviet Union both pulled out of Korea in 1949.

• On June 25, 1950 North Korean forces crossed over the 38th parallel (the line dividing the two countries) and attacked South Korea.

• The South Korean army was no match for invaders and North Korean forces quickly advanced.

Korean War: the UN• The UN Security called for a cease-fire but the

North Koreans continued with their attack.• On Jun 27th, 1950 the UN Security Council

called on UN members to support South Korea.• The Soviet Union ambassador was not present

so he could not veto the proposal. • The UN sent troops to South Korea to fight the

North Koreans. The U.S. also sent thousands of troops on its own.

How did the United States use the UN for its own goals?

• Supported Statehood for Israel in part to have a democratic ally in the Middle East.• Pushed through a resolution to help

South Korea to prevent another Asian ally from becoming a Communist nation.

Guided Reading• You will read an article about Korea. • You will answer the questions at the end of

the article.• What was the role of the US and the UN in this

international event?

Discussion Groups• One person will start the discussion. • You will then read one of your facts and tell

the group if you think the US should have gotten involved in this situation.

• The rest of your group mates will have 30 seconds each to agree or disagree.

• We will then move on to the next person who will read a new fact to the group.

Exit slip

• Write an article talking about the role of the US in the UN. Determine if the US was right in using the UN to protect its interests in the Cold War.

• Was the US violating the goals of the UN with its use of the UN powers?