Question
Which concern directly contributed to U.S.involvement in the Korean War during the 1950s? Deterring the use of nuclear weapons Containing the spread of communism Improving political relations with China Resisting the rise of fascism in Asia
Solution
4.5
(274 Votes)
Rodney
Master ยท Tutor for 5 years
Answer
B. Containing the spread of communism
Explanation
The correct answer to this question can be arrived at via the historical context in which the Korean War took place. The 1950s was a period during the Cold War when the US was alarmed by the global spread of communism, specifically after the Communist takeover of China in 1949. The US policy of containment aimed to restrict the spread of communism worldwide, which included Asia. According to historians, US involvement in the Korean War was primarily aimed at blocking the expansion of communism. Therefore the correct answer refers to this political drive to resist the growth of far-left ideologies. It should be noted that the other options are anachronistic or otherwise incorrect in relation to the Korean War's real causes. The Korean War occurred before major concerns over USE of nuclear weapons surfaced. Generally, broad uranium proliferation only became a significant issue during the late phase of the Cold War, specifically after the first-ever detonation of a hydrogen bomb in the 1950s. Improving political relations with China might have been a US concern at some times, but certainly not during the 1950s, given China's recent avowal of communism, and the US's policy of isolating "Red China" diplomatically. Similarly, "resisting the rise of fascism in Asia" is incorrect because fascism was dissipating in Asia at the end of World War II and already ceased to be a relevant geopolitical concern in the region at the time of category the Korean War. Fascist governments really were located in Italy and Germany, not in Asia, which is another reason the last option is irrelevant. The correct answer is the one that fits the political ideology, period and geopolitical goal in, i.e., USA entering the Korean War to contain the further spread of communism.