The Korean War: A Turning Point in Canadian History Essay -- Canada Wo

The land of the morning calm, this was what Korea was called many years ago. Unfortunately, circumstances have changed. Korea is now no longer a single country but has been split into two parts; North Korea and South Korea. Korea had been united as one country for many years. Japan took control of Korea and made it part of its empire. After World War II, Japan was defeated and its empire fell. Korea was left without a leader or a system of government. This provoked the United States troops to occupy the southern half and Soviet troops to occupy the northern half. The United States and its allies favored democratic government, while the Soviet Union and China favored a communist system of government. June 25, 1950 marked the day in which fighting between the North Koreans and South Koreans started. 135,000 North Korean troops crossed the border into South Korea while others attacked by sea. In several hours North Korea had successfully detained the South Korean city of Kaesong and in the next couple hours South Korea’s capital, Seoul, was under attack. Things were not looking good for Korea. The war in Korea is often referred to as the â€Å"Forgotten War† because it is not mentioned often and is often argued that it was meaningless and unnecessary. The Korean War was significant to shaping Canada’s military and foreign politics though. It has shaped us into a peaceful nation with concerns for the well being of people in foreign countries. The way we engage in future conflicts was changed as well. Canada would no longer get involved as a British colony or single country, but rather under the United Nations. We exhibited ourselves as leaders and role models. In the Korean War Canada asserts itself as a world power but under th... ...ociation of Canada Inc. http:// www.kvacanada.com/canadians_in_the_korean_war.htm (15 Nov. 2010) â€Å"Canadians in Korea, 1950 – 1953.† Veterans Affairs Canada. 20 October 2008. Canada. http://www.korean-war.com/canada.html (21 Nov. 2010) â€Å"Chronology of the Canadian Advance in Korea.† Veterans Affairs Canada. 15 June 2008. Canada. http://www.vacacc.gc.ca/REMEMBERS/ sub.cfm?source=history/KoreaWar/chronology (23 Nov. 2010) â€Å"Facts on Canada’s Involvement in the Korean War.† Veterans Affairs Canada. 21 October 1999. Canada. http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/ youth/sub.cfm?source=teach_resources/korfact (20 Nov. 2010) â€Å"The Response – The Canadian Contribution.† Native Soldiers – Foreign Battlefields. 30 June 2005. Veterans Affairs Canada. http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/ remembers/sub.cfm?source=history/other/native/korea_response (20 Nov. 2010)