Eriksen,+Brayden

Brayden's Page

** 1) **** What is your topic? Give a brief overview. ** My topic is The Korean War, mainly focusing on the effect it has had on the relationship between North and South Korea. With only the 38th parallel separating the two independent nations, it is very hard to imagine how the bitterness has lasted some 60 years.

** 2) **** Give two reasons why you chose this topic. ** One reason that I chose this topic is to get a more in depth look at the relationship between North and South Korea. I am intrigued by the things that I have learned so far about the Korean War and I want to learn more. Another reason I chose this topic is because I would like to figure out if there could ever be a resolution to their tattered relationship.

** 3) **** To what specific courses does your topic relate? Explain. ** This topic relates to History 12 and other Social Studies courses like Comparative Civilizations.

** 4) **** Determine whether the primary focus of the issue is cultural, resource, economic, environmental or political. Explain. ** The primary focus of my essay is political. A major reason that Korea is still separated today is that North Koreas government refuses to cooperate with other nations.

** 5) **
 * ** K: ** What I know about the topic. || ** W: ** What I want to know about the topic.  || ** L: ** What I have learned about the topic from preliminary reading / Courses studied.  ||
 * North and South Korea still experience major tension today from the events that took place in the Korean War.

South Korea = //Democratic// North Korea = //Communist// || I would really like to know what it would take for North Korea to forgive and forget about the past. Also, what change would be needed for these countries to merge into one. || -In regards to military numbers, North Korea is much larger than their neighbours to the South. -North Korea’s nuclear bombs are a major threat if war were to re-occur today. -During the Korean War, the North Koreans were actually able to conquer and control Seoul for some time. ||

** 6) **** Chose the three most important issues and why. ** - Communist Country vs. Democratic Country.  - Bitterness resulting in the Korean War.  - Greed; in regards to the 38th parallel.

** 7) **** Create two controversial questions about the topic that your thesis paper may answer. ** - Why can’t North Korea step forward and modernize their country?  - Who is to blame for causing such a tattered relationship in the first place?

** 8) **** Internet Resources ** ** [] **  ** [] **  ** [] **  ** [] **

__ **Developing a Hypothesis & Research Questions** -STEP 3 __ __ **TOPIC:** __ How the Korean War effected North and South Korean relations.

**__ OVERVIEW OFTOPIC: __** The Korean War was the first major armed conflict of the Cold War. It is very hard to believe that something that happened over sixty years ago has created such a bitter barrier between the two nations. It is hard to imagine that North Korea’s Communist Government has been in control since 1948. During the Korean War the South was backed by the United Nations while the North was joined by China and supported by the Soviet Union.

__ **CONTROVERSIAL QUESTION(S):** __ What is preventing North Korea from taking the steps towards modernizing their country? Who is to blame for provoking such a tattered relationship between those above and below the 38th parallel?

__ **HYPOTHESIS:** __ The political system of North Korea is preventing the country from progressing in the 21st century and becoming a responsible global citizen in international affairs.

// **Research Questions** // __ **FACTUAL QUESTIONS:** __
 * Who in power is holding North Korea back from modernizing?
 * What countries were involved in the Korean War?
 * What General led the UN Forces to help South Korea?

__ **CLARIFICATION QUESTIONS:** __
 * For what reason did North Korea initially invade South Korea on June 25th, 1950?
 * What similar political ideologies drew North Korea and China together in the Korean War?

**__ INTERPRETIVE QUESTIONS: __**
 * What reason other then protecting South Korea, did Truman decide the US should enter this war?
 * What would be the resulting benefits of UN Intervention during the period of war?

**__ INQUIRY QUESTIONS: __**
 * What are possible solutions to rescue nations like North Korea from corrupt political leaders?
 * What government intervention would develop a civilized relationship between North and South Korea?