CLEP US History II

Answer: D - The Korean War marked the first time the United States undertook a military campaign under the auspices of being the “world police,” a role on the global stage it continues to occupy today. At the end of World War II, the United States adopted a foreign policy of containment (containment of Communism, at the time) and began aiding other nations in that cause. The motive for getting involved in the Korean War was confusing for many Americans, and its cause remains equally unclear in the years since the war, leading many Americans to refer to it as “The Unknown War.” Since it was preceded by World War II and followed by the Vietnam Conflict (two very memorable military campaigns), some Americans also refer to the Korean War as “The Forgotten War.” (Note: The Korean War is sometimes best remembered as the backdrop for the popular film and television show M*A*S*H.)