Tutor profile: Marycatherine M.

36 ÷ (7-4)2 + 21

7-4 = 3 3^2 = 9 36/9 = 4 4 + 21 = 25

How did Chinese involvement in the Korean War continue a historical trend of territorial consolidation?

Chinese involvement in the Korean War continued but also altered the historical trend of territorial consolidation, particularly along its contiguous border. Although China had previously been vulnerable to the north, particularly by the Manchurians and Mongols, Korea presented a vulnerability to China’s southern border. After the Chinese government failed to the Communist regime in 1949, Moa was determined not to lose face to the United States. To garner domestic support, Moa decided to take the fight to the Americans and display strength by hoping the new Communist government would be victorious over the West. Rather than attempting to gain territory, China’s decision to enter the Korean War was ideologically based on defending its ally in North Korea, protecting the influence of the Soviet Union, and consolidating the region under Communism. Because China would have been able to defend the Korean border if the U.S. had ever sought to invade China, this was not the reason for entering the war. Instead, China decided to enter after being embarrassed by the West. This loss of face occurred as China felt embarrassed by the United States’ decision to place the 7th Fleet in the Taiwan Strait in 1950. As China and its Communist regime were perceived as weak compared to U.S. military power during this crisis, Moa soon decided to commit China to the war in Korea to oppose the U.S. Although differing from previous Chinese conflicts where they sought to gain territory, the Korean War continued the trend of consolidation, but rather consolidation by driving out powers that did not support Communism and uniting the region under one ideology.

What are checks and balances and how are they the foundation of the U.S. government?

Checks and balances seek to prevent one branch of the U.S. government from becoming tyrannical and preserve the separation of powers. Each branch of the U.S. government, including the legislative, executive, and judicial branches, can take measures to check the actions of the other branches. For example, the executive branch can check the powers of the legislative branch. The president can veto acts of Congress, can call a special session of Congress, and interpret laws passed by Congress. The vice president can also cast tie-breaking votes in the Senate. The judicial branch can check the powers of the legislative branch by declaring laws unconstitutional and by giving the chief justice the ability to preside over the senate during presidential impeachment trials. The legislative branch can check the powers of the executive branch by overriding a presidential veto, impeaching and removing presidents, rejecting presidents' appointments, refusing to ratify treaties, conducting investigations into presidents' actions, and refusing to pass laws or funding that presidents request. The legislative branch can check the powers of the judicial branch by changing the size of the federal court system and the number of Supreme Court justices, proposing constitutional amendments, rejecting Supreme Court nominees, impeaching and removing federal judges, amending court jurisdictions, and controlling appropriations. The judicial branch can check the powers of the executive branch by declaring executive actions unconstitutional, issuing warrants, and presiding over the impeachment of presidents. Finally, the executive branch can check the powers of the judicial branch by nominating Supreme Court justices and federal judges, pardoning those convicted in federal court, and enforcing the courts' decisions.