Annotated Bibliography

Kim, Han‑Kyo. “Declaration of Independence (March 1, 1919).” D E C L A R A T I O N  O F  I N D E P E N D E N C E  ( M A R C H  1 ,  1 9 1 9 ), 1 Mar. 1919, afe.easia.columbia.edu/ps/korea/march_first_declaration.pdf. 

The Korean Declaration of Independence was a document read on March 1, 1919, that announced Korea's right to be an independent nation free from Japanese rule. It called for peaceful resistance and urged Koreans to unite in their fight for freedom. The declaration helped inspire the March First Movement, one of the largest independence protests in Korean history.

Mackenzie. “Korea’s Fight for Freedom : Mackenzie, Frederick Arthur, 1869-1931 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming.” Internet Archive, New York : Fleming H. Revell Co., 1 Jan. 1970, archive.org/details/koreasfightforfr00mackuoft/page/9/mode/1up?ref=ol. The Korean Declaration of Independence declared that Korea deserved freedom and self-rule after years of Japanese occupation. Written during the March First Movement in 1919, it encouraged peaceful protests and inspired many Koreans to fight for independence.

Yeoul, Cho-Lee, and Jennifer Arndt-Johns. “March First Movement 1919 Archives.” Korean Quarterly, 2021, www.koreanquarterly.org/tag/march-first-movement-1919/. 

The passage explains that Japan wanted to fully absorb Korea by forcing Koreans to adopt Japanese language, culture, and institutions. It also shows that Japan aimed to take control of Korean land and erase Korean national identity.

Blakemore, Erin. “How Japan Took Control of Korea.” History.Com, A&E Television Networks, 28 Feb. 2018, www.history.com/articles/japan-colonization-korea. From 1910 to 1945, Japan controlled Korea and tried to erase Korean culture by banning the Korean language, forcing people to follow Japanese traditions, changing family names, and taking over land and resources. Koreans resisted through protests like the March First Movement, underground groups, and everyday acts of defiance to preserve their identity and fight for independence.

Perry , Matthew. “Japan ExpYeoul, Cho-Lee, and Jennifer Arndt-Johns. “March First Movement 1919 Archives.” Korean Quarterly, 2021, www.koreanquarterly.org/tag/march-first-movement-1919/. 

The passage explains that Japan wanted to fully absorb Korea by forcing Koreans to adopt Japanese language, culture, and institutions. It also shows that Japan aimed to take control of Korean land and erase Korean national identity.

ands into Korea.” EBSCO, May 2023, www.ebsco.com/research-starters/history/japan-expands-korea#bibliography. After the Meiji Restoration, Japan worked to become a modern and powerful nation like Western countries. Japan believed imperialism and colonization would help it gain resources, markets, and stronger national unity. Japan wanted to expand into Korea to reduce Chinese influence and increase its own power in East Asia. After using military force in 1875, Japan forced Korea to sign the Treaty of Kanghwa, which increased Japanese control and showed Japan’s growing military strength

Lee, ki-baik. “Korea - Japanese Occupation, Colonialism, Resistance | Britannica.”  Britannica , 16 Apr. 2026, www.britannica.com/place/Korea/Korea-under-Japanese-rule. 1910 to 1945. Koreans resisted through movements like the March First Movement, which demanded independence despite violent suppression by Japan. After World War II ended, Japanese rule collapsed and Korea was divided into North and South Korea by foreign powers, even though independence had been promised.

Blog, The Economic History. “The Economic Effects of Colonization in Korea - Economic History.” Economic History - Cutting-Edge Research from the Department of Economic History, LSE., 19 May 2023, blogs.lse.ac.uk/economichistory/2023/05/19/the-economic-effects-of-colonization-in-korea/. 

During Japan’s colonial rule, new business laws and financial systems helped Korea’s economy and business sector grow. However, most of the benefits went to Japanese-owned companies, which greatly outnumbered Korean-owned businesses. This shows that Korea developed economically, but Japanese entrepreneurs gained the most from that growth.

Cumings, Bruce. Korea’s Place in the Sun: A Modern History. W. W. Norton & Company, 2005. https://openlibrary.org/works/OL1933907W/Korea's_Place_in_the_Sun.

This book gives a broad history of Korea from early times to the modern era. It focuses on Japanese colonization, the division of Korea, and the development of North and South Korea. It also explains how foreign powers influenced Korea’s modern history.

Eckert, Carter J., et al. Korea Old and New: A History. Harvard University Press, 1990. https://www.hup.harvard.edu/books/9780674511768/korea-old-and-new.

This book covers Korea’s political, economic, and social history over time. It explains how Korea changed under Japanese rule and how modernization affected Korean society. It also highlights important historical transitions into the modern period.

Stueck, William. The Korean War: An International History. Oxford University Press, 1995. https://global.oup.com/academic/product/the-korean-war-9780691045325.

This book examines the Korean War from an international perspective. It explains the roles of the United States, China, the Soviet Union, and Korea itself. It shows how global Cold War tensions shaped the conflict and its outcomes.