The main reason why the United States involved itself in a civil dispute on the Korean peninsula in the 1950s was "<span>to exercise the policy of containment," since they were attempting to stop the spread of communism. </span>
The correct answer is to exercise the policy of containment.
After World War II, the United States federal government developed the policy of containment. The goal of this policy was to stop the spread of communism on a global scale. The US government disliked the idea of communist, as it resulted in an extremely powerful central government that limited the economic opportunities of its citizens.
This is why the United States got involved in the Korean War, as communist North Korea was trying to take over the capitalist country of South Korea. The United States helped South Korea remain free from communist rule.