Asia During the Cold War

Communist China

Civil War & Its Aftermath By 1945, a full scale civil war broke out between the Nationalists and the Communists By 1945, a full scale civil war broke out between the Nationalists and the Communists The People’s Liberation Army (Communists) defeated the Nationalists and Chiang Kai- shek fled to Taiwan The People’s Liberation Army (Communists) defeated the Nationalists and Chiang Kai- shek fled to Taiwan Mao Zedong and his communist party ruled China Mao Zedong and his communist party ruled China 1955  government launched program to build a socialist society 1955  government launched program to build a socialist society Land was taken from the wealthy and given to poor peasantsLand was taken from the wealthy and given to poor peasants Private farms were collectivizedPrivate farms were collectivized Industry and commerce were nationalizedIndustry and commerce were nationalized

The Great Leap Forward Program to speed up economic growth Program to speed up economic growth Over 700,000 existing collective farms were combined into 26,000 vast communes Over 700,000 existing collective farms were combined into 26,000 vast communes Each commune contained more than 30,000 people who lived and worked together Each commune contained more than 30,000 people who lived and worked together Mao hoped that the Great Leap Forward would create a classless society Mao hoped that the Great Leap Forward would create a classless society “Hard work for a few years, happiness for a thousand” “Hard work for a few years, happiness for a thousand”

The Great Leap Forward Great Leap Forward was considered an economic disaster Great Leap Forward was considered an economic disaster Bad weather (floods and droughts) and the peasants’ hatred of the new system drove down food production Bad weather (floods and droughts) and the peasants’ hatred of the new system drove down food production Nearly 15 million people died of starvation Nearly 15 million people died of starvation 1960  government began to break up the communes and return to collective farms and some private plots 1960  government began to break up the communes and return to collective farms and some private plots

Cultural Revolution Permanent Revolution  an atmosphere of constant revolution fervor Permanent Revolution  an atmosphere of constant revolution fervor Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution  a revolution to create a large proletarian (working) class Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution  a revolution to create a large proletarian (working) class Little Red Book  a collection of Mao’s thoughts; became a sort of “bible” for the Chinese Communists Little Red Book  a collection of Mao’s thoughts; became a sort of “bible” for the Chinese Communists Book would be found in all hotels, communes, and universitiesBook would be found in all hotels, communes, and universities

Red Guard Red Guard  revolutionary groups composed largely of young people Red Guard  revolutionary groups composed largely of young people Set out to eliminate the “four olds”  old ideas, old customs, old culture, old habits Set out to eliminate the “four olds”  old ideas, old customs, old culture, old habits Destroyed temples, books written by foreigners, and foreign music Destroyed temples, books written by foreigners, and foreign music Tore down street signs and replaced them with ones of revolutionary names and ideas Tore down street signs and replaced them with ones of revolutionary names and ideas Vicious attacks made on people thought to oppose the ideas of Mao Vicious attacks made on people thought to oppose the ideas of Mao Mostly attacked intellectuals and artistsMostly attacked intellectuals and artists

China after Mao September, 1976  Mao Zedong died at the age of 82 and power was seized by Deng Xiaoping September, 1976  Mao Zedong died at the age of 82 and power was seized by Deng Xiaoping Xiaoping desired an end to the Cultural Revolution and the Red Guard Xiaoping desired an end to the Cultural Revolution and the Red Guard Called for Four Modernizations Called for Four Modernizations New policies in industry, agriculture, technology, and national defense]New policies in industry, agriculture, technology, and national defense] Government invited foreign investors to China and sent thousands of students aboard to study science, technology, and modern business techniques Government invited foreign investors to China and sent thousands of students aboard to study science, technology, and modern business techniques

Policies of Deng Xiaoping New agricultural policy  collective farms could now lease land to peasants who paid rent to the collective New agricultural policy  collective farms could now lease land to peasants who paid rent to the collective Anything produced above the value of rent could be sold for profitAnything produced above the value of rent could be sold for profit Peasants were also allowed to make goods to sellPeasants were also allowed to make goods to sell Industrial output increases dramatically Industrial output increases dramatically Per capita (per person) income doubled in the 1980s Per capita (per person) income doubled in the 1980s

Movement for Democracy People began to demand a “fifth modernization”  democracy People began to demand a “fifth modernization”  democracy As the education of the Chinese people grew, so did their desire for better living conditions and greater freedom As the education of the Chinese people grew, so did their desire for better living conditions and greater freedom Rising inflation, growing corruption and special treatment for officials and party members led to increasing criticism Rising inflation, growing corruption and special treatment for officials and party members led to increasing criticism Massive demonstrations occurred at Tiananmen Square in Beijing Massive demonstrations occurred at Tiananmen Square in Beijing Deng Xiaoping ordered tanks and troops to crust the demonstrators and between 500 and 2000 people were killed Deng Xiaoping ordered tanks and troops to crust the demonstrators and between 500 and 2000 people were killed

The Korean War

After WWII Japanese troops in the northern part of Korea surrender to the Soviet Union, which is Communist Japanese troops in the northern part of Korea surrender to the Soviet Union, which is Communist Japanese troops in the southern part of Korea surrender to US (capitalist) Japanese troops in the southern part of Korea surrender to US (capitalist) The 38 th parallel (a line of latitude) is used to divide the two regions The 38 th parallel (a line of latitude) is used to divide the two regions

War in Korea 1949  Both the US and the Soviet Union withdrew from Korea 1949  Both the US and the Soviet Union withdrew from Korea Soviet Union thought that the US would not defend South Korea Soviet Union thought that the US would not defend South Korea 1950s  North Korea surprise attacks South Korea 1950s  North Korea surprise attacks South Korea President Truman wanted to stop the aggression right away and to contain communism President Truman wanted to stop the aggression right away and to contain communism

War in Korea United Nations sends troops to aid the American effort United Nations sends troops to aid the American effort Fighting “see-saws” back and forth across the 38 th parallel Fighting “see-saws” back and forth across the 38 th parallel July 1953  United Nations and North Korea sign a ceasefire agreement (armistice) July 1953  United Nations and North Korea sign a ceasefire agreement (armistice) Border is permanently set at the 38 th parallel, with a demilitarized zone along both sides Border is permanently set at the 38 th parallel, with a demilitarized zone along both sides Today, Korea remains divided into two nations Today, Korea remains divided into two nations

The Two Koreas NorthSouth -Communist -Import/export few good -Low standard of living -Serious economic problems -Struggles with shortage of energy/food -Nuclear weapons -Language -Culture -Common History -Democratic -Constitution -Developed industry and foreign trade -Highest economic growth in the world -High standard of living

The Vietnam War

War in Vietnam 1900  France controlled a vast area in Southeast Asia 1900  France controlled a vast area in Southeast Asia Ho Chi Minh  Western Educated, Nationalist and Communist Ho Chi Minh  Western Educated, Nationalist and Communist Forms Independence League  The “Viet Minh” to fight Japanese Forms Independence League  The “Viet Minh” to fight Japanese After Japanese defeat in WWII, Minh declares Vietnam’s independence After Japanese defeat in WWII, Minh declares Vietnam’s independence France refused to accept the loss of Vietnam and begins a war France refused to accept the loss of Vietnam and begins a war

War in Vietnam 1954  France surrenders to Minh after the huge defeat at Dien Bien Phu 1954  France surrenders to Minh after the huge defeat at Dien Bien Phu America supported France and with their defeat, the Americans sent advisors into Vietnam to support the South Vietnamese government America supported France and with their defeat, the Americans sent advisors into Vietnam to support the South Vietnamese government Minh encourages South Vietnamese Communists (Vietcong) to begin a guerilla war against the S.V. government Minh encourages South Vietnamese Communists (Vietcong) to begin a guerilla war against the S.V. government America feared the Domino Theory  as one nation becomes communist, the other nations around it will also become communist America feared the Domino Theory  as one nation becomes communist, the other nations around it will also become communist

A Divided Nation Geneva agreement temporarily divided Vietnam at the 17 th parallel until elections could be held Geneva agreement temporarily divided Vietnam at the 17 th parallel until elections could be held Minh controlled the land above the 17 th parallel and Ngo Dinh Diem controlled the land below it Minh controlled the land above the 17 th parallel and Ngo Dinh Diem controlled the land below it

The Aftermath March 1965  President Johnson sent troops to South Vietnam to prevent a total victory for the Communists March 1965  President Johnson sent troops to South Vietnam to prevent a total victory for the Communists By the 1960s, Vietnam was locked in a stalemate (neither side had made significant gains) By the 1960s, Vietnam was locked in a stalemate (neither side had made significant gains) Richard Nixon reached an agreement with North Vietnam in 1973 in the Paris Peace Accords Richard Nixon reached an agreement with North Vietnam in 1973 in the Paris Peace Accords Two years later, North Vietnam forcibly reunited Vietnam under communism Two years later, North Vietnam forcibly reunited Vietnam under communism Shortly following the Vietnam War, both Laos and Cambodia had communist governments Shortly following the Vietnam War, both Laos and Cambodia had communist governments Pol Pot, leader of the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia, massacred millions of Cambodians in the Cambodian genocide Pol Pot, leader of the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia, massacred millions of Cambodians in the Cambodian genocide