THE COLD WAR: Communism Spreads Into Asia

COMMUNISTS TAKE POWER IN CHINA

Communists Take Power in China Chinese Civil War: Before World War II, the Chinese were fighting a brutal civil war Chinese Communists vs. Chinese Nationalists During WWII these two groups temporarily united to fight the Japanese…but they continued to try to gain power in China

Communists Take Power in China Mao Zedong = Leader of Communists Won loyalty of peasants through promoting literacy & improving food production By 1945 Communists controlled most of northern China

Communists Take Power in China Nationalists Jiang Jieshi (also known as Chang Kai-shek) = Leader of Nationalists Dominated southwestern China U.S. sent financial aid to Nationalists to help fight Japanese BUT…fought very little against Japanese

Communists Take Power in China Civil war resumed when World War II ended U.S. continued to back Nationalists with aid, but they lacked support of people – China fell to Communists

Communists Take Power in China TWO CHINAS: Nationalists flee to island of Taiwan and establish a new gov’t (with help of US) called the Republic of China Mao Zedong/Communists gain control of China and establish People’s Republic of China Soviets give financial, military, and technical aid to Communist China

THE KOREAN WAR: The Forgotten War

The Korean War End of WWII North Korea Occupied by Soviet Union Communist South Korea Occupied by United States Non-Communist Divided by 38th parallel 38th PARALLEL

Korean War Begins 1950, North Koreans (with help from Soviets) invaded South Korea South Korea asked the United States and the United Nations for help US helps out under General MacArthur

Then… UN forces push N. Korea across the 38th Parallel Neared China… So the CHINESE army joined North Korean forces Why are they helping N. Korea?

Results? A cease-fire agreement was signed in July, 1953 More than 2.5 million people were dead GET THIS: The border between the two Koreas was still drawn at the 38th Parallel! 38th PARALLEL

Today

The Vietnam War

Background 1900s – France controlled Vietnam Nationalist Leader Ho Chi Minh asked for communist help France then fought the combined Nationalist and Communist forces United States supported France French surrendered to Ho Chi Minh

Division Peace Conference Vietnam was divided at 17th parallel North – Communism South – anti-Communist Sound familiar? Vietcong – communist guerillas who continued to fight for power in south Should the U.S. get involved?

Division U.S. saw a rising threat to the rest of Asia… The Domino Theory: Idea that if a nation falls to communism, nearby nations will also fall to communism

U.S. Troops Enter Fight 2 US boats were allegedly attacked by North Vietnamese (didn’t happen) 1964: Congress authorized president to send in troops By 1965, more than 185,000 U.S. soldiers in Vietnam By 1968 – more than ½ a million!

U.S. Troops Enter Fight US had most advanced military in the world BUT… Guerrilla war in unfamiliar jungle territory South Vietnamese gov’t became unpopular War unpopular in the US

Result US troops gradually pulled out 1.5 million Vietnamese dead Last left in 1973 1.5 million Vietnamese dead 58,000 Americans dead Saigon capital became: “Ho Chi Minh City” Communist today However, trade is welcomed there