Communist China

Background Before WWII, China was in a civil war between Nationalists and Communists China fought with the Allied powers during WWII Japanese soldiers occupied and destroyed most of China’s cities, leaving it in ruins. China had the second highest death toll -10 to 22 million people Problems in China lead to a civil war after WWII

Communists vs. Nationalists The leader of the Communists, Mao Zedong, won peasants’ loyalty in Northern China by promoting literacy and improving food production Mao Zedong and the Communists controlled most of Northern China by 1945

Communists vs. Nationalists In the Southern part of China, Jiang Jieshi and Nationalists had control Nationalists received $1.5 billion in aid from the United States Most of this aid is not used in fighting Japanese because of corruption After WWII, United States still backed the Nationalists in the civil war against the Communists

Civil War Divides China As the economy worsened, many Nationalist soldiers deserted to the Communists By spring 1949, China’s major cities fell to Red (Communist) forces October 1949 – Mao Zedong gained control of the country and proclaimed it the People’s Republic of China Jiang Jieshi and other Nationalists leaders fled to an island called Taiwan.

Immediate Impacts Fueled United States’ anti-Communist feelings Only worsened when Chinese and Soviets signed a treaty of friendship Many in U.S. viewed the takeover of China as another step in a Communist campaign to take over the world

Two Chinas Increase Tensions After Jiang Jieshi flees to Taiwan, U.S. helped him set up a Nationalist government on the island - The Republic of China Soviets back the Communists (The People’s Republic of China) This led to more tension between the U.S. and the USSR WHY?