The Fall of China and its results

In the 1920s Mao Zedong and a few other Communist leaders escaped to southern China after the Chinese gov’t began to imprison and kill communists Mao organized rural peasants and started a civil war

At the end of WWII Communist and gov’t forces in China were fighting Truman administration at first provides economic and military assistance to Jiang (Chinese gov’t)

1947 Mao’s forces occupied much of China’s countryside and its northern cities had begun to come under their control

American response Truman and his advisers concluded that Mao’s takeover of China could probably not be prevented and put their focus on saving Western Europe from Soviet Domination

Early 1949 China’s capital of Perking (now Beijing) fell to Communist control A few months later, Mao proclaims the creation of the People’s Republic of China Jiang and his followers withdrew to the island of Taiwan

Map of Taiwan

Results in the United States

HUAC: The House of Un-American Activities Established in 1939 to investigate disloyalty on the eve of WWII Began a post war probe of Communist infiltration of the gov’t and the Hollywood movie industry

Hollywood 10 A group of writers, directors and actors all accused of Communist activity on flimsy evidence/rumors When asked if they were Communist, the group invoked their 5th amendment rights and did not answer. They served jail terms of approx. 6 months – 1 year for contempt of Congress

Hollywood Blacklist A list of people whom employers agreed not to hire

McCarran-Walter Act Law that established a quota system for each country, discriminating against potential immigrants from Asia and Central Europe Truman vetoed the bill, calling it un-American, but Congress passed it over the President’s veto