1. The Cold War in Asia
SOL 13c

2. Containment
The policy for preventing the expansion of communism

3. Conflicts and Leaders
At the end of the Chinese Civil War ( ), it was divided into 2 nations
Chiang Kai-shek was the Nationalist leader (in island of Taiwan)
Mao Tse-tung (Zedong) was the communist leader (mainland China)

4. Spread of Communism
Communists finally defeated the Nationalists in 1949 and set up the People’s Republic of China.
Nationalist fled to Taiwan and set up the Republic of China
Each still fight over territory
The USSR and China signed a pact of cooperation in 1950, the Cold War had arrived in China.

5. Mao Tse-tung

6. Policies
Mao enacted policies such as “the Great Leap Forward” and the “Cultural Revolution” aimed at the youth to spark revolutionary/nationalistic ideas.
Under these policies, China became industrialized, but at the expense of 1000’s, especially farmers.
Americans feared communism would spread to other parts of Asia.

7. Korea
After WWII, Korea was divided between communist North Korea and pro- Western South Korea at the 38th Parallel
In 1950 North Korea invaded South Korea.
Backed by the UN, Pres. Truman sent troops to Korea. Led by Gen. MacArthur.

8. The Korean Conflict
By late 1950 American troops had moved through North Korea to the border of China, causing the Chinese to enter the conflict on the side of North Korea.
Americans retreated back to the demilitarized zone (38th parallel) and a truce was signed in 1953.
Still divided today.

9. Korean Conflict

10. Vietnam
In 1954 Vietnam gained its independence from colonial France. It was divided into communist North Vietnam and pro- Western South Vietnam.
North Vietnamese leader Ho Chi Minh did not agree with this and attempted to unify the country.
Ngo Dinh Diem led South Vietnam, but ruled as a dictator (Viet Cong-nationalists against him)

11. US and Vietnam The South Vietnamese government became corrupt.
U.S. believed in the “domino theory”. If Vietnam fell to communism, so would the rest of Asia
Under both President Kennedy and Johnson, the US aided South Vietnam.

12. Gulf of Tonkin
In 1964 Pres. Johnson told the nation that US warships had been attacked by North Vietnamese PT boats (small boats with big weapons) at the Gulf of Tonkin.
Johnson ordered air strikes on North Vietnam and sent more US troops to Vietnam.
With this, the Vietnam War begins (resolution in 1965)

13. The Vietnam War
After more than nine years of fighting, American forces could not defeat the North Vietnamese troops in these difficult jungle conditions.
January 1973, U.S. signed the Paris Peace Accord, withdrew from the war
South Vietnam eventually fell to communist North Vietnam in 1975.

14. Images from Vietnam