Wars of the Cold War: China Korea

Vietnam

China (Civil War) - Roots

1912 - China becomes a republic under Sun Yat-sen.Dictatorship replaces the republican governmentSun Yat-sen forms the Guomingdang (Nationalist) Party1928 - Chiang Kai-shek leads the Nationalists to power

Chinese Civil War

Chiang Kai-shek – does not improve the living conditions of the peasants.Communists – supported by peasantsMao Zedong forms Red Army to fight against the Nationalist government

Chinese Civil War

Chiang surrounds the Red Army.The Long March – Red Army under Mao breaks free and retreats. Started with 100,000 men and ends with only 8,000 left.1939 - Communist and Nationalist join forces to fight against Japanese invasion.

Chinese Civil WarAfter WWII – Civil War continues1949 – Mao’s Communist forces defeat Chiang’s Nationalist forcesChiang/Nationalists retreat to the island of Taiwan off the coast of China.Mao/Communists in charge of mainland ChinaSeparation of China still exists today. Continuing source of conflict.

Japanese territory from 1910 – 1945Allied Powers agreed to occupy Korea until free elections could be held

Korean War - Roots

Korean War

June 1950 North Korea invaded South KoreaUN responds by sending forces

USSR not involvedUS sends 90% of the troops

Korean War

General Douglas MacArthur forces North Korean army north of the

38th Parallel

Korea - Divided

38th Parallel

Korean War

MacArthur advances north.Communist China sends in troops, forcing the UN (US) back to the 38th Parallel.Stalemate – from 1951-19531953 – Truce is signed5 million have died (US - 33,629)

Executive Order 9981

~ Issued by President Truman, July 26, 1948

Executive Order

Vietnam War

Vietnam - Roots

Under French rule, then Japanese, then FrenchFrance and the Vietminh (Vietnamese Communist Party) go to war after WWII

USSR backs VietminhUS backs French

Vietnam - Divided

North (communist)vs.

South (“democratic”)

Vietnam - DividedSouth Vietnam – led by Diem, an unpopular leaderSouth Vietnamese army assassinates Diem, with the quiet approval of Kennedy (US)

Vietnam - Divided

North Vietnam – led by communist leader Ho Chi MinhFights to free Vietnam from French, then US – hope to establish communism with support of China / USSR

Vietnam – the Quagmire

“I predict you will sink step by step into a bottomless quagmire.”– de Gaulle

Vietnam War

Domino Theory1964 – War begins1965 – the first Ground Troops are sent1968 – more than ½ Million US Troops

Vietnam War

1968 – the Tet Offensive:Viet Cong (N. Vietnam) military offensiveUS opposition to the war grows

War will officially end in 1975, after 1 ½ year cease-fire

Vietnam War

Losses:2 million dead10 million refugees58,000 American soldiers