1. Cold War Revolutions China and Vietnam

2. Japans aggression in Asia In the years prior to WWII, Japan hadbeen aggressively expanding its influenceby taking colonial possessions in China,Korea, and other parts of Asia. Ultimately this expansion got theminvolved in WWII However, Japans defeat in WWII leftthese areas seeking independence andself rule. 3. The Policy of containment The Cold War conflict between theUS and USSR became evidentquickly after WWII. Under the Truman Doctrine, the UShad adopted the policy ofcontainment vowing to stop theexpansion of communism. Theybelieved if they allowed communistrevolutions to succeed, the USSRsinfluence would spread around theworld. Japans defeat in WWII meant thatnew governments would be formed inAsia, and the US policy ofcontainment might be put to the test. 4. Conflict in China Early in the 20th century, China hadrejected its Imperial rule and endedmonarchy. Two new groups emerged in China: TheNationalists and the Communists, bothinitially worked as allies to improveChina, but later became enemies. The Nationalists advocated a westernstyle democracy and drew a lot ofsupport from urban areas in China.They established a government knownas the Republic of China. The Nationalists were led by a generalnamed Chiang Kai-Shek, and would besupported by Britain and the UnitedStates.Chiang Kai-shek 5. Communists in China The USSR had tried to supportcommunism in China since 1920. In 1921,A Chinese communistparty would develop under a mannamed Mao Tse-Tung (MaoZedong). Maos communists drew theirsupport mainly from ruralpeasants, and became rivals withthe Nationalists in China. Under Mao, the communistadvocated a new revolution thatwould place China undercommunist control. Mao Tse-Tung The communists and nationaliststruggled for decades for control ofChina. 6. After WWII: Chinese Civil War After WWII and the defeat ofJapan, a civil war erupted inChina between Chiangsforces and Maos Red Army. The US provided $2 Billion ofaid to the Nationalists givingthem a huge advantage in anattempt to stop the spread ofCommunism. However, Maos army receivedaid from the USSR and wasmore popular with the people.It was able to defeat theNationalist forces and forcetheir retreat to the island ofTaiwan. 7. A Divided China The Nationalists under ChiangKai-Shek established a newgovernment on the Island ofTaiwan. Maos communists now controlledthe mainland and established anew Communist governmentknown as the Peoples Republic ofChina. China remains divided alongthese lines today, and presents aconflict as with mainlandcommunist China insisting thatMainland Chinathey will one day reunite withbecame communistafter the Chinese CivilTaiwan under one communistWar.government.. 8. China Reforms The USSR gave support toChinas mainland communistgovernment, however Chinawould not allow itself to be apuppet of the USSR. After the death of Mao, a newleader Deng Xiaoping took controlof China. Deng reformed Chinaseconomy to be a market economywhere individuals could own theirChina technicallyown businesses. This has created remains under communist control, butgreat economic gains for the its people now enjoy thecountry. fruits of a capitalist However, the Communist party market economy.retains political control of thecountry and there is no democracyand individual rights are limited. 9. Post War Korea Korea had been ruled by Japanbefore WWII and sought a newgovernment after Japansdefeat in WWII. The Korean peninsula was splitinto a communist northern half(supported by the USSR) and acapitalist southern half(supported by the US). The two sides fought an armedconflict for control of thepeninsula. 10. The Korean War US forces had almost retakenthe peninsula whenCommunist China intervenedto help the North. Theyhelped push the US back tothe 38th parallel. A stalematedeveloped where Korea wasdivided into 2 separatecountries. S. Korean troops at the DMZ The division of Korea(a 2.5 mile border dividing thecontinues to this day andcountry)tensions are high betweenthe two countries with the UScontinuing to support thesouth. 11. French Indochina During the years ofimperialism, France hadgained control of an areaknown as Indochina in SEAsia. Indochina provided rawmaterials such as iron andrubber. However, during WWII Japanhad expanded into the areaand taken control of FrenchIndochina.Indochina included Laos, After WWII, France wanted toVietnam, and Cambodiaregain control of its colony. 12. Resistance in Vietnam Vietnam was the most valuable partof Indochina and France wasdetermined to keep it. However, an independencemovement had begun in Vietnamunder a man named Ho Chi Minh. Ho Chi Minh was a communist buthad fought hard to help drive theJapanese out of the country, now hefaced the task of fighting the French Ho Chi Minh was a highlyfor his countrys independence. Ineducated man who led1954 he had succeeded inVietnams resistanceestablishing a communistgovernment in North Vietnam, whilethe south remained capitalist. 13. Trouble in S. Vietnam Unfortunately for the US,the government in S.Vietnam lacked popularsupport, as the ruler inplace acted as a dictator. Meanwhile a group ofcommunists in S. Vietnamknown as the Viet Cong,started to gain supportamong the peasants. Many members of the Viet The government the US supported was oppressive of aCong were trained soldiers number of groups. Here afrom N. Vietnam and they Buddhist monk burns himselfused guerilla attacksalive in protest of theagainst the S. Vietnamesegovernment.government. 14. America enters Vietnam The US could not stand idlyand allow S. Vietnam tobecome communist as well. In keeping with the theory ofcontainment, the US begancommitting troops to S.Vietnam, and beganbombing runs against N.Vietnam. This did nothing tohelp the popularity of S.Vietnams government. Despite being the bestAn American Napalm strike inequipped army in the worldVietnam. Despite these attacks, thethe US had trouble fighting N. Vietnamese continued to resist.the Vietnamese and theirguerilla army. 15. The Vietnam War With a difficult enemy to engage,and a lack of support amongst boththe Vietnamese and Americanpeople the US eventually decided towithdraw its troops from the country. The US continued to supply S.Vietnams government. However, in1975 the N. Vietnamese overran theSouths defenses and took control ofthe country. Vietnam was now united again andunder a communist government.The US had failed in its objective ofstopping communisms spread.