Transcript Cold War

China Becomes a Communist
Country
Part 11
During the 1930s and 1940s, a communist army led by Mao
Zedong fought against China’s government army led by Chiang
Kai-shek, head of the Nationalist party.
Mao Zedong
Opposing Forces
Chiang Kai-shek
The United
States
supported
Chiang and
sent him aid
because he
opposed
communism.
The fighting ceased when Japan attacked China during World War II
but continued after the war ended.
Mao Zedong and Chiang
Kai-shek toast the
Japanese surrender
The United States again gave
economic and military aid to
the Nationalists, and the
Soviet Union did likewise for
Mao’s Communist forces.
U.S. Aid to
China
But U.S. officials knew that Chiang’s government was
inefficient and corrupt. He overtaxed the Chinese people
even during times of famine.
He did not have the support of the people.
Mao, on the other hand, attracted peasant recruits by the millions.
Mao distributed land to them and reduced rents.
Mao also had an experience army with high morale.
President Truman
refused to send
American troops to
help the Nationalists
fight communism.
But he did
send aid.
Chinese mechanics
reassemble a lend-lease
jeep under the direction
of an American liaison
soldier. (U.S. Army
Military History Institute)
As a result of these factors, Chiang Kaishek and his nationalists were defeated in
1949. Chiang and his forces had to flee to
Taiwan, an island off the coast of China.
China’s mainland was now Communist.
American conservatives said that the United States had “lost” China
because not enough had been done to help the Nationalists. Truman’s
followers said that the Communist success was because Chiang could not
win the support of the Chinese people.
Through the 1960s the United States recognized only Chiang Kai-shek's
Nationalist government. In the same period, the Nationalists continued to
represent China in the United Nations, despite attempts by the Soviet
Union to unseat them in favor of Mao’s Communists.
11. How did Communists gain
control of China?
The Korean War
Part 12
Japan had ruled Korea since 1910. At the end of World War II, the
Japanese fled from Korea as Soviet armies arrived from the north
and American armies from the south. The two forces agreed on the
38th parallel of latitude as a temporary dividing line between their
zones of occupation.
After the cold war began, the 38th parallel became a
permanent border between North Korea with its Soviet
backed Communist government and South Korea with its U.S.
supported government.
In September of 1948, the Soviet Union declared the Democratic People's
Republic of Korea to be the legitimate government of all of Korea, with Kim
Il-sung as Prime Minister.
In June 1950, North Korea started the Korean War by
invading South Korea.
Truman was afraid another nation was about to fall to
communism.
Exhausted South Korean infantry stretch during a lull in the fighting, July 7, 1950. Photo: U.S. Army.
Source: D.M. Giangreco, War in Korea: 1950-1953 (Presidio Press).
Truman’s objective in Korea was not to defeat North Korea and
take over its territory. Nor did he want to face the Soviet Union
and China in an Asian war. Truman’s goal was containment - to save
South Korea from Communist control. He called on the UN to
defend its government.
Many nations participated in the UN defense of South Korea, but the
largest number came from the United States and South Korea. (The Soviet
Union had temporarily withdrawn its representatives from the UN and thus
lost its veto power in the Security Council.)
In addition to troops, Truman ordered air and naval support
for South Korea. The United Nations also agreed to help
South Korea.
• Truman used his power
as commander and
chief to conduct an
undeclared war in
Korea; he called it a
“police action.”
Troops from 16 nations- most of them American were sent to South Korea. They were led by General
Douglas MacArthur.
North Korean troops moved
steadily South. They
conquered the South
Korean capital of Seoul.
Then MacArthur
launched a counter
attack. His forces
trapped about half the
North Korean Army,
which surrendered.
MacArthur's success
in North Korea made
him a national hero.
UN and South Korean forces
advanced toward the 38th Parallel.
If they crossed it, the war would
become an offensive rather than a
defensive one. In October 1950,
the UN told MacArthur to cross
the 38th parallel and reunite
Korea.
The Chinese opposed UN forces moving into North Korea. China
said it would not let Americans near its border. The UN
ignored the threat and advanced across the 38th Parallel. Then
Chinese troops entered North Korea.
They drove UN forces back. In January
1951, the Communists recaptured Soul
For two years, fighting continued. But neither side advanced.
MacArthur wanted to extend the war into China. He even suggested
dropping atomic bombs on China. Truman was against this strategy.
The Soviets were allies of the Chinese. Truman felt bombing China
would start World War III.
MacArthur continued to argue for his plan. He spoke
to the press and to Republican leaders.
Truman felt that he could no longer allow
MacArthur’s insubordination.
Truman was quoted
calling MacArthur
“Mr. Prima Donna,
Brass Hat, Five Star
MacArthur”. He
fired MacArthur as
commander.
At first, the American public sided with MacArthur. Later,
they came to agree with Truman’s idea of a limited war.
Meanwhile, A ceasefire went into effect in June 1951. Both
sides agreed on a demilitarized zone at the 38th parallel.
The war dragged on through 1952 with high casualties and no
decisive victories. There was a stalemate near the 38th
parallel.
Stalemate and Truce
The Republican candidate for president - former general
Dwight Eisenhower promised to “go to Korea,” if elected, to
end the fighting.
Many people felt
that American lives
had been lost for
little gain. As a
result, the American
people rejected the
party in power, the
Democrats, in the
1952 election.
Republican Dwight D.
Eisenhower was
elected to be the
34th president.
Eisenhower went to Korea in 1953, and soon afterward an
armistice was signed. It established the 38th parallel as the
line between North and South Korea.
Korea was divided
between Communist
North Korea and nonCommunist South
Korea.
The Korean War cost 54,000 American lives.
Assessing
the
Korean
Conflict
The Korean War served to contain Soviet and Chinese power.
Later presidents would follow Truman’s example in
responding to other international conflicts.
Americans also became even more worried about
communist expansion abroad and Communist spies and
sympathizers within the United States.
1945 Civil War in China
12. What was gained
by the Korean
War?
The Middle East
An incident not having to do with the Korean war but
Nevertheless had major ramifications that still impacts us
Today took place in Iran. Their government took over the
Oil industries from foreign private companies.