1. THE COLD WAR: Communism Spreads Into Asia

2. COMMUNISTS TAKE POWER IN CHINA

3. Communists Take Power in China
Chinese Civil War:
Before World War II, the Chinese were fighting a brutal civil war
Chinese Communists vs. Chinese Nationalists
During WWII these two groups temporarily united to fight the Japanese…but they continued to try to gain power in China

4. Communists Take Power in China
Mao Zedong = Leader of Communists
Won loyalty of peasants through promoting literacy & improving food production
By 1945 Communists controlled most of northern China

5. Communists Take Power in China
Nationalists
Jiang Jieshi (also known as Chang Kai-shek) = Leader of Nationalists
Dominated southwestern China
U.S. sent financial aid to Nationalists to help fight Japanese BUT…fought very little against Japanese

6. Communists Take Power in China
Civil war resumed when World War II ended
U.S. continued to back Nationalists with aid, but they lacked support of people – China fell to Communists

7. Communists Take Power in China
TWO CHINAS:
Nationalists flee to island of Taiwan and establish a new gov’t (with help of US) called the Republic of China
Mao Zedong/Communists gain control of China and establish People’s Republic of China
Soviets give financial, military, and technical aid to Communist China

8. THE KOREAN WAR: The Forgotten War

9. The Korean War End of WWII North Korea Occupied by Soviet Union
Communist
South Korea
Occupied by United States
Non-Communist
Divided by 38th parallel
38th PARALLEL

10. Korean War Begins
1950, North Koreans (with help from Soviets) invaded South Korea
South Korea asked the United States and the United Nations for help
US helps out under General MacArthur

11. Then… UN forces push N. Korea across the 38th Parallel Neared China…
So the CHINESE army joined North Korean forces
Why are they helping N. Korea?

12. Results? A cease-fire agreement was signed in July, 1953
More than 2.5 million people were dead
GET THIS:
The border between the two Koreas was still drawn at the 38th Parallel!
38th PARALLEL

13. Today

14. The Vietnam War

15. Background 1900s – France controlled Vietnam
Nationalist Leader Ho Chi Minh asked for communist help
France then fought the combined Nationalist and Communist forces
United States supported France
French surrendered to Ho Chi Minh

16. Division Peace Conference Vietnam was divided at 17th parallel
North – Communism
South – anti-Communist
Sound familiar?
Vietcong – communist guerillas who continued to fight for power in south
Should the U.S. get involved?

17. Division U.S. saw a rising threat to the rest of Asia…
The Domino Theory: Idea that if a nation falls to communism, nearby nations will also fall to communism

18. U.S. Troops Enter Fight
2 US boats were allegedly attacked by North Vietnamese (didn’t happen)
1964: Congress authorized president to send in troops
By 1965, more than 185,000 U.S. soldiers in Vietnam
By 1968 – more than ½ a million!

19. U.S. Troops Enter Fight
US had most advanced military in the world BUT…
Guerrilla war in unfamiliar jungle territory
South Vietnamese gov’t became unpopular
War unpopular in the US

20. Result US troops gradually pulled out 1.5 million Vietnamese dead
Last left in 1973
1.5 million Vietnamese dead
58,000 Americans dead
Saigon capital became:
“Ho Chi Minh City”
Communist today
However, trade is welcomed there