1. Communist China

2. Background
Before WWII, China was in a civil war between Nationalists and Communists
China fought with the Allied powers during WWII
Japanese soldiers occupied and destroyed most of China’s cities, leaving it in ruins.
China had the second highest death toll -10 to 22 million people
Problems in China lead to a civil war after WWII

3. Communists vs. Nationalists
The leader of the Communists, Mao Zedong, won peasants’ loyalty in Northern China by promoting literacy and improving food production
Mao Zedong and the Communists controlled most of Northern China by 1945

4. Communists vs. Nationalists
In the Southern part of China, Jiang Jieshi and Nationalists had control
Nationalists received $1.5 billion in aid from the United States
Most of this aid is not used in fighting Japanese because of corruption
After WWII, United States still backed the Nationalists in the civil war against the Communists

5. Civil War Divides China
As the economy worsened, many Nationalist soldiers deserted to the Communists
By spring 1949, China’s major cities fell to Red (Communist) forces
October 1949 – Mao Zedong gained control of the country and proclaimed it the People’s Republic of China
Jiang Jieshi and other Nationalists leaders fled to an island called Taiwan.

6. Immediate Impacts Fueled United States’ anti-Communist feelings
Only worsened when Chinese and Soviets signed a treaty of friendship
Many in U.S. viewed the takeover of China as another step in a Communist campaign to take over the world

7. Two Chinas Increase Tensions
After Jiang Jieshi flees to Taiwan, U.S. helped him set up a Nationalist government on the island - The Republic of China
Soviets back the Communists (The People’s Republic of China)
This led to more tension between the U.S. and the USSR
WHY?