2. Japan’s aggression in Asia
• In the years prior to WWII, Japan had been
aggressively expanding its influence by taking
colonial possessions in China, Korea, and
other parts of Asia.
• Ultimately this expansion got them involved in
WWII
• However, Japan’s defeat in WWII left these
areas seeking independence and self rule.
3. The Policy of containment
• The Cold War conflict between
the US and USSR became evident
quickly after WWII.
• Under the Truman Doctrine, the
US had adopted the policy of
containment vowing to stop the
expansion of communism. They
believed if they allowed
communist revolutions to
succeed, the USSR’s influence
would spread around the world.
• Japan’s defeat in WWII meant
that new governments would be
formed in Asia, and the US policy
of containment might be put to
the test.
4. Conflict in China
• Early in the 20th century, China had
rejected its Imperial rule and ended
monarchy.
• Two new groups emerged in China:
The Nationalists and the
Communists, both initially worked as
allies to improve China, but later
became enemies.
• The Nationalists advocated a
western style democracy and drew a
lot of support from urban areas in
China. They established a
government known as the Republic
of China.
• The Nationalists were led by a
general named Chiang Kai-Shek, and
would be supported by Britain and
the United States.
Chiang Kai-shek
5. Communists in China
• The USSR had tried to support
communism in China since 1920.
• In 1921,A Chinese communist party
would develop under a man named
Mao Tse-Tung (Mao Zedong).
• Mao’s communists drew their
support mainly from rural peasants,
and became rivals with the
Nationalists in China.
• Under Mao, the communist
advocated a new revolution that
would place China under communist
control.
• The communists and nationalists
struggled for decades for control of
China.
Mao Tse-Tung
6. After WWII: Chinese Civil War
• After WWII and the defeat of
Japan, a civil war erupted in
China between Chiang’s forces
and Mao’s Red Army.
• The US provided $2 Billion of aid
to the Nationalists giving them a
huge advantage in an attempt to
stop the spread of Communism.
• However, Mao’s army received
aid from the USSR and was more
popular with the people. It was
able to defeat the Nationalist
forces and force their retreat to
the island of Taiwan.
7. • The Nationalists under Chiang
Kai-Shek established a new
government on the Island of
Taiwan.
• Mao’s communists now
controlled the mainland and
established a new Communist
government known as the
People’s Republic of China.
• China remains divided along
these lines today, and presents
a conflict as with mainland
communist China insisting that
they will one day reunite with
Taiwan under one communist
government.
.
A Divided China
Mainland China became
communist after the
Chinese Civil War.
8.
9. China Reforms
• The USSR gave support to China’s
mainland communist government,
however China would not allow itself
to be a “puppet” of the USSR.
• After the death of Mao, a new leader
Deng Xiaoping took control of China.
Deng reformed China’s economy to
be a market economy where
individuals could own their own
businesses. This has created great
economic gains for the country.
• However, the Communist party
retains political control of the country
and there is no democracy and
individual rights are limited.
China technically remains
under communist control,
but its people now enjoy
the fruits of a capitalist
market economy.
10. Post War Korea
• Korea had been ruled by Japan
before WWII and sought a new
government after Japan’s defeat in
WWII.
• The Korean peninsula was split
into a communist northern half
(supported by the USSR) and a
capitalist southern half (supported
by the US).
• The two sides fought an armed
conflict for control of the
peninsula.
11. The Korean War
• US forces had almost retaken
the peninsula when Communist
China intervened to help the
North. They helped push the US
back to the 38th parallel. A
stalemate developed where
Korea was divided into 2
separate countries.
• The division of Korea continues
to this day and tensions are high
between the two countries with
the US continuing to support
the south.
S. Korean troops at the DMZ (a
2.5 mile border dividing the
country)
12.
13. French Indochina
• During the years of imperialism,
France had gained control of an
area known as Indochina in SE
Asia. Indochina provided raw
materials such as iron and
rubber.
• However, during WWII Japan had
expanded into the area and taken
control of French Indochina.
• After WWII, France wanted to
regain control of its colony. Indochina included Laos,
Vietnam, and Cambodia
14. Resistance in Vietnam
• Vietnam was the most valuable part of
Indochina and France was determined
to keep it.
• However, an independence movement
had begun in Vietnam under a man
named Ho Chi Minh.
• Ho Chi Minh was a communist but had
fought hard to help drive the Japanese
out of the country, now he faced the
task of fighting the French for his
country’s independence. In 1954 he
had succeeded in establishing a
communist government in North
Vietnam, while the south remained
capitalist.
Ho Chi Minh was a highly
educated man who led
Vietnam’s resistance
15. Trouble in S. Vietnam
• Unfortunately for the US, the
government in S. Vietnam
lacked popular support, as
the ruler in place acted as a
dictator.
• Meanwhile a group of
communists in S. Vietnam
known as the Viet
Cong, started to gain support
among the peasants.
• Many members of the Viet
Cong were trained soldiers
from N. Vietnam and they
used guerilla attacks against
the S. Vietnamese
government.
The government the US supported
was oppressive of a number of
groups. Here a Buddhist monk
burns himself alive in protest of the
government.
16. America enters Vietnam
• The US could not stand idly
and allow S. Vietnam to
become communist as well.
• In keeping with the theory of
containment, the US began
committing troops to S.
Vietnam, and began bombing
runs against N. Vietnam. This
did nothing to help the
popularity of S. Vietnam’s
government.
• Despite being the best
equipped army in the world
the US had trouble fighting the
Vietnamese and their guerilla
army.
An American Napalm strike in
Vietnam. Despite these attacks, the N.
Vietnamese continued to resist.
17. The Vietnam War
• With a difficult enemy to engage,
and a lack of support amongst
both the Vietnamese and
American people the US
eventually decided to withdraw
its troops from the country.
• The US continued to supply S.
Vietnam’s government.
However, in 1975 the N.
Vietnamese overran the South’s
defenses and took control of the
country.
• Vietnam was now united again
and under a communist
government, which it still is
today. The US had failed in its
objective of stopping
communism’s spread.