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. Mao Tse-Tung
• The communists and nationalist
struggled for decades for control of
China.
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. A Divided China
• 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 Mainland China
they will one day reunite with became communist
after the Chinese Civil
Taiwan under one communist
War.
government.
.
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 China technically
own businesses. This has created remains under
communist control, but
great economic gains for the its people now enjoy the
country. fruits of a capitalist
• However, the Communist party market economy.
retains political control of the
country and there is no democracy
and individual rights are limited.
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.
S. Korean troops at the DMZ
• The division of Korea (a 2.5 mile border dividing the
continues to this day and country)
tensions are high between
the two countries with the US
continuing to support the
south.
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. Indochina included Laos,
• After WWII, France wanted to Vietnam, and Cambodia
regain control of its colony.
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 Ho Chi Minh was a highly
for his country’s independence. In educated man who led
1954 he had succeeded in Vietnam’s resistance
establishing a communist
government in North Vietnam, while
the south remained capitalist.
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 The government the US
supported was oppressive of a
Cong were trained soldiers number of groups. Here a
from N. Vietnam and they Buddhist monk burns himself
used guerilla attacks alive in protest of the
against the S. Vietnamese government.
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 An American Napalm strike in
equipped army in the world Vietnam. Despite these attacks, the
the US had trouble fighting N. Vietnamese continued to resist.
the Vietnamese and their
guerilla army.
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.
The US had failed in its objective of
stopping communism’s spread.
