Cold War Heating Up The Cold War China

Cold War – Heating Up

The Cold War & China • At the end of WWII, the Chinese Civil War started anew • Jiang Jieshi’s(Chiang Kaishek) and his Nationalists forced off mainland & onto island of Taiwan in 1949 • US had spent millions on Jiang with nothing to show for it • The communists had won the Civil War

The Cold War & China • Once Mao & the communists had won, the Soviets offered their support – The Soviets wanted to lead the international communist movement • In 1950, the People’s Republic of China & the USSR signed a friendship agreement

Mao & The Cold War • Mao began a land redistribution program in the 1950 s • Those who resisted were dealt with • About 1 million were “dealt with” • Created small collective farms to increase agricultural productivity

Mao & The Cold War • Mao created new program to advance China many years in a short time • Program called Great Leap Forward

Mao & The Cold War • Crop failures and the failures of the Great Leap Forward resulted in the deaths of more than 20 million • Tension grew between the USSR & the PRC in the 1950 s & 1960 s • As a result of all of this, Mao reduced his role in government

Mao & The Cold War • With Mao on the outside, changes were made in China • Communes were abolished • Some private property could be owned • Some competition was allowed • Some profit could be kept by farmers

Mao & The Cold War • Mao was a strict communist & hated the changes • In the mid 1960 s Mao called for a new revolution • Wanted the youth to lead the revolution • Students formed military units called the Red Guards

China & The Cold War • The Red Guards led the Cultural Revolution (1966 -76) – Goal was to create perfect socialist state • No one was safe; millions were arrested, tortured and/or killed • Civil War was a real possibility

The Cold War Turns Hot • Japan had annexed Korea in 1910 & held it until 1945 • Because of Potsdam, Soviets entered the war in August 1945 • USSR had attacked Japan from the north • Soviets occupied N. Korea until 1949

The Cold War Turns Hot • The US had occupied S. Korea & influenced the government there • Korea was effectively split between the two superpowers • In January 1950, the US made it clear that the Korean peninsula would be outside the range of its protection • This is the first of many proxy wars between US and USSR

The Cold War & Korea • The USSR encouraged the N. Koreans to attack the south – 25 June 1950: N. Korea attacked south across the 38 th Parallel • N. Korean attack tested US policy of containment

The Cold War & Korea • S. Korea asked the UN for help • Security Council voted to help • Soviets did not vote b/c they wanted to test the Security Council • Multi-national force sent to Korea in August 1950 – US forces took heavy losses at first

The Cold War & Korea • UN forces pushed to Pusan Perimeter in SE Korea • September 1950: daring landing made at Inchon behind enemy lines • Communists driven back • UN/US forces on Chinese border by October 1950

The Cold War & Vietnam • General Mac. Arthur made threats about bombing China • China invaded Korea in October 1950 • Chinese forces drove UN/US forces back across the 38 th parallel – War stalemates for next 2 years – War ends in June 1953

The Cold War & Vietnam • A state of war still technically exists between N & S Korea • Border is still the 38 th parallel • North Korea is still a communist nation

The Cold War & Vietnam • Indochina was a French colony since the mid-19 th century • Indochina had been taken by the Japanese in 1940 • In 1945, France wanted its colony back – September 1945: Ho Chi Minh asked the US for help against the French

The Cold War & Vietnam • President Truman was unwilling to help the communist Ho Chi Minh • Ho Chi Minh was just like the communists in Yugoslavia who the US were to help in 1947 • Assisting Yugoslavia would not hurt France

The Cold War & Vietnam • The US decided to support France and sent money and surplus equipment to the French • The Indochina War began in 1945 • By 1954, the French had moved into northern Vietnam (Indochina) near a place called Dien Bien Phu

The Cold War & Vietnam • Battle of Dien Bien Phu (May 1954) • French took the low ground in a valley • Viet Minh put artillery on the high ground • French defenses decimated

The Cold War & Vietnam • French forced to abandon Vietnam in 1954 • Geneva Accords determined Vietnam to be divided at 17 th parallel • Elections to be held in late 1954 were cancelled by the South • US supported decision to cancel elections

The Cold War & Vietnam • The US feared the “loss” of another Asian nation to the communists • US supported Ngo Dihn Diem as leader of S. Vietnam • Diem was corrupt and more French than Vietnamese in perspective • US knew Diem’s weaknesses, but needed him

The Cold War & Vietnam • The North sent guerrillas south to de -stabilize the gov’t in the South – Guerrillas were known as Viet Cong • US sent advisors to Vietnam in 1956 and by 1963 were engaged in fighting the VC • By 1965 the US was engaged in a war with the NVA

The Cold War & Vietnam • By 1968, the US had more than 500, 000 troops in Vietnam • By 1973, US had pulled out its ground troops & in April 1975, the capital of the South, Saigon, had fallen to the communists – The US had lost more than 60, 000 men in Vietnam

The Cold War & Vietnam • Why did the US get involved in Korea & in Vietnam? • The Domino Theory • The belief that nations are like dominoes • If one nation or domino falls, the next, & the next & so on….

The Cold War Turns Hot • The whole point of the strategy of containment was to resist communist advances at every step • Korea & Vietnam are two extreme examples of this principle