China Becomes a Communist Country

Part 11

Opposing Forces

During the 1930s and 1940s, a communist army led by Mao Zedong fought against China’s government army led by Chiang Kai-shek, head of the Nationalist party.

Mao Zedong

Chiang Kai-shek

The United States supported Chiang and sent him aid because he opposed communism.

The fighting ceased when Japan attacked China during World War II but continued after the war ended.

Mao Zedong and Chiang Kai-shek toast the Japanese surrender

U.S. Aid to China

The United States again gave economic and military aid to the Nationalists, and the Soviet Union did likewise for Mao’s Communist forces.

But U.S. officials knew that Chiang’s government was inefficient and corrupt. He overtaxed the Chinese people even during times of famine.

He did not have the support of the people.

Mao, on the other hand, attracted peasant recruits by the millions.

Mao distributed land to them and reduced rents.

Mao also had an experience army with high morale.

President Truman refused to send American troops to help the Nationalists fight communism.

Chinese mechanics reassemble a lend-lease jeep under the direction of an American liaison soldier. (U.S. Army Military History Institute)

But he did send aid.

As a result of these factors, Chiang Kai-shek and his nationalists were defeated in 1949. Chiang and his forces had to flee to Taiwan, an island off the coast of China. China’s mainland was now Communist.

American conservatives said that the United States had “lost” China because not enough had been done to help the Nationalists. Truman’s followers said that the Communist success was because Chiang could not win the support of the Chinese people.

Through the 1960s the United States recognized only Chiang Kai-shek's Nationalist government. In the same period, the Nationalists continued to represent China in the United Nations, despite attempts by the Soviet Union to unseat them in favor of Mao’s Communists.

11. How did Communists gain control of China?

The Korean War

Part 12

Japan had ruled Korea since 1910. At the end of World War II, the Japanese fled from Korea as Soviet armies arrived from the north and American armies from the south. The two forces agreed on the 38th parallel of latitude as a temporary dividing line between their zones of occupation.

After the cold war began, the 38th parallel became a permanent border between North Korea with its Soviet backed Communist government and South Korea with its U.S. supported government.

In September of 1948, the Soviet Union declared the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to be the legitimate government of all of Korea, with Kim Il-sung as Prime Minister.

In June 1950, North Korea started the Korean War by invading South Korea.

Truman was afraid another nation was about to fall to communism.Exhausted South Korean infantry stretch during a lull in the fighting, July 7, 1950. Photo: U.S. Army.Source: D.M. Giangreco, War in Korea: 1950-1953 (Presidio Press).

Truman’s objective in Korea was not to defeat North Korea and take over its territory. Nor did he want to face the Soviet Union and China in an Asian war. Truman’s goal was containment - to save South Korea from Communist control. He called on the UN to defend its government.

Many nations participated in the UN defense of South Korea, but the largest number came from the United States and South Korea. (The Soviet Union had temporarily withdrawn its representatives from the UN and thus lost its veto power in the Security Council.)

In addition to troops, Truman ordered air and naval support for South Korea. The United Nations also agreed to help South Korea.

• Truman used his power as commander and chief to conduct an undeclared war in Korea; he called it a “police action.”

Troops from 16 nations- most of them American - were sent to South Korea. They were led by General Douglas MacArthur.

North Korean troops moved steadily South. They conquered the South Korean capital of Seoul.

Then MacArthur launched a counter attack. His forces trapped about half the North Korean Army, which surrendered. MacArthur's success in North Korea made him a national hero.

UN and South Korean forces advanced toward the 38th Parallel. If they crossed it, the war would become an offensive rather than a defensive one. In October 1950, the UN told MacArthur to cross the 38th parallel and reunite Korea.

The Chinese opposed UN forces moving into North Korea. China said it would not let Americans near its border. The UN ignored the threat and advanced across the 38th Parallel. Then Chinese troops entered North Korea.

They drove UN forces back. In January 1951, the Communists recaptured Soul

For two years, fighting continued. But neither side advanced. MacArthur wanted to extend the war into China. He even suggested dropping atomic bombs on China. Truman was against this strategy. The Soviets were allies of the Chinese. Truman felt bombing China would start World War III.

MacArthur continued to argue for his plan. He spoke to the press and to Republican leaders.

Truman felt that he could no longer allow MacArthur’s insubordination.

Truman was quoted calling MacArthur “Mr. Prima Donna, Brass Hat, Five Star MacArthur”. He fired MacArthur as commander.

At first, the American public sided with MacArthur. Later, they came to agree with Truman’s idea of a limited war.

Meanwhile, A ceasefire went into effect in June 1951. Both sides agreed on a demilitarized zone at the 38th parallel.

Stalemate and Truce

The war dragged on through 1952 with high casualties and no decisive victories. There was a stalemate near the 38th parallel.

The Republican candidate for president - former general Dwight Eisenhower promised to “go to Korea,” if elected, to end the fighting.

• Many people felt that American lives had been lost for little gain. As a result, the American people rejected the party in power, the Democrats, in the 1952 election. Republican Dwight D. Eisenhower was elected to be the 34th president.

Eisenhower went to Korea in 1953, and soon afterward an armistice was signed. It established the 38th parallel as the line between North and South Korea.

Korea was divided between Communist North Korea and non-Communist South Korea.

Assessing the Korean

Conflict

The Korean War cost 54,000 American lives.

The Korean War served to contain Soviet and Chinese power. Later presidents would follow Truman’s example in responding to other international conflicts.

Americans also became even more worried about communist expansion abroad and Communist spies and sympathizers within the United States.

12. What was gained by the Korean War?

1945 Civil War in China

The Middle East

An incident not having to do with the Korean war but Nevertheless had major ramifications that still impacts us Today took place in Iran. Their government took over theOil industries from foreign private companies.