the cold war heats up: asia what causes the cold war to heat up in asia?
TRANSCRIPT
The Cold War Heats Up: AsiaThe Cold War Heats Up: Asia
What causes the cold war to heat up in Asia?
Chinese Civil War• Started in 1930s, temporarily halted during WW II
• 1945: Civil war restarts
• Nationalists (led by Chiang Kai-Shek) v. Communists (led by Mao-Zedong)
• US must “contain” Communism, will aid Chiang during Civil War
VS
Mao’s Red Army (CCP) vs. Chiang’s Nationalist Army (KMT)Mao’s Red Army (CCP) vs. Chiang’s Nationalist Army (KMT)
• 1945: US gives $2 billion to help Nationalists beat Communists– Nationalists winning at first but China’s economy worsens
• US money is poorly spent & people are upset with Nationalists– Nationalists troops begin defecting to Red Army
• 1949: Mao controls most of China, creates “People’s Rep. Of China”
• Chiang & his army flee to island Taiwan, set up “Republic of China”
* “Loss of China” = containment policy fails• Stalin & Mao request UN seat be given to PRC, US vetoes
Battle for Korea
[1950-1953]Democratic
People’s Republic of
Koreavs.
Republic of Korea
A Country Divided• Arguments over future of Korea
• UN decides to split country at 38th Parallel– Two countries form, N. Korea & S. Korea
• US sends money to S. Korea
• Soviets send weapons to N. Korea’s leader Kim Il-Sung
Stalin encourages Kim to invade S. Korea, says Truman won’t risk war
After NK crosses 38th Parallel, Truman urges UN to take action!
On a day when Soviets are boycotting UN, Sec. Council votes to use troops in Korea
The Korean War [1950-1953]
1. North Korea crosses 38th Parallel on June 25th
2. North Korea takes over almost entire peninsula
3. MacArthur arrives with UN army – push NK to China
4. Mao’s Chinese army enters War – pushes UN back into South Korea
1 432
MacArthur’s SolutionMacArthur’s Solution
• Urges Truman to drop an a-bomb on China
• Truman says goal is to get NK out of SK, can’t expand the war
• MacArthur publicly criticizes Truman to Press & Congress
• Truman fires MacArthur – costs Truman support
Korean War StalemateKorean War Stalemate
• War is going back and forth, Truman popularity at 25% in 1952• 1952: Truman doesn’t run for re-election – Dwight Eisenhower
wins presidency• July 1953: an armistice is signed, ending war• Communism contained in South Korea