Major Conflicts of the Cold War

China

After 4000 years of rule, the Qing Dynasty was overthrown in 1911

After a period of unrest, China is ruled by Nationalist Leader Chiang Kai-Shek

1927: Civil War breaks out between Nationalists vs. Communists

Nationalists were led by Chiang Kai-Shek
Communists led by Mao Zedong

Communists win, and the Nationalists flee to Taiwan

Divisions between the two countries still exist today.
China Remains Communist; Taiwan remains democratic.

Korea

After WWII, Korea is divided at the 38th parallel
North: Supported by USSR
South: Supported by USA

Domino Theory: If one country falls to Communism, the rest will follow (brings US into conflict).

June 1949: North Korea invades the South. Want to unite country under one communist regime

Gen. Douglas MacArthur leads south Korean and American troops; pushes North Koreans back to boarder of China

Outcomes

• 38th Parallel becomes the Demiliterized zone (DMZ)
• Korea two countries today
• Over 6 million deaths

Berlin Wall

Berlin Wall

• Built to "stop the fascists"
• But really: built to stop all the east Berliners from emigrating/fleeing to West Berlin
• Built overnight by the Communists
• Checkpoint Charley

Cuban Missile Crises

1959: Cuba's government is overthrown by Fidel Castro and M26.

Cuba becomes Communist; immediately receives support of Communist Russia

United States U-2 spy planes discover that cuba is getting nuclear warhead shipments; President JFK warns this in unacceptable

Crises Averted!

• JFK creates a naval blockade around Cuba
• USSR agrees to remove missiles, if JFK removes missiles from Turkey

Vietnam

Vietnam had been a French colony since 1800

Vietnam was conquered by the Japanese during WWII (France also conquered by the Germans)

After WWII, France tries to take back their colony, but Vietnam wants independence (North vs. South)

The Chinese help the N. Vietnamese; negotiate peace treaty at the 17th parallel

Ho Chi Minh leads another revolution to unite Vietnam under one Communist government

Vietnam War

• US shipped attacked during conflict in the Gulf of Tonkin=brings US into the war (in addition to containment) against Ho Chi Minh and the Vietcong
• Very unpopular war in the US
• US Pulls out of war in Communists win=Vietnam united under one communist government
• 60,000 American Deaths; around 2.5 million total deaths