Main Idea: After World War II. Chinese Communists defeated
Nationalist forces and two separate Chinas emerged.
I.
Communists Triumph in China
A.
Civil War: Nationalists vs. Communists
1.
Jiang Jieshi’s Nationalists vs. Mao’s Communist guerillas
after WWII
2.
Nationalists receive US support
3.
Communists defeat unpopular Nationalists
B.
Two Chinas
1.
Soviets & US gave military, financial, technical
support
2.
Nationalists move to Taiwan
a.
US expands sphere of influence in Asia
3.
Mainland China: Communist; expands into Mongolia and Tibet
a.
1950—Dalai Lama flees to India
C.
Transformation & Revolution
1.
Mao Zedong leads party & government
2.
Redistributes land to peasant collectives and nationalizes
China’s industries
3.
Creates huge agricultural communes
4.
China splits with Soviet Union and retreats from Mao’s
extreme policies; Mao’s Red Guards
5.
In retaliation—Mao launches Cultural Revolution; leads to
widespread chaos.