Cold War in Asia.

What is a Cold War?

Not actually fighting, just tension, between 2 countries (U.S.A and USSR).

What countries are in South East Asia?

Japan, China, Philippines, Korea, Vietnam, Cambodia, Lao.

What is Indochina?

The French colony in Southeast Asia that today includes the countries known as Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia.

Who were the Big 3 during WW2?

Churchill - UK
Roosevelt - USA
Stalin - USSR.

Who was the Big 3 convinced about beating, and less convinced about beating?

More convinced - Hitler (Germany).
Less convinced =Emperor Hirohito (Japan).

What were the conferences held right at then end of WW2 called?

Yalta and Potsdam conference.

What was the Yalta conference about?

The three leading countries, the UK, US, and Russia, discussed about post-war Germany. Soviet promised possession of southern sakhalin (resource rich) and the Kuril Islands, and the soviet lease of Port Arthur would be restored.
Korea would also be liberated from Japan and places under a 4 power trusteeship of Great Britain, USA, USSR and China.

What was the Potsdam conference about?

To decide how to administer the defeated Nazi Germany, which had agreed to unconditional surrender nine weeks earlier, on 8 May.
Three leading countries attended, except from for USA, Roosevelt had already died, so vice president turned president, Truman, attended it.
Stalin reaffirmed his intention to enter the war against Japan in South East Asia.
Truman rejected proposal from Stalin that the 4 power trusteeship of Korea agreement be finalised.

What were the Kamikazes?

Japanese aircrafts carrying explosives meant for suicide bombing.
Japanese soldiers were meant to die in war, if they came home alive they would be ashamed on by the society.

On what dates did America use atomic bombs In Japan?

6th August 1945 - "Little Boy" dropped in Hiroshima.
9th August - "Fat Man" dropped in Nagasaki.

Why is a debatable reason that Truman could've decided to drop atomic bombs on Japan?

Revenge - Pearl Harbour and Japanese war camps.
Stopping the war from longing out - Japan surrendered right after the atomic bomb attack, and the war stopped which prevented even more innocent people dying in the war.
To show power - a show to people, he dropped a nuclear bomb on Japan, to show that he is a very powerful president.

What are mushroom clouds?

Formed when atomic bomb dropped, spread all the radiation even further than dropped.

What was Trumans motive?

To show his power in dropping it.

Why did the US fear that communism would spread throughout Asia at the end of WW2?

Reason 1- the removal of Japan as an imperialist power in Asia led to a power vacuum in South East Asia, which USSR could quickly go to and fill in with communism.
Reason 2 - the removal of Japan as an imperialist power in Asia led to a lot of poverty and devastation in Asian countries, the USSR promised land to all working class people, and 80% of people in those countries were WC, so communism appealed to them.
Reason 3 - communism had spread throughout most of East Europe (Albania, East Germany and Romania), which expanded the sphere influence of the USSR, allowing it to spread across the world soon, and spreading communism, which the US feared a lot.
Reason 4 - They wanted to maintain and expand the USA's geopolitical sphere and international influence to become a world super power, but if communism took over, that wouldn't happen.

What successive polices did the USA follow in Asia in order to limit the spread of communism?

Policy 1 - the use of the atomic bomb to defeat Japan August 1945, this gave the USA total control of what was to happen in Japan next and limited the USSR's ability to spread Communism into Japan.
Policy 2 - Kennans very long telegram Feb 1946, and the Policy of Containment. Kennans telegram said that the USSR would spread communism, the USSR would not resist force to stop the spread of communism, and the USSR had an inability to co-exist with the west. President Truman committed the USA to the Policy of Containment, in his words the, "Truman Doctrine" speech in 1947 (12th March). He talked about the Truman Doctrine in the speech.

What was the Domino Theory?

That if one nation fell to communism then all the others would fall like dominos.

What happened on 1st October 1949?

Chinese communist leader Mao Zedong declared the creation of the Peoples Republic of China, and the nationalists Feld to the island province of Taiwan.

Which country did the US see as the USSRs most dangerous ally and why?

China, they were the biggest country in Asia, and they also turned communist. As they believed in the Domino Theory, they thought now every country in Asia would turn communist, soon reaching the US, and the USSR becoming a world super power.

What was the USAs Model States Policy?

Model States were a part of the USAs policy of containment to promote a Capitalist Democratic country, so that other countries can literally look up to that state as a model, and then want to be a Capitalist Democratic country as well, which will prevent them from turning communist (Policy of Containment).

What were the USAs Model States, and why were they picked?

Japan and Philippines.

They were picked as the had a democratic government based on a constitution (rules by which a country is governed). They had a capitalist economy, where there is a free trade/competition. They were peaceful, pro-west, anti-communist, which made them strong allies for the USA against communism in South East Asia.

What did George Kennan advise in relation to containment in Asia in 1947?

The USA needed to keep Japan out of Soviet hands, as Japan was one of five centres of power in the world (others being USA, the USSR, Britain, Germany, and Central Europe).
He also identified the importance the USA maintain island bases in the Pacific (Japan and the Philippines), which becomes the Model states policy.

Who reconstructed Japan after WW2?

General MacArthur and SCAP.
The USA had a free hand and were able to introduce liberal reforms and real democracy in Japan to ensure the defeated enemy would be transformed as never a threat again.

What successes established a capitalist economy in Japan?

Competition based economy.
Land reform.
Booming economy.

What was the limitation of establishing a capitalist economy in Japan?

The impact of Japan as a model capitalist state.

What successes established Japan as a peaceful, pro west and anti communist nation which would support the USA in its policy of containment in South East Asia?

War crime trial.
US military bases established in Japan.
Disarmament and rearmament of Japan.

How did war crime trials lead to Japan being the perfect ally for the USA for the policy of containment in S.E.A.?

28, high ranking Japanese political and military leaders were trialed by America. The policy of punishment was balanced, they didn't want to fully put off the Japanese people with America by punishing too harsh, but they also dint want to show them that they didn't have power by not punishing hard enough. As of this Emperor Hirohito was no punished as he was too big of a figurehead for the Japanese, and General Tojo and six others were hung but this wasn't photographed as MacArthur didn't wasn't to embarrass the Japanese as he still wanted their support.

How did war US military bases being established in Japan lead to Japan being the perfect ally for the USA for the policy of containment in S.E.A?

After US occupation troops withdrew from Japan in 1951, US land, air and sea forces were allowed to be stationed in and about Japan such as the island of Okinawa. This allowed military presence in the S.E.A which supported the policy of containment.
Military presence in S.E.A is to show the USSR that they are there to stop communism.

How did war disbarment and rearmament of Japan lead to Japan being the perfect ally for the USA for the policy of containment in S.E.A?

In 1946, as a part of keeping peace with Japan, US used a successful policy of disarming Japan, however when the Korean War broke out, America rearmed Japan and began to follow a "reverse course" policy.
They disarmed them to show their power, status and to gain respect, and then the rearming was done to show that they could control Japan. This was to show that they were a respectful ally to Japan.

What limitations were established in Japan as a peaceful, pro west and anti communist nation which would support the USA in its policy of containment in South East Asia?

The reconstruction of Japan lead to an increase in Cold War tension in Asia.

How did the reconstruction of Japan lead to limiting Japan being the perfect ally for the USA for the policy of containment in S.E.A?

Many countries that had suffered under Japans imperialist rule (China, Vietnam, Fresh Indochina and Korea) feared that the US was building up Japan in order to impose a new US-backed Japanese imperialism on them. This could've caused Korea and Vietnam to adopt nationalist policies against the USA, including the adoption of communism.

What success led to the establishment of the Philippines democracy?

The constitution.

How did the constitution lead to the establishment of the Philippines as a democracy?

Constitution was originally written in 1935, and amended in 1940.
The amended 1940 constitute included:
congress
senate
house of representatives
President elected for a 4 year terms who couldn't have more than 2 consecutive terms in office.

Men and women over the age of 21 could vote. Constitution included Bill of Rights which protected freedom of:
speech
expression
press
religion
assembly
petition the gov for redress of grievances
worker to form a union.

What were the limitations in establishing the Philippines as a democracy?

The election of Roxas as President of the Philippines. MacArthur endured Manuel Roxas was elected. But there were issues with Roxas:
Collaborated with the Japanese from 1942 when Japanese took over Philippines in WW2, but MacArthur defended Roxas in post war trials. Roxas was part of pre war oligarchy in the Philippines.
Roxas' gov was spoilt by the corruption and police brutality eg R5oxas established a Military Police under the US. It was full of opponents of the Huks.
The voting was dominated by the literate upper classes of Filipino society (20% elite). This led to corruption within the system. This led to corruption within the system eg:
Some huks are elected but elites do not allow them to take the seats as corruption
Laurel of the Nacionalista Party. Although historians in general accept that Laurel was elected, the democratic process was ignored and Quirino was declared the winner and took office. The election has been described as corrupt and venal.

What happened in 1899 in the Philippines?

Philippines became a colony (invaded and took control, part of another countries empire) of the USA.

What happened in 1935 Philippines?

The Philippines became semi-independent (haven't actually gotten their independence yet) after nearly 40 years of US colonial rule. General Douglas MacArthur set up a Philippines army with MacArthur as Field Marshall.

What happened on the 20th Oct 1944?

The US started an assault to liberate the Philippines, led by MacArthur.

What is the Defensive Perimeter Strategy?

A line running through Japan, the Ryukyus, and the Philippines, which would act as border that would stop communism.

What was NSC-68?

The U.S. defense policy aimed at stopping Soviet expansion and Communism, initially formed in March 1949.

Which policy was more successful, the NSC 68 or DPS and why?

NCS 68 as it lasted for a longer time (longevity) and had more impact rather than the DPS which barley lasted year and was only troops aligned by the South East Asian islands to prevent the spread of communism.

What was the CCP.

Chinese communist part, Mao.

What was the GMD

Chinese nationalist part (Jiang), leading china in 1930s.

Way are the 2 factors to China falling to communism in October 1949?

Factor 1 - the USA did not offer enough support to Jiang - i) reasons this might be correct. ii) reasons this is not correct. iii) You can also look at the other traditional argument that China became communist because the USSR offered support to Mao. a) this might be correct. b) this might not be correct. Not supported by evidence.

Factor 2 - Jiangs leadership was weak. a) not seen as communist nationalist in China. b) lost support. c) military policy was ineffective. Contributed to China becoming communist.

Factor 3 - Maos leadership was striong. a) seen as the nationalist leader in China. b) actively won support. c) military policy was effective. The most important reason China became communist.

How did Mao win over the Chinese people and not Jiang.

He was a good nationalist leader unlike Jiang (held back 500,000 of his best troops to fight Moa and not Japan) as he had good geurilla warfare.
Done land reforms unlike under Jiang when the 10% rich owned 70% of Chinas land.

What is the MCP?

Malay communist party.

What was the race division on Malay?

· Malays: constituted 43.5% of the population. They were Muslim. They generally accepted British rule, but their loyalty was firstly to their Sultans. The Sultans were the traditional rulers of the Malayan states. In reality they now had limited power, but retained the trappings of power and wealth

Chinese: constituted 44.7% of the population. Many came to Malaya originally as workers. By 1948 approximately 2 million Chinese lived in Malaya. Many of these were second generation Chinese who had been born in Malaya. But their loyalty was generally to China with whom they identified culturally. The population of Chinese increased dramatically with the Japanese occupation of China during the Second World War. Although many Chinese generated income for Malaya through their work, there were also approximately 500 000 Chinese squatters (illegal economic migrants/refugees) in Malaya by 1948.

Indians: constituted 10.3% of the population. They were predominantly mobile labour for the rubber plantation as the wages were much higher than in India.