COMMUNIST THREAT & DOMINO THEORY

COMMUNISM IN ASIA
China communist.

Years of civil unrest between the Guomindang (capitalist) and the Chinese Communist
Party (CCP).

CCP represented more than 90% of the Chinese population: industrial working class
and peasant farmers.

From the 1920s to the late 1940s these two group fought each other.

Mao Zedong.

Leader of the Peoples Republic of China (PRC).

Proclaimed victory and the birth of the PRC in October 1949.

USA and other Western governments refused to acknowledge the PRC as the

legitimate government of China and worked instead with the remaining members
of the Guomindang who had fled to Taiwan.

COMMUNISM IN ASIA
After PRC took control of Chinese government, Korea erupted into

war.
North (communists) fighting South (capitalists).
USSR and PRC had put government into place in North Korea with Kim Il-

Sung as ruler.
Introduced land reforms but was prone to purges to eliminate opposition.

USA put government in place in South Korea with Syngman Rhee (very anti-

communist).
Rhee massacred over 50000 people in an attempt to rid South Korea of

communist threats.

Korean War (June 25 1950 July 27 1953).

Australian forces fought alongside America in support of South Korea.

DOMINO THEORY

With the fall of China and North Korea to communism,

many believed that other countries in Asia would follow.

PRC and USSR supporting communist parties in many

countries.

Independence movements in Asian countries from their

empire(s) left countries with open governments and
elections.

Threat of a communist government was very real here.

Communism

Capitalism

WHY WAS THIS SO SCARY TO AMERICA???