Outcomes of Global Conflict

1945-2000

60 million deaths (military & civilian) Millions of refugees

Soviet Union China Eastern Europe Japan (Hiroshima & Nagasaki)

New mentality about civilians as “casualties of war” Shifting of “western” power to the United States and

“eastern” power to the Soviet Union De-colonization of Africa, India & SE Asia A commitment to internationalism

No more isolationism Commitment to the United Nations

Housed in New York City Forum for resolving international disputes Has political rights

Active in creating the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) to prevent world depression and stimulate economic growth globally

After 2 horrendous wars, Europe bounced back as a prosperous region by 1970. Why?

3. An industrial society is a resilient society.4. Nationalism was set aside in favor of international

economic cooperation5. The United States was not touched physically by the

wars, and it was far away from communist countries1. Oh…and the US had…

$12 billion “gift” from the US (the Marshall Plan) Help rebuild war-torn Western Europe Prevent a depression Keep Europeans buying American goods Prevent Europeans from seeing communism as a viable

option Encourage European Economic Cooperation (common

trade policies, reduced tariffs, easier travel) 1957 – the EEC is created (Common Market) 1994 – EEC is renamed “European Union – EU” 2002 – 12 member nations adopt the Euro

Americans wanted Europe to feel protected from another German resurgence and the spreading of communism:

1949 – North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) USA commits to using its nuclear arsenal, if necessary,

to protect members of this alliance Ensures that West Germany is a capitalist ally

1955 – Warsaw Pact allies communist countries with each other

US military occupies Japan from 1945-1952 Unbelievable economic growth (10% per year) $2 billion in American aid US bought materials & supplies from Japan to fight

the Korean War (1950-1953) A democratic constitution is forced on Japan They aren’t allowed to have a self-sufficient military

Therefore they have more $ to invest in production of goods

1921-1991

1970s – 1/3 of the world’s population lived in a communist-run country

Soviet Union China North Korea Vietnam Laos & Cambodia Cuba Afghanistan But…it was supposed to be a global revolution!

Karl Marx = Father of Communism 1848 – “The Communist Manifesto” A response to industrial wealth & exploitation of workers Calls for violent overthrow of existing society Workers overtake factories & government All wealth & power is distributed equally within society No private ownership of land, goods, etc “Classless Society” will emerge This revolution has no nation…it spreads worldwide.

Serfdom ends in 1861 Free peasantry is a miserable life

Tsars fear industrialization Nicholas II begins industrializing in 1890s Loses war to Japan in 1905 People are ignored; Nicholas does what he wants Makes alliance with Britain & France Fights WWI – more losses than anyone Workers and soldiers abandon the tsar Communists gain support (Bolsheviks)

Vladimir Lenin admires Marxist socialism (communism)

Supports “soviets” of workers to resist the tsar and then the provisional government

Bolsheviks claim power in 1917 Lenin signs Treaty of Brest-Litovsk with Germany to

get Russia out of WWI Bolshevik Red Army fights a civil war against non-

communists until 1921 Support comes from workers and farmers

Lenin is victorious – renames Russia (Soviet Union or USSR)

Qing Dynasty fell in 1911 New Republic was elite and urban while the

population was mostly rural poor 1921 – very small Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is

founded to help the small working class By 1927, Mao Zedong became the leader of the CCP

Very charismatic & a natural leader Began seeking support of the rural peasants

Promises to redistribute land, lower taxes & educate Civil War erupts between Nationalists & Communists

Aggressively fights against Japanese imperialism Fights against the Japanese in WWII Nationalists were more concerned with defeating the

communists than defeating the Japanese! 1949 – Communists claim full victory Nationalist government flees to Taiwan US will only recognize the Taiwanese group as the

legitimate government!

Modernization and industrialization Rejection and hatred of capitalism Class and gender equality! Collectivization of agriculture & industry Cultural values of selflessness Creating a single-party system Total control over every aspect of citizens’ lives

“Totalitarianism” Lots of propaganda Secret police Outlawing of religion!

Political equality Abortions legal Divorce legal Women in factories Maternity leave Men hated this! Stalin repeals most of it

Freedom of marriage Easy divorce Attack on Confucian

principles of marriage End of child marriage Property rights Women in factories Men hated this!

China

Communism started in the cities

Redistributed land Russian peasants did this

automatically Many landlords killed Violent collectivization

of agriculture

Communism started in the fields

Redistributed land Confucian peasants had

to be convinced to attack social superiors

Many landlords killed Peaceful collectivization

of agriculture

China

Unprecedented economic growth 1930s Stalin’s 5 Year Plans

Massive, forced labor in factories

Technology improved Rural areas exploited Corruption and elitism

continues throughout the time of the USSR

China Unprecedented economic

growth 1950s Massive forced labor in

factories Technology improved Rural areas exploited Urban elites emerge Mao tries a backlash

against elitism (Great Leap Forward)