Activity 1 - How did interests in Asia collide?

  1. Examine - Explore and make notes from Slides 1-5 of the Lesson Presentation on the historical rivalries between the great powers in Asia. 
  2. Research - Examine the growth of communism in Asia prior to the end of the Second World War in 1945. Rank the following Asian nations according to: a.) the age of their communist parties; b.) the size of their communist parties:
    1. China
    2. Dutch East Indies
    3. Indochina
    4. Japan
    5. Korea
    6. Malaya
    7. Philippines
    8. Thailand
  3. Discuss - To what extent were communist parties in Asia prior to the Second World War directly supported by the USSR?

Activity 2 - What wartime issues emerged?

  1. Examine - Read and make notes from Slides 6-8 of the Lesson Presentation on the issues that caused tensions between the superpowers during WW2 in Asia:
    1. To what extent do you think Truman resented the concessions given to the USSR by Roosevelt?
    2. In what ways were wartime disagreements over Korea and Germany similar?
    3. How did wartime events in China ‘frustrate’ Soviet and US policies?

Activity 3 - How did tensions increase?

  1. Examine - Read and make notes from Slides 9-17 of the Lesson Presentation on how issues in China, Korea, and Japan caused tensions between the superpowers after the war. 
  2. Research - Using your notes from the Lesson Presentation and the suggested further readings below, try to answer the following questions about Cold War tensions in East Asia:
    1. China
      1. How did CPC victory in the Civil War exacerbate US fears of communism?
      2. Why do you think Stalin was so reluctant to support the CPC?
      3. To what extent did the US and USSR influence the Chinese Civil War?
      4. Why were the US and USSR unable to achieve a peaceful settlement in China 1945-46?
    2. Korea
      1. Why were the US and USSR unable to achieve reunification in Korea 1945-46?
      2. What role did UN elections play in dividing Korea and who is to blame for this?
    3. Japan
      1. Why did US occupation policies in Japan change direction after 1947?
      2. How did the US occupation of Japan increase Cold War tensions?
      3. Why was Soviet influence in east Asia limited during the US occupation of Japan?
  3. Analyse - Examine this excerpt from US Secretary of State Dean Acheson from the China White Paper of 1949 then answer the following questions:
    1. Who does Acheson blame for GMD defeat in the Chinese Civil War?
    2. According to Acheson, what support has the US given to the GMD regime?
    3. What reasons does the document give as to why the US did not send more military aid?
    4. To what extent does the document attempt to link the CPC with Soviet Russia?

Activity 4 - Did events in SE Asia play a role?

  1. Analyse - In groups, complete this worksheet by examining Cold War tensions in a South East Asian nation between 1945-1949. For each nation, research evidence of growing communism, evidence of Soviet actions and policies, and evidence of US actions and policies. Choose between:
    1. Dutch East Indies
    2. Indochina
    3. Malaya
    4. Philippines
  2. Examine - Which conflict in SE Asia posed the biggest threat to US interests in the region between 1945-49?
  3. Discuss - To what extent was the growth of communism in SE Asia a result of Soviet intervention or domestic politics?

Further Reading

OBLIGATORY READING
  1. Mamaux, A. (2015). Oxford IBDP Programme - The Cold War, pp. 71-75
RECOMMENDED READING
  1. Rogers, K., & Thomas, J. (2015). Pearson Baccalaureate: History the Cold War, pp. 73-76
SUPPLEMENTAL READING
  1. Williamson, D.G. (2015). Access to History - The Cold War, pp. 96-128
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