Communism Spreads (Part 1 - 1950s)

History Notes – 13-2

Communism Spreads

• Mutual Assured Destruction (MAD):

– (1949) Soviet Union makes nuclear bomb

–Neither side uses nukes, scared of retaliation

Communism Spreads

• (1949) Communist leader Mao Zedong takes China

Communism Spreads

• (1949) Communist leader Kim Il-Sung takes over North Korea

Communism Spreads

• Domino Effect:

– If one country falls to communism…

…neighboring countries will fall to communism too

Domino Effect

Korean War

• Korean War (1950-1953)

–China supports North Korea (communist)

–U.S. supports South Korea (democratic)

–War ends in a draw

Map of Korea during Korean War

Picture by U.S. soldier, South Korea, 1951

Communism Spreads

• Eisenhower Doctrine (1957):

– U.S. will help Middle East resist communism

Iran

• (1953) C.I.A. overthrows Mohammed Mossadegh, President of Iran

• U.S. installs pro-U.S. dictator, Shah of Iran

Guatemala

• (1954) C.I.A. overthrows President Jacobo Arbenz of Guatemala

Guatemala

• C.I.A. installs a pro-U.S. dictator Castillo Armas