History and Governments of East SE AsiaPart 2: Modern Nations/Economic Powers

1-Why did European merchants travel to China and other East Asian countries?

• By 1500, Asian goods such as silk, porcelain and tea had become highly valued in Europe.

• European merchants began traveling to the region to trade for these goods.

2-What was China’s response to these traders?

• China did not welcome these traders.

• The Chinese tried to isolate their country from European influences.

3-In your opinion, why do you think China had this response?

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3-Why did China have this response?

 

• When Europeans arrived in East Asia and SE Asia. their goals were to trade, to spread Christianity and to claim territory.

4-Why did European governments claim areas of China as spheres of influence? Be sure to define: sphere of influence in your response.

• Europeans wanted trade and used warships to force China to open its ports.

• By the 1890s, European governments and Japan had claimed large areas of China as spheres of influence.

• A sphere of influence is an area of a country where a single foreign power has been granted exclusive trading rights.

5- Chiang Kai-shek formed the Nationalist government.

6- Mao Zedong was the leader of the Communists.

7-After years of civil war, the Communists won power in 1949.

8-Explain what happened in China between the Nationalists and Communists in 1949 after the civil war.

• The Communists set up the People’s Republic of China on the Chinese mainland.

• The Nationalists fled to the offshore island of Taiwan. There, they set up a government called the Republic of China.

9-Explain what led Japan to fight the United States and other Allied countries in World War II.

• The Japan had few resources to support its industry.

• By 1940, Japan had invaded and gained control of Taiwan, Korea, other parts of mainland Asia and various Pacific islands.

• This expansion was led Japan to fight the United States and its allies in World War II.

 10-After World War II ended, Korea was divided

into an American-backed South Korea and

Communist-ruled North Korea. North Korea

wanted to unite the two Koreas, so it invaded

South Korea in 1950.

 11-United Nations forces led by the United States

rushed to support South Korea. China’s

Communist leaders eventually sent troops to help

North Korea. The Korean War ended in 1953 in a

truce, but without a peace treaty or a victory for

either side.

12-Look at the map on page 709 and answer the following: Which country controlled the following SE Asian countries as a colony?

• Myanmar: Great Britain• Indonesia: the Netherlands • Philippines Spain [US after 1898]• Malaysia: Great Britain• Vietnam: France 

 13- After independence, political conflicts and wars raged throughout SE Asia. In Vietnam, Communist forces defeated the

French in 1954. The Communists ruled  North Vietnam and an American-supported

government ruled South Vietnam.

14-In the 1960s, fighting between these two groups

led to the Vietnam War. During this conflict,

American forces helped fight against the

Communists. By the late 1960s, many Americans

opposed the war. The United States eventually

withdrew its troops in 1973. At least 2 million

people, including 58,000 Americans died in the

Vietnam War. About 10 million South Vietnamese

became refugees.

15-What happened to Japan since the end of World War II? Provide at least 5

facts.

• Japan was occupied by troops of the United States and its allies.

• Japan’s military was reduced in size and Japan adopted a democratic constitution.

• Japanese women and workers gained more rights.

• Japan’s economy was in ruins.• While the military occupation of Japan ended in

1952, the United States maintained military bases there for many years.

 

16-Explain how the United States helped create an economic boom in Japan.•During the Korean War, American troops needed war supplies.

•To have a source of supplies nearby, the United States invested $3.5 billion into Japan’s factories.

•Japanese shipbuilders, manufacturers and electronics industries all benefited. This aid created an economic boom in Japan.

•Japan’s government and industry began to invest heavily in the research and development of electronics products for the home.

•Today, Japan has the world’s second-largest economy after the United States.

•Japan is a major exporter of automobiles, cameras and electronic goods such as computers, televisions and sound systems.

17-Who are the “Asian Tigers”?

• A group of countries and territories who have built strong, modern economies:

• South Korea • Taiwan• Singapore and the Chinese port of • Hong Kong

18-How have the “Asian Tigers” built strong economies?

• Their governments followed Japan’s example by investing in research and development of electronics.

19-What changes led to economic growth in China starting in the late 1970s?

•China’s economic growth took longer because, under communism, most businesses in the country were owned and run by the government.

•China’s farms and industries failed to produce enough of the kinds of goods that the economy needed in order to grow. •To create growth, China began a number of free market reforms in 1979 by relaxing its control over factories and farms:

•Factory managers could decide what goods to produce and what prices to charge.

•Farmers were allowed to sell their crops for a profit.