One war ends, another begins
Communism comes from the word ‘common’, meaning to belong equally to
more than one individual. The related word, ‘commune’ is a place where
people live together and share property and wealth. Communism is very
different to capitalism where individuals can own property and build up
wealth. In a capitalist country an individual can own his/her house and can
become very wealthy. This could not happen in a communist country.
In this lesson, you examine the conflict between communism and
capitalism. You learn how it divided Europe and Asia and how it affected
Australia
A changing world
The decades following the end of World War II brought many changes.
Some of the important changes to have an impact on Australia were:
•
Russia (also known as the Soviet Union) and America becoming the
world’s only ‘Superpowers’ and the influence of Great Britain and
France declined
•
growing tension between Russia (communist) and the United States of
America (capitalist)
•
t many African and Asian colonies of European powers gaining
independence
•
the United Nations being created
•
communist influence in the world increasing.
It was the capitalist countries’ objection to the growth of communism, that
was the basis of the hostility in the 45 years after World War II.
.
Part 1 The Red threat
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Activity 1
Circle the correct word in the following sentences where you have two
choices.
1
Australia is a capitalist/communist country.
2
A person could own their house and become very wealthy in a
capitalist/communist country.
3
Australia supported Russia/the USA.
Check your responses by going to the suggested answers section.
Australia, as well as being capitalist, is also a democracy. This means the
people have a choice when electing the government. This is not the case in a
communist country.
The ‘Iron Curtain’
In 1946 the Prime Minister of Great Britain, Winston Churchill, said that
‘an iron curtain has descended across the [European] continent’.
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Australia in the Vietnam Era
Activity 2
On the following map, find the Iron Curtain that Churchill mentioned.
Trace over it with your finger then answer the following questions.
Source: A map of Europe in 1950
Yugoslavia and Albania were communist countries but not aligned to the Soviet Union
1
Using the map’s key, circle one country that was communist.
2
Circle one country that was capitalist.
3
Using the map explain what was meant by the Iron Curtain
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
Check your responses by going to the suggested answers section.
Part 1 The Red threat
7
Non-communist countries referred to the communist countries of Europe as
being ‘behind the Iron Curtain’.
The group of communist countries in Eastern Europe was called the
‘Eastern Bloc’. Their neighbours were worried that communism would
spread to their own countries. Other capitalist or democratic countries such
as Great Britain, America and Australia felt the same way.
Activity 3
Why were capitalist or democratic countries concerned about communism?
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Check your response by going to the suggested answers section.
The Cold War
Capitalist America and communist Russia distrusted each other because of
their opposing ideologies. The resulting hostility became known as the
‘Cold War’. There were no actual battles between the Superpowers
themselves but the fact that they both had nuclear weapons made the
hostility very dangerous.
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Australia in the Vietnam Era
Russia and America were on opposite sides in the following events after
World War II. The table outlines some of these events.
Date
Event
July 1948May 1949
Berlin Blockade:
The Russians closed all road, rail and canal links between West Berlin
and West Germany – Western powers flew supplies into West Berlin
for ten months until the Russians lifted their blockade.
February 1949
Communist victory in China:
Communists were able to establish government after their victory over
the Nationalists in a civil war.
June 1948-July
1960
Malayan Emergency:
Members of the Malayan Communist Party challenged British authority
in Malaya including assassinating the British High Commissioner.
British and Australian troops were sent to Malaya to crush the rebels.
1950-53
Korean War:
Communist North Korea invaded democratic South Korea. Communist
China supported North Korea while America, Australia and others
supported South Korea.
October 1956
Hungarian Uprising:
Anti-Soviet demonstrations in the Hungarian capital, Budapest, led to
the overthrow of the Communist Government. Russian troops moved in
during November, killing 20 000 and also imprisoning thousands.
Hungary was brought back under communist control.
August 1961
Construction of Berlin Wall:
To prevent thousands leaving communist East Berlin for capitalist West
Berlin, the Russians built the Berlin Wall. It was a 45 kilometre brick
wall which cut Berlin in two and blocked the escape route from East to
West.
October 1962
Cuban Missile Crisis:
Russia had installed nuclear missiles in communist Cuba – less than
160 kilometres from the American coast. America began a blockade of
Cuba and demanded Russia remove the missiles. Russia and USA
seemed on the brink of a nuclear war when the Russian leader,
Khrushchev, agreed to remove the missiles.
1946-54
French–Indochina War:
After World War II, Indochina fought for independence from France
led by the communist, Ho Chi Minh. The Geneva Agreement of 1954
resulted in Laos and Cambodia being declared independent and
Vietnam being temporarily divided into two – a Communist
government in the North and those who did not wish to live under
communism in the South. Later a civil war began.
1961-75
The Vietnam War:
It began as a civil war when communist North Vietnamese invaded the
South. Concerned over the possible spread of communism in Vietnam,
the USA sent military advisers to South Vietnam. Australia and other
countries also sent troops.
Part 1 The Red threat
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Activity 4
Answer the questions based on the table.
1
In the table, highlight in colour the events in which Australia
participated.
2
In what areas of the world were the events involving Australia located?
__________________________________________________________
3
What could have been the reasons for involvement in this area??
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
Check your responses by going to the suggested answers section.
Go to the exercises section and complete Exercises 1.1 to 1.3 as
directed by your teacher.
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Australia in the Vietnam Era