• PRC (People's Republic of China): Communist country led by Mao Zedong.
• The West: Generally, countries in North America and Europe, often led by the USA.
• Political Spectrum: A way to classify ideologies from most conservative to most liberal (or capitalist to communist, in this case).
• Truman Doctrine: US policy to support countries threatened by communism.
• NATO: North Atlantic Treaty Organization, a military alliance.
• Cold War: The period of political hostility between the Soviet Union and the West, roughly from 1947 to 1991.

Natural Enemies 🥷🤺

• What's up?: The West and China were pretty much like Batman and the Joker. They were natural enemies due to their political ideologies.
• Capitalism vs. Communism: The West is all about capitalism, freedom, and democracy, while China, under Mao Zedong, was dedicated to obliterating capitalism.
  • Real-world Example: Think of it as Apple Inc. vs. a Worker's Co-op. Apple's goal is to maximize profit; the co-op's goal is to benefit the workers.

Distrust & Revolutionary Vibes 🤔✊

• Mao's Game Plan: Mao didn’t just hate the West; he distrusted it. He supported revolutionary movements everywhere - from Asia to Africa to Latin America.
  • Real-world Example: Imagine Mao as a super-fan who follows his favorite band all over the world. But instead of music, Mao is cheering for revolutions!

The Truman Doctrine & NATO 🇺🇸🤝

• Truman’s Plan: President Truman wanted to protect countries that were fighting against internal or external threats. Even though he didn’t say "communism," everyone knew it was about communism.
  • Real-world Example: This is like a school anti-bullying policy that doesn't specifically mention "online trolls" but aims to protect against them anyway.
• NATO’s Formation: A bunch of Western countries joined forces in 1949 to counteract the USSR (Soviet Union) and communism.

1949: The Game-Changer 🕰️💥

• Two Big Moments:
  • The Soviet Union finally made their own nuclear bomb! 💣
  • China turned Communist! 🚩
• Mistaken Beliefs: The West thought the USSR and China were now BFFs united in their Communist goals.
  • Real-world Example: This is like thinking two people who wear the same sports jerseys are besties, even if they have nothing else in common.

Perception of Mao's Actions 🕵️‍♂️👀

• Expansionist Threat: Every move made by China was now seen through the lens of them being a big, scary, expanding Communist country.
  • Real-world Example: It’s like when one kid in class gets labeled a "troublemaker." After that, even if they just cough, people think they’re causing a disruption.