Main Points 🎯
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.
