The Cold War 1945-1950: How did we get a Communist China?

The aftermath of World War 2 is what we call "the Cold War"...a war between the Soviet Union and communism versus the Western nations (the US, Great Britain, etc.) and capitalism/political freedom.  The march of communism in China begins in the early 20th century and progresses into a victory for Mao Zedong in 1949.  The defeated armies of the Nationalists (under Chiang Kai-shek) flee to Taiwan and establish their competing government.  This story continues today with the communists in China wanting to eliminate the free Chinese on Taiwan and absorb them into their totalitarian control.  So...in a sense the Cold War continues in the standoff between today's Communist China and the free China of Taiwan.