1945 年日本宣布無條件投降，國民政府接管台灣，台灣人民初表歡迎，殷切期待，詎料國府接管台灣後，由於公營事業的擴大，超過日治時期的獨佔企業，再加上官場貪污舞弊的作風，外行領導內行，以致經營不善，通貨膨脹失控。經濟蕭條，民生凋敝。社會上盜賊四起，社會上治安惡化暴戾之氣瀰漫各角落。大陸人與台灣本地人之間，隔閡與摩擦日益加深，民心日漸流失。在一次緝煙衝突中，引發二二八事件，成為台灣歷史上的大悲劇。且深深影響到台灣後來的政治走向。由於有九十多萬軍公教人員跟隨著國民黨政府來到台灣，使得台灣的人口結構產生了量變和質變，多元文化的發展又再一次在這個海島上進行相互的激盪和改變，有了更豐富的面貌。
In 1945, Japan declared its unconditional surrender, and the Nationalist government took over Taiwan. Initially, the Taiwanese people welcomed the situation with eager anticipation. However, the Nationalist takeover led to the expansion of public enterprises, which surpassed the monopoly of the Japanese colonial era. This, coupled with rampant corruption and the leadership of experts by laymen, led to poor management and uncontrolled inflation. The economy collapsed, and people's livelihoods deteriorated. Banditry and theft abounded, public security deteriorated, and violence permeated every corner. The gap and friction between mainland Chinese and Taiwanese residents deepened, and public support steadily eroded. A clash over opium led to the February 28 Incident, a major tragedy in Taiwanese history and profoundly impacting the subsequent political trajectory of the island.
