Imperial China Collapses

March 1, 2011

Background

• Early 1900 – Chinese humiliated by foreigners– The majority of Chinese believed

modernization and nationalism was key to survival

Nationalist Overthrow Qing Dynasty

• 1911: Revolutionary Alliance overthrew the Qing Dynasty – Kuomintang (Nationalist Party) led by Sun

Yixian took control of China

• 1912: Sun became president of the new Republic of China– Sought to establish a modern gov’t based

on “Three Principles of the People”

Three Principles of the People

• 1. Nationalism – end to foreign control

• 2. People’s Rights – democracy

• 3. People’s Livelihood – economic security

Shaky Start for the New Republic

• Despite strong influence as a leader Sun lacked military support to secure national unity and turned leadership to Yuan Shikai– Yuan betrayed democratic ideals –

setting off small revolts through China

• 1916: Yuan died triggering the FIRST Chinese civil war

WWI Spells More Problems• 1917: Gov’t in Beijing declared war on

Germany– Treaty of Versailles gave lost Chinese territory to

Japan• Outraged, 3,000 Chinese students marched on the

capital– Demonstrations spread, known as the May Fourth

Movement (not official revolution, but showed commitment to modern China)

Support for the Movement

• Workers, shopkeepers, and professionals join the cause

• Former president Sun Yixian supported the movement but was unable to garner enough support– Young Chinese turned against Sun

in favor of Lenin’s communism

The Communist Party in China

• 1921: Mao Zedong established the Chinese communist party in Shanghai– Mao’s Communism differed from Russia’s

• Less focus on cities• Belief in bringing revolutions to rural areas where

peasants would be the revolutionaries• “The force of the peasantry is like that of the raging winds and

driving rain. It is rapidly increasing in violence. No force can stand in its way. The peasantry will tear apart all nets which bind it and hasten along the road to liberation. They will bury beneath them all forces of imperialism, militarism, corrupt officialdom, village bosses and evil gentry.” -Mao

Peasants Align with the Communist

• 1925: Jiang Jieshi took control of Kuomintang– Jiang feared

communism/socialism– Promised Democracy but was

corrupt, encouraging peasants to side with the Chinese Communist Party

• Putting aside differences, Jiang allied with the Communist Party to defeat Chinese warlords

Nationalists and Communists Clash

• After successful defeat of the warlords, Jiang turned against the Communist Party, almost killing them to extinction

• 1928: Jiang became president of the Nationalist Republic of China– U.S./Great Britain recognized the new gov’t

but the U.S.S.R. did not– Lasting impact: Led to Communist

resentment, eventually ignited a SECOND civil war lasting until 1949

Civil War Rages in China

• Communist led by Mao take to the hills in South-Central China– “swimming in the peasant sea”

• Mao recruited peasants to join the Red Army, training them in guerrilla warfare

• Nationalist attempted to oust the Communist but were unsuccessful

Mao’s Guerrilla Tactics

• 1. Retreat when the enemy advances

• 2. Harass when the enemy encamps

• 3. Attack when the enemy hesitates

• 4. Pursue when the enemy retreats

The Long March• 1933: Jiang and an army of 700,000

surrounded the Communists’ mountain camp

• Outnumbered the Communist fled beginning a 6,000 mile journey that lasted more than a year

• At the end of the journey Mao and his followers settle in Northwestern China, gaining new followers

Civil War Suspended• 1931: Meanwhile….Japan

takes advantage of the struggle in China, invading Manchuria– 1937: Japan issues all out

invasion of China

• 1938: Japan gained control of much of China forcing Mao and Jiang to ally temporarily against the Japanese suspending the Civil War