Objective

1. Objective • Identify & report reasons why the communists won the Chinese civil war.

2. Starter & Homework check In pairs brainstorm 5 factors necessary for a country or army to win a war. Why did the communists win the Chinese Civil war? Give your partner any 1 reason and explain it.

3. Intro vs On 1 October 1949, Mao Zedong, leader of the Chinese Communist Party declared victory over the Nationalist Party (Guomindang) and brought an end to four brutally long years of Civil War. Why did Mao win??? Some of the reasons are…

4. 1.Military Tactics Guerrilla tactics proved very successful in the early years of the civil war. These had been developed during the resistance against the Japanese. They made it possible for the Communists to inflict constant damage on the GMD despite their inferior numbers. The Communists also were able to dominate the countryside and isolate the GMD in their city strongholds Guerrilla war is a form of irregular warfare in which a small group of combatants including, armed civilians use military tactics, to harass a larger ,traditional army.

5. Military tactics continued… Tactically the Communists were very astute. In 1947 they were well aware that their main force was outnumbered and outgunned. They adopted a policy of not attacking the main Nationalist Forces and were willing to give up land in order to preserve the bulk of their fighting force. In doing so they could pick off weaker targets, cause logistical and suply problems for the Nationalists whilst continuing to build up their own support within the peasant classes - which was aided by the masive rise in unemployment in Nationalist controlled areas at this time. Because the CCP were poorly equipped, they chose to fight with guerilla tactics and refrained from head on confrontation. The CCP's army consisted mainly of volunteers that had high morale because they believed in what they were fighting for - a better life. The GMD on the other hand had conscripts, forced into fighting and had no belief or sense of belonging to their superiors. This eventually led to mass desertions and therefore victory in battle for the CCP.

6. 2. Good Leadership The Communist army was led by Lin Biao. He proved to be an astute military commander. In 1947, he transformed the Communists into a conventional army – which was essential if they were to win the civil war. He organised intensive training and political indoctrination for new recruits. As Communist troop numbers rose so they were able to launch offences all over China.

7. 3. The people In most parts of China the Communists were able to win the suport of the majority of the local population. This was a massive advantage when advancing into territories. Mao understood the importance of the masses, and because Mao started out only to be a librarian, he understood what the poor wanted. He did many things for the peasants and the poor - He had land reforms where rich landlords were driven off their land, which was then distributed amongst the poor farmers. He set up public schools and medical treatment. Mao recognized that it is the peasants who were the source of food. He sent officials to work alongside peasants so that they would better appreciate their difficulties. But most of all, Mao lived with and as a peasant and humbled himself as one of them. (hand-out) These gave the peasants a sense of equality, dignity, respect and democracy that they have never experienced.

8. 4.The Sino-Japanese war The Sino Japanese war caused the GMD to lose power but served as a chance to rise for CCP. Beginning In 1937, the Japanese started to invade china and took the military and economic strongholds of the GMD - the cities. This left the GMD powerless politically and economically paralyzed. The Chinese people looked upon their leader to fight the foreign invaders but yet the GMD failed to fulfill the people's hopes and were thought of as cowardly. On the other hand, the CCP took this opportunity to take on the Japanese. They fought courageously, though poorly equipped with mostly improvised weapons The Chinese saw this as patriotic and supported them with food, shelter and men.

9. 5. Nationalist Errors The GMD attempt to seize Manchuria in October 1946 was a huge strategic error. Forces were spread too thinly and supply lines too long. The loss of Manchuria was crucial defeat for the GMD.

10. Activity • Read through the handout provided. • In your notebook, write 2 different newspaper headlines for 1947 after the Chinese Civil war. • With the help of the handout provided, write a half a page news article describing why the communists won the Chinese civil war, from the point of view of each newspaper.

11. Plenary

12. Homework • What if the Nationalists had won the war? Would China be different? How? Write a paragraph on this in your notebook.