What is a revolution?

1. Based on your knowledge of the Russian Revolutions as well as other revolutions we have discussed (optional)… What is a revolution? Create your own definition in at least three sentences

2. Imperial China Collapses The early years of the 20th century in China

3. Years of being controlled by foreign powers • Remember: Opium War, Spheres of Influence & Boxer Rebellion

4. Kuomintang (Nationalist Party) and its leader, Sun Yixianoverthrow Qing dynasty (ruled China since 1644) • Sun wants to establish a modern government, one backed by nationalism, democracy and economic security for all Chinese

5. Military take control of the government from Sun and democracy dwindles • As military control sparks revolts, real power transfers to local warlords rather than a centralized government

6. 1917: China declares war on Germany • China sees Germany will lose the war • They think Allies will return Chinese territories seized by the Germans back to China • In actuality, the Treaty of Versailles gives Japan those territories

7. May Fourth Movement • Anger over the Treaty of Versailles leads to nationwide demonstrations that started with a few thousand students in Beijing • Distrust in Western democracy pushes Chinese intellectuals toward Lenin’s idea of Soviet Communism • Tiananmen Square, 1919 • Demonstration of Chinese nationalism and break from Sun’s belief in Western Democracy

8. Tiananmen Square, 1989 • 1000’s of causalities

9. Chinese Communists • One of the founders, Mao Zedong had a vision of bringing a revolution to a rural country • He argued that Lenin’s Marxist revolution was designed around the urban Russian Soviets • The Chinese Communist revolution would be designed around the rural peasantry

10. Nationalist Party (Kuomintang) led by Sun allies with the Communists in China after faith dwindles in Western Democracies • Sun dies in 1925, Jiang Jieshiassumes control of the Nationalists • Jiang popular among bankers and businessmen

11. Corruption in Jiang’s government paired with a lack of democracy and few concessions to the lower class costs him popularity with the peasants • Communist party distances itself from Nationalists under Jiang and secure widespread support of these peasants

12. Despite fighting side by side to create a centralized Chinese government, in 1927 Nationalist troops (under Jiang) hunted down all prominent members of the communist party and murdered them • With the Communists nearly gone in China, Jiang became president of the Nationalist Republic of China.

13. Communists that escaped the slaughter began fighting a bloody civil war against the nationalists from the hills of south-central China using guerilla tactics Peasants are recruited to join this Communists’ Red Army

14. In 1933, 700,000 Nationalists surround the Communist mountain strongholds • Communists are forced to retreat (Long March) • A force of 100,000 Communists travel 6,000 miles with Nationalists on their heels

15. Although less than 10 percent of the Communists survive the Long March, the survivors begin to gain new followers • In the midst of this Chinese Civil War, Japan invades China and the Nationalists led by Jiang and Communists led by Mao unite briefly to fend off the Japanese threat