The Chinese Revolution

1. The Chinese Revolution

2. Essential Question • How did the Communist Party of China take power?

3. Introduction • 1912 – Qing Dynasty ends, & long struggle to establish new government begins • Universities provided theoretical foundation for political reconstruction • Secret societies plotted to restore Chinese Emperor • Japan & Europe wanted to divide China into imperial zones

4. Revolution in China • Revolutionary Alliance opposed Qing Dynasty in 1911 • Claimed right to establish government, but lacked the power to do so • Revolutionary Alliance elected president, but warlords continued to dominate • Yuan Shikai, most powerful warlord, tried to take power, plans interrupted by Japanese intervention

5. Revolution in China • 1915 – Japan presented Shikai with 21 Demands, he tried to ignore them • Another warlord opposed Japan more strongly, Shikai was overthrown • In the chaos Japan seized control of northern China

6. May 4th Movement • May 4, 1919 – Massive demonstrations protested invasion by Japanese • Movement was meant to create liberal democracy • Called for abandonment of Confucianism in favor of Western ideals • Led to emergence of Communism in China

7. Russian Influence • Russian Revolution served as model for possible reform in China • Marxist groups started in universities & coastal cities • Founded Socialist Youth Corps in 1920 • 1921 – Marxist leaders met in Shanghai & formed Communist Party of China

8. Seizure of Power by the Guomindang • 1919 – Sun Yat-sen tried to revitalize reform movement by creating Nationalist Party of China (Guomindang) • Militarized in order to drive out warlords • Power came from commercial groups, warlords, & criminal organizations • Yat-Sen formed alliance with Communist Party in 1924

9. Seizure of Power by the Guomindang • Nationalist Party received support from Soviet Union • Chiang Kai-Shek became associate of Yat-Sen • Chaotic economic situation got worse • Failure to address problems of peasants hurt Nationalists

10. Mao & the Peasant Option • Mao Zedong was a peasant, but joined nationalist movement • Influenced by Marxists, saw peasants as key to successful revolution • Rose to power in Communist Party after a split between Nationalists & Communists • 1925 – Yat-sen died, Kai-Shek began to expand Nationalist territory

11. Mao & the Peasant Option • 1927 – Seized Shanghai, later captured Beijing & was seen as most powerful leader in China • Kai-Shek was most influential warlord, ruthlessly eliminated rivals • Kai-Shek’s army eliminated all Communists in Shanghai • Purges spread to other cities, & caused civil war between Nationalists & Communists

12. Communist Victory • Nationalists supported by businesses, intellectuals, landlords, & military • Kai-Shek asked West for support against Communists, but only Soviet Union helped • Mao started Communists movement, but was forced to Northwest China by Nationalists • 1937 – Japan invaded China

13. Communist Victory • Nationalists continued to attack Communists until they had to unite to confront Japanese • Japanese defeated Kai-Shek’s army, Communists successfully attacked Japanese & regained much of northern China • Nationalists confined to northern cities, & Communists had upper hand after WW2

14. Communist Victory • Mao drove Nationalists to Taiwan in 1949 • Proclaimed “People’s Republic of China” • Key to Success – Program of rural reform • Mao concentrated on social & economic reform for peasants, which gained him many supporters

15. Mao’s China • Communists took control of a unified country • Government had strong political & military organization • People’s Liberation Army accepted the Communist Party’s Leadership • China’s power grew, & they eventually split with the Soviet Union

16. Economic Growth & Social Justice • 1950-1952 – Land redistributed to peasants • Communists’ goal was industrialization, just like in Russia • Mao introduced the Mass Line approach, which brought peasants together in production groups • Mao introduced the Great Leap Forward in 1958

17. Economic Growth & Social Justice • Industrialization was based in rural communities rather than urban factories • Immediate consequences were disastrous • Famine & falling production • Population grew fast, which increased economic problems • Government limited families to 1 child • Mao removed from office in 1960

18. Women’s Role in China • Mao’s programs increased the status of women • Nationalists failed to support women’s rights, so many women turned to Communism • Communist Party used women as teachers, laborers, soldiers, & some had influence in the government • Communist victory brought full legal rights to women

19. Mao’s Last Campaign • Launched Cultural Revolution in 1965 • Student demonstrators began mass criticism of Mao’s political enemies, called pragmatists • Support grew in army, but pragmatists regained control of government • “The Gang of Four” attempted to continue the revolution until Mao’s death in 1976

20. Mao’s Last Campaign • Military & pragmatists arrested Gang of Four, & forced them out of the Communist Party • Pragmatists opened China to Western influence • Chinese have been the most successful revolutionary regime at redistributing wealth • Standard of living increased, & industrial & agricultural sectors have been more productive