Why CCP was successful while the KMT was defeated in 1949

1. Jesper, Samuel & Caleb Why CCP was successful while the KMTwas defeated in 1949

2. Foreign powers’ intervention • CCP: • Soviets gave substantial amount of military equipments • They also allowed the CCP to establish a firm stronghold in Manchuria • KMT: • USA only sent its troops & military equipment to guard strategic cities • KMT troops were also trained by USA • Intervention by USA made KMT seen as “traitors”

3. Leadership • CCP: • Most joined the Long March in 1934 – 1935 & were loyal to Mao Tse – Tung • The leaders were chosen based on merit • The reoccupation of Manchuria also allowed the leadership to replace the opportunists with hard – liners • The generals had most power to make the most suitable decisions on the battlefield • KMT: • Its generals were corrupted & divided • Its leaders were chosen based on loyalty • Chiang KakSeng was often suspicious of his followers • Corruption was widespread throughout the leadership • The generals had to wait for Chiang’s orders

4. Strategy • CCP: • It used guerrila warfare gained the 2nd Sino – Japanese war which were modern & revolutionary • Efforts to destroy the KMT army were directed to its central & most efficient armies • Divided the KMT army & destroyed them one by one Keep Men, Lose Land. Land can be taken again. Keep Land, Lose Men. Land and Men both lost. • KMT : • Greedy for territories. • No long-term plan • Troops were spread thin along the cities while CCP maintained control of the countryside.

5. Peasant Struggle • Large majority of population (80%) • KMT: • Made little effort to improve the peasants’ lives (e.g. Small efforts for land reforms) • Peasants remained at the mercy of military and warlords, high land taxes and rents. • Lost of popularity for the KMT • CCP: • Had the support of the peasants • Treated them well via land reforms • Peasants had high morale to defend their homeland

6. Events • Japanese Invasion • KMT - Focused on eliminating internal problems before dealing with Japanese • CCP - Gained experience and support as nationalists by fighting the Japanese • World War Two • KMT - Revealed weakness of the government and lost of support and army lost morale • CCP - Regarded as nationalists and used it to build up strength and support • Chinese Civil War • KMT - army morale low (soldiers treated badly) vs CCP which had high morale. Soldiers would abandon KMT and join the Red Army (Re-education) • KMT - largely dependent on middle-class, gentry landlords and city merchants but due to corruption and inflation, they began to lose their support as well • CCP - Reputation of an honest government vs Dishonest KMT government