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Mao Zedong and the Origins of Communism in China: Lots o’ fun stuff like wars and massacres

Mao Zedong and the Origins of Communism in China: Lots o’ fun stuff like wars and massacres. Kuomintang. Originally formed by Sun Yat-sen (also called Sun Yixian) to oppose imperial rule in China Overthrew the last dynasty (Qing) and established the Republic of China

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Mao Zedong and the Origins of Communism in China: Lots o’ fun stuff like wars and massacres

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  1. Mao Zedong and the Origins of Communism in China: Lots o’ fun stuff like wars and massacres

  2. Kuomintang • Originally formed by Sun Yat-sen (also called Sun Yixian) to oppose imperial rule in China • Overthrew the last dynasty (Qing) and established the Republic of China • Three principles: Nationalism, Democracy, and Economic Security • Republic was unstable and various warlords seized power • Kuomintang reformed a govt. in the south • Civil war with Warlords in the North

  3. Communist Party • Origins go back to angers about imperialism after WWI and dissatisfaction with the Kuomintang - Communism seemed to offer an answer - May 4th Movement • Formed by Mao and other young intellectuals in 1921 - Initially allied with the Kuomintang - Grew disillusioned with Kuomintang after death of Sun Yat-sen

  4. Shanghai Massacre 1927 • Chiang Kai-shek (Jiang Jieshi) took power in the Kuomintang after Sun died - Mistrusted Communists • Communists took Shanghai from the warlords • Gave it to the Kuomintang • Kuomintang killed hundreds, perhaps thousands, of communists and union members in Shanghai - attempt to preemptively wipe out the communist party • Even worse massacres followed in Guangzhou and Changsha

  5. Civil War Prior to WWII • Mao Zedong and a few other important communist leaders survived the purges - Who will support the communists and who the nationalists? • Mao started a guerilla war against Chiang • About 100,000 communists vs. 700,000 Kuomintang

  6. The Long March • Actually a series of marches - Outnumbered communists fled nationalist forces • Largest one came after Chiang surrounded Mao's mountain stronghold - fled 6-8000 miles over the course of a year - numbers went from about 100,000 to 10,000 - many stories of heroism in the face of superior odds • Mao's leadership let him more firmly establish his leadership

  7. During WWII • Civil war was suspended when Japan invaded • Mao organized a guerilla war against the Japanese occupiers • Chiang had a secure base in the south but did relatively little - gathered an army of over 2.5 million that he did not use - probably saving his strength for the communists

  8. After the War • Chiang had larger force but less popular support - many nationalist soldiers actually deserted to join communists • Communists were experienced in guerilla warfare • Chiang eventually fled to Taiwan with his army - Leads to two Chinese governments, both claiming legitimacy • Communist China expanded into tibet and mongolia • Communists claimed a new mandate of heaven • Began trying to industrialize China

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