20c China: From Republic to Communist Power

1. 20c China: From Republic to Communist Power

2. China Ripe for Revolution, 1900 • Foreigners controlled trade, economic resources • Modernization and nationalism held country’s keys for survival

3. End of the Qing Dynasty • 1911 – nationalist group Republic Alliance – overthrows weak Qing Dynasty • R.A. later known as the Kuomintang • Sun Yixian (Sun Yat-sen) becomes leader & Pres. of the Republic of China

4. Sun Yat-Sen= Pres. of Republic of China • Sun hoped to establish modern gov’t based on “The Principles of the People” 1) nationalism (end to foreign control) 2) people’s rights (democracy) 3) people’s livelihood (economic security for all Chinese)

5. China 1920’s • Sun lacked military support and authority to secure national unity • Next president, Yuan Shikai, betrayed democratic ideals of revolution • two revolts, civil war, warlords Yuan Shi-kai

6. China in 1924

7. May 4th Movement • China declared war against Germany in 1917 in WWI • Disappointed with Versailles Treaty – did not receive land • May Fourth Movement – demonstrations by angry students in 1919 in Beijing = Chinese people’s commitment to the goal of establishing a strong, modern nation • Many turned to Lenin’s Soviet communism

8. Rise of Communist Party in China • 1921 – group met in Shanghai to organize the Chinese Communist Party • Mao Zedong (assistant librarian at Beijing University) • Mao had begun to develop own brand of communism • Could bring revolution to rural country where peasants would be true revolutionaries Mao Zedong (Tse-tung) As a Young Revolutionary

9. Kuomintang Nationalists • Jiang Jieshi (Chiang Kai-shek) – leads Kuomintang in 1928 (Pres. of R. of Ch.) • promised democracy & political rights to all Chinese • his gov’t, however, became corrupt & less democratic • followers were beginning to support Communist Party – Mao was giving land to local farmers (Chiang Kai-shek)

10. Nationalists v. Communists • Nationalists moved into Shanghai • Killed Communist leaders & members • Civil war • Mao referred to taking revolution to countryside as “swimming in the peasant sea” • Recruited peasants to join his Red Army • Trained in guerrilla warfare

11. The Long March • 1933 – Jiang gathered army of 700,000 men • Surrounded Communists’ stronghold, Communists faced defeat • 100,000 Communist forces fled in 6,000 mile long journey called the Long March • Thousands died from hunger, cold, exposure, battle wounds • Settled in caves in northwestern China

12. Japan’s Invasion of China, 1937 • Japan took advantage of China’s weakening situation & invaded Manchuria in 1931 • Japan forced an uneasy truce between Jiang & Mao who unified to fight Japan • National Assembly agreed to promote Sun Yat-Sen’s 3 Principles of the People • About 10-22 million Chinese civilians died

14. Japanese Aggression, 1931 - 1945

15. WWII in China • Mao Zedong mobilized peasants in northwestern for guerrilla war against the Japanese • Efforts to promote literacy and improve food production – Communists won peasant loyalty • Nationalist forces under Jiang Jieshi dominated southwestern • Gathered army of 2.5 million • The U.S. sent Nationalists 1.5 billion in aid • However, instead of going to army, they ended up in hands of corrupt officers • Nationalist army saved strength for fight against Mao’s Red Army After Japan surrendered, Nationalists and Communists resumed fighting

16. Post WWII: Civil War Resumes • 1946-1949 • Nationalists had advantage at first • Larger army, money from U.S., BUT did not win popular support • Nationalists soldiers deserted to Communism • Mao’s troops were enthusiastic about promise to return land to peasants • Remnants of Jiang’s army fled south to Taiwan • Oct. 1949 – Mao gained control – People’s Republic of China – fueled U.S. anti-Communist feelings • Chinese & Soviets signed treaty of friendship in 1950

17. China’s “Split” • China had split into two nations – • Nationalist China on island of Taiwan • People’s Republic of China on mainland • Superpowers reaction – U.S. helped Jieshi’s (Chiang Kai-shek’s) gov’t of Republic of China • Soviets gave financial, military, and technical aid to Communist China

18. Reasons for the Communist’s’ Success • Mao won support of peasants – land • Mao won support of women • Mao’s army used guerilla war tactics • Many saw the Nationalist government as corrupt • Many felt that the Nationalists allowed foreigners to dominate China.

19. China Expands Under Communism • Chinese expanded into Tibet, India, Mongolia • Chinese promised autonomy to Tibetans, who followed religious leader, Dalai Lama • When control tightened, Dalai Lama fled to India, along with other refugees • Resentment between the two grew Mao, Panchen Lama, Dalai Lama in Beijing, 1954

20. Communists Transform China • Aimed to restore China as powerful nation • New “mandate of heaven” • Communists set up two parallel organizations: the Communist Party and the national government, both headed by Mao

21. Chairman Mao’s Socialism • Reshape economy based on Marxism • Gave land to peasants • Most people lived in rural areas & did not own land • Seized land from landowners & divided it up • Killed those who resisted 2) Gov’t ownership of companies 3) Five-year-plan • Set high production goals for industry • Increase output of coal, steel, electricity, cement

22. The “Great Leap Forward” • Created large collective farms known as communes • Peasants worked land together, ate in communal dining rooms, slept in dormitories, raised children in communal nurseries • Peasants had no incentive to work hard when only state profited from labor • = Giant Step Backward – poor planning, inefficient

23. Mao’s Little Red Book, 1965

24. New Policies & the Red Guard • China facing both external and internal problems • Mao reduced his role in gov’t • Leaders moved away from Mao’s strict socialist ideas • Farm families could live in own homes, sell crops from small private plots, factory workers competed for increased wages, promotions • Mao thought China was becoming weak – wanted to revive revolution • 1966 - Mao urged youth to “learn revolution by making revolution” – students formed militia known as Red Guards The world belongs to you.It belongs to us as well, but ultimately it’s yours.You young people are … just like the morning sun.You embody the hope of the future.— Mao Zedong

25. Cultural Revolution • Le d by Red Guards • Goal = establish society of peasants and workers who were all equal • Life of “the mind” was useless • Red Guards shut down colleges and schools, imprisoned/executed thousands • Chaos threatened farm production and closed factories – civil war • Mao admitted Cultural Revolution had to stop • Army ordered to put down red Guards • Zhou Enlai - Communist party founder and premier since 1949, began to restore order

26. Mao’s Legacy • Lack of modern technology damaged Chinese efforts to increase agricultural and industrial output • Mao’s policies stifled economic growth • Mao eliminated incentives for higher production, tried to replace family life with life in the communes • Facing economic disaster, some Chinese communists talked of modernizing economy • Mao began the Cultural revolution to cleanse China of antirevolutionary forces – turned many people against radical communism • China entered moderate period under Zhou Enlai – tried to restrain radicals

27. China & the West • China had played almost no role in world affairs • China had split with Soviets over leadership of world communism • China displayed hostility towards U.S. because of U.S. support to Taiwan • China opened its doors • China’s isolation worried Zhou • 1971 – Zhou startled world by inviting U.S. table-tennis team to tour China • U.S. reversed its policy & endorsed UN membership for People’s Republic of China – new era in Chinese-American relations • Pres. Nixon met with Mao & Zhou – established diplomatic relations 1979

28. Economic Reform in China • Both Mao & Zhou died in 1976 – moderates took control of Communist Party • Jailed radicals who led Cultural revolution • 1980 – Deng Xiaoping emerged as powerful leader in China – last of the “old revolutionaries” • Deng boldly supported moderate economic policies – willing to use capitalist ideas to help China’s economy – embraced set of goals known as the Four Modernizations • Called for progress in agriculture, industry, defense, science, technology

29. Economic Reform in China • Deng eliminated communes, leased land to individual farmers • Farmers paid rent by delivering fixed quota of food to gov’t (could grow own crops and sell them for profit) • Food production increased by 50% • Deng permitted private businesses to operate • More freedom to set production goals – welcomed foreign tech and investment • As incomes increased, people began to buy products • Chinese youths became western • Foreign tourists symbolized China’s new policy of openness

30. Tiananmen Square • Unexpected problems due to Deng’s reforms • as living standards improved, gap between rich and poor widened • people believed that party officials profited from their positions • new policies admitted not only Western investments and tourists but also Western political ideas • More Chinese student studied abroad, learned about he West • As Chinese learned more about democracy, began to question China’s lack of freedom

31. Tiananmen Square Massacre • Students demand democracy • Sparked popular uprising in 1989 • More than 100,000 students occupied Tiananmen Square (huge public place in Beijing) as protest for democracy • Hunger strike = called for Deng to resign • Deng orders crackdown • Deng declared martial law – troops surrounded Beijing • Heavily armed soldiers & tanks stormed the square in June 1989 • Killed, wounded, arrested thousands • State used media to announce that reports of a massacre were untrue – claimed group of criminals had plotted against gov’t • However TV news had already broadcast the truth to the world

32. China Enters the New Millennium • Deng now firmly in control of China – continued his program of economic reform • Communist Party General Secretary Jiang Zemin assumed presidency in 1997 • Would he be able to hold power? What kind of leader will he be? • Challenged by military officials and rivals • China’s poor human rights record, its occupation of Tibet, & relations with U.S. questioned • U.S. pressured China to release political prisoners, ensure basic rights for political opponents • China remained hostile & repressed prodemocracy movement • Desire for freedom still ran through Chinese society – if remained economically open but politically closed, tensions would surely surface

33. China Enters the New Millennium • Admitted to some mistakes but refused to promise change • Pres. Jiang Zemin announced retirement in 2002 • Successor is Hu Jintao as Pres. & General Sec. of Communist Party in 2003 • Jiang remained leader of military • Both supported China’s move to market economy • Transfer of Hong Kong • Thriving business center – July 1, 1997, GB handed it over to China after 155 years – China promised to respect Hong Kong’s economic system & political liberties for 50 years • Many of HK’s citizens worried about Chinese rule and feared loss of freedoms • Others saw the transfer as a way to reconnect with their Chinese heritage – the control of mainland China over HK tightened

34. China Beyond 2000 • Creation of democracy can be slow, fitful, incomplete success • Liberal reforms may not lead immediately to political reforms • Economics & politics • Dramatic reduction in poverty • Adopted gradual approach to selling off state industries & privatizing the economy • By 2007, the country had world’s 4th largest economy after U.S., Japan, Germany • Cheap consumer goods from China are filling shops and dept. stores • China’s economic strength has come at a cost • Wealth gap between urban and rural areas has widened, w/inequality leading to social unrest • Rapid industrialization = pollution, environmental problems

35. Sources • By: Ms. Susan M. PojerHorace Greeley HS Chappaqua, NY