China PostEmperors to Modern Day Review Empress Ci

China Post-Emperors to Modern Day

Review • Empress Ci. Xi dies and her infant son becomes Emperor • 1911 – Royal Guard joins revolt and overthrows Emperor. (He’s a baby, what do you want? ) • Sun Yat-sen becomes President

Sun as President • Ends rule of emperors • Much of the country in the hands of warlords – Fighting for power • Industry in the hands of foreign powers – “hypo-colony” • Solution? – Sun accepts help of the Soviet Union – Communists become members of Kuomintang

Sun Dies • Sun Yat-sen dies in 1925 • Chiang Kai-shek named commander of Kuomintang Army • Mao Zedong (or Tse-tung) in charge of propaganda and political agents

Military Success • Kuomintang drive to the North and controls all of China south of the Yangtse River by March 1927 – Chiang decide to get rid of communists • Rounded up and killed • Take the capital of Peking in 1928 • 1930 – Chiang declares himself ruler and moves capital to Nanking

What about Mao? • Mao survives the violence against communists • Moves to the mountains in Southern China – Sets up the Kiangsi Soviet – Begins communist army • Ward off 3 attacks by Chiang

Does this make sense? • Japan attacks in 1931 – Chiang pays little attention, keeps trying to destroy communists

The “Long March” • October 1934 – Chiang blocks communists • Outnumbers them 3 to 1 – Mao starts trek north • Takes over a year • Loses ¾ of his men • Sets up Yenan Soviet

And in this Corner • Three groups vying for power in China – Mao’s Communists – Chiang’s Kuomintang – Japan • STAY TUNED

Together Again • By 1936 Japan launches a full scale invasion of mainland China • Chiang is kidnapped and forced to accept an alliance with Communists against the Japanese

Who does what? • Communists – Bulk of the fighting – 1 million men in army, 2 million peasants in militia – Seen as strong liberators • Nationalists – Did very little – Squandered aid – Seen as corrupt and incompetent by people

Back to being enemies • Chiang signs treaty with USSR – Says his is the proper government – He should accept Japanese surrender • Mao sends his men to accept surrender

Civil War • US backs Chiang, but tries to mediate – Lends air support • 1947 Civil War breaks out • 1948 – Nationalist troops desert and flee • Mao controls above Yangtse River by April 1949 • Chiang and Kuomintang flee to Taiwan

A New Nation • October 1, 1949 – People’s Republic of China is born • Mao as leader

China under Mao • People change loyalties to Mao – Part of culture – Remember Confucianism – Chiang seen as losing fitness to lead

Democratic Centralism • Party gives complete obedience to leaders • Bring everything under central control – 18 Provinces made into six regions – Bring Northern territory under Party control – Party members at all levels of government • Supreme People’s Court (not Whopner) – Used to accuse and try opposition

Economic Changes • Agrarian Reform Law – Gave land to peasants • Industry and business fall under state control – Directly controlled: banks, railroads, heavy industry – Other firms pushed out by policies and price controls

Five Year Plans • Mao gets idea from USSR – He visits • 10, 000 Soviet planners help with plan • Give priority to heavy industry – Oil, coal, steel • Paid for by taxing peasants • Mao allows free speech and then revokes it when criticized

Collectivization • Two Different Groups – Lower Stage APCs • Combined 30 – 50 households • Kept ownership of the land – Collective • 200 – 300 households • Land managed by committee • Small plots allowed

Great Leap Forward • Reorganized farms into 26, 000 communes – Each like a little country • Had own army, industry, and farms • About 25, 000 people • Advanced science and industry – China explodes nuclear bomb in 1964 • Problems – Low quality – Much waste

Lin Shao-ch’i • Given title of President of China by Mao – Rewards given • Higher education • Better prices • Mao concentrates on communist ideology – Realized he wasn’t most organized person

Cultural Revolution • “Going Down” – people of privilege sent to farms to see how peasants live • Army – Ranks abolished • The Little Red Book – Book of Mao’s ideas and writings • Culture changed – Plays, etc. about communist struggle

Red Guards • Bands of students indoctinated by Mao • Closes school for 2 years for curriculum changes • Encouraged that revolt was good sometimes • Replace leaders with revolutionary committees – Liu Shao-ch’I included

Results • Friction between Moderates and Radicals • Party officials rise in importance

Moderates • Backed by Party, government administration, and army • Wanted: – Political stability – Economic growth and development

Radicals • Backed by trade unions, militia, and Communist Youth League • Controlled press and radio • Wanted: – Class struggle

Gang of Four • Mao dies on September 9, 1976 • His wife and three others try to take control – Continue Radical agenda • The four are arrested • Moderates take control