The Chinese Century The Chinese Revolution and Beyond
The Chinese Century? The Chinese Revolution and Beyond
1. Qing Dynasty Overthrown (1912) Prior to 1912 China was ruled by several imperial dynasties. The Emperor had total control over issues of law and culture. The Emperor was viewed as “god on earth”. Known as the start of the Republic of China. • Nationalist Party, led by Sun Yixian, succeeded in a relatively bloodless overthrow of the “last emperor”, Puyi. • Years of Corrupt rule by the Nationalist Party, with the Emperor as only a figurehead. • Civil Unrest Continued, peasants and lower classes suffer from lack of food, healthcare, etc. .
2. China during World War I and II- China suffered under the effects of the wars, especially with regard to Japan wanted to colonize China and take it’s resources. • Rape of Nanking- The destruction, pillage and massacre of the Chinese capitol in 1937.
3. The Communist Party in China- In the 1920’s small groups of Chinese intellectuals studied Marx and observed the revolution taking place in Russia. They thought that the sizable peasant society of China would be a good fit for communism. • Lenin sent military advisors and communist organizers to help out the fledgling Chinese communists. • Nationalists and Communists clash in Shanghai, a hotbed of communist leadership.
4. Peasants Align with the Communists Communist leader Mao Zedong was able to convince Chinese peasants that communism had more to offer them than the Nationalists. It didn’t help that the Nationalist government was doing little for the peasants.
5. Chinese Civil War- By 1930 the Nationalists and Communists were fighting a bloody civil war. While the Nationalists controlled the big cities, the Communists were successful in the rural areas. • The Long March (1933)- Outnumbered six to one, the Communists began a 6, 000 mile march to avoid the Nationalists. Lasting more than a year, The March became a subject for folklore and the building respect for Mao.
6. Communist Victory (1949) All major cities in China fall to Mao and the Red Army. • The Nationalists escaped to Taiwan, also known as Formosa. They would set up the country of “Nationalist China”. • Mao and the Communists set up a government on mainland China, known as The People’s Republic of China • Struggle Between the “Two Chinas” to present times.
7. Chinese Society Under Mao • Mao became both Communist Party Chairman and Head of State. • Land Holdings seized and converted into collective farms. More than 1 million landlords are killed. • All industry and business was nationalized.
8. • • The Great Leap Forward By 1958 Mao was not satisfied with the progress made by the Revolution. Agricultural production was at an all time low. The Great Leap Forward was a expansion of the agricultural system with even larger collective farms or “communes”. The Great Leap Forward was a huge failure as there was no incentive to work hard because all productions went to the state.
9. The Cultural Revolution After the failure of the Great Leap Forward and economic policies that he did not approve of, Mao encouraged a new “Cultural Revolution” that would promote the peasant work ethic and discourage intellectual discourse, which was seen as “dangerous and useless. ” • Mao wanted to reinvigorate the Revolution, which he felt was getting off track.
Features of the Cultural Revolution… • Militia units known as Red Guards, young people who left school to enforce the CR. • Any cultural, intellectual or academic institution was attacked. Many of these targets were seen as not supportive of the Revolution • Thousands of people jailed, executed or tried for “counter revolutionary activity”. • Widespread chaos ensued, farm and industrial production harmed. • During this time China struggled to remain stable. Threat of civil war was imminent.
10. End of the Cultural Revolution By 1976 even Mao thought the Cultural Revolution was a failure. With his support… • • The Red Guards were disbanded and… Premier Zhou Enlai restored order
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