The Long March Nationalists Overthrow Qing Dynasty 1911

The Long March

Nationalists Overthrow Qing Dynasty 1911 – Nationalists overthrow the Qing Dynasty (Which had been ruling since 1644!) 1912 – Sun Yat Sen (Yixian) becomes the leader of the Kuomintang, or the Nationalist Party Three Principles of the People: 1. Nationalism – an end to foreign control 2. People’s Rights – Democracy 3. People’s Livelihood – economic security for all Chinese

Nationalists Overthrow Qing Dynasty Sun Yat Sen lacked authority and was unable to control china Turned the presidency over to a powerful general: Yuan Shikai betrays the democratic ideas, sparking local revolts Yuan Shikai dies causing the new government to be left shattered

World War I The Chinese government joins WWI on the side of the Allies and declares war on Germany. China expected to get disputed lands back from the allies for their loyalty Disputed lands are given to Japan under the Treaty of Versailles. China refuses to sign the Treaty Sparks the May Fourth Movement – Protests across the country calling for a strong, modern china

Communists in China Many Chinese intellectuals turned against democracy in favor of Lenin’s style of communism. Mao Zedong helps found the Communist Party in 1921 Unlike Russia, China was mostly rural so the peasants would become the revolutionaries

Communists in China Sun Yat Sen dies in 1925 and is replaced by Chaing Kai-shek (Jiang Jieshi) Feared the rise of the communists Government became steadily less democratic and more corrupt. Many peasants give their support to the communists. Nationalists nearly wiped out the communist party in April 1927, after killing many communist and trade union leaders. The Communists would come back and it would lead to a bloody civil war.

Civil War Nationalists and Communists are fighting for the control of China Mao takes his revolution to the country side “Swimming in the peasant sea” Recruits peasants and trains them in guerrilla warfare

The Long March In 1933, Chaing Kai-Shek puts together an army of 700, 000 men to surround the communists. The Communist Red Army Fled and about 100, 000 men begin a 6, 000 mile retreat through the mountains After a little more than a year, Mao and 8, 000 men settle in caves in NW China.

Civil War Suspended Japan invaded Manchuria in 1931 as the Chinese fought amongst themselves By 1938 Japan held a large part of China The Nationalists and Communists made a truce in order to fight the Japanese To be Continued…