After Chengzu’s death in 1424, China’s new emperor decided that foreign trade was too expensive. The rest of the world seemed to demand China’s products more than China sought theirs. The emperor and his advisors agreed that the nation's money should go to strengthening the military rather than to finance commercial voyages. China entered a period of isolation from the rest of the world. China entered a period of isolation from the rest of the world. While private merchants continued to trade along routes like the Silk Road, China never again financed large voyages like those undertaken by Zheng He.

In the early 1800’s The Qing decided to allow trade on a limited basis. They created the Canton System. The Canton System only allowed Europeans to trade in the Chinese city of Canton (modern day city of Guangzhou). The Qing intended to limit trade and protect the Chinese people from what they viewed as Europe’s negative influence. The Canton System allowed Europeans to bring new products from their colonies in the Western Hemisphere. These products included squash, corn, sweet potatoes and tobacco. Meanwhile, luxury items like tobacco became very popular. The system proved profitable. Both Chinese merchants and European trades got very rich.

The Chinese smoked opium for hundreds of years before the Europeans arrived. Opium us a drug made from poppy plants. It is very strong and addictive. Today, these same opium poppies are used to make drugs like morphine (an addictive pain killer) and heroin. Originally, the Chinese used opium predominantly as a medicine. However, as its use increased, many became addicted and used it as a “recreation drug” (drug just for getting high). When Europeans arrived, they began shipping increased amounts of opium into the country. More and more people became addicted. Even after the Qing emperor outlaws the product, British smugglers continued supplying it to Chinese citizens.

In the 1840’s, Great Britain and China went to war over the opium trade. Due to superior weapons, the British defeated the Chinese relatively easily. Britain's victory in the Opium War meant the end of the Canton system. It also resulted in China having to lease the port city of Hong Kong to the British.

Hong Kong was an important center of trade in Eastern Asia. Whoever controlled Hong Kong controlled much of the trade and wealth coming in and out of China. Britain used its new power to impose trade policies that allowed British traders to grow rich while China made little money. As Britain's influence increased and more opium arrived from India, China’s government grew weaker and its people poorer. Japan eventually surpassed China as the most prosperous and modern nation in Eastern Asia.

The Chinese government now only existed on paper, not in reality The foreigners could do anything they wanted to China as they only had to follow their own laws. Foreign goods were now cheaper than Chinese goods were China was carved up into spheres of influence which is where one nation claims there part of China for their special privileges.

The Chinese Republic was set up in 1911 when it got rid of the dynasty type of rule in China. The first ruler was Dr. Sun; “the Father of the Chinese Revolution” For years Dr. Sun spread the idea that the Chinese people should have a government “of the people, by the people, and for the people” In 1912, he set up the Kuomintang. Kuomintang – The movement founded by Sun Yat-Sen to make China a modern democratic republic. It is now a part of the Republic of China, located on the island of Taiwan

During the late 19 th century and into the 20 th century, China grew very unstable. Poverty and starvation led to unrest among many of China’s peasants. In 1912, a revolution replaced the emperor with a Chinese republic. China was divided from 1916 to 1926 when Chiang Kai-shek took over and united most of China. His only nemesis was Mao Zedong and the Communist

In ___________ the Chinese people revolted against the emperor that they blamed for _____________________? 1911 Not protecting them

Chinese Warlords, 1920s Yuan Shi-kai

China in 1924

Chiang Kai-shek Becomes President of Nationalist China, 1928

The Long March

There was not one Long March, but several, as various Communist armies in the south escaped to the north and west. The Communists, under the eventual command of Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai, escaped in a circling retreat to the west and north, which reportedly traversed some 12,500 kilometers (8,000 miles) over 370 days. The Long March began the ascent to power of Mao Zedong, whose leadership during the retreat gained him the support of the members of the party.

Mao Zedong As a Young Revolutionary (Mao Tse-tung)

Mao With His Children, 1930s

Japan tries to invade China In an effort to rebuff a Japanese invasion in 1937, Chiang collaborated with Mao Zedong and his army. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the United States helped to fund Chiang and his government.

The Peoples’ Liberation Army, 1949

The Communist Victory

Taiwan: The Republic of China

Jiang Jieshu ( ) (Chiang Kai-shek)

The People’s Republic of China

Reasons for the Communists’ 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.