Twentieth Century. China PART 1: Republican China Twentieth Century China PART 1: Republican China 1912-1949 PART 2: Communist China 1949-1997 D. Smith/History 12

Pre Revolution CHINA 1912-1949 PART 1

Background: (notes optional) Republican China: 1912-1949 Background: (notes optional) China: Monarchy to Warlords 1911-19 1912- Revolution led by Sun Yat-sen, leads to abdication of Puyi, the last Emperor of China, ending a 268 year dynasty & 4000 year monarchy. 1912: Republic of China established 1912-1916: Leadership changed often. 1916: China fragments, Warlord Era began

Background: (notes optional) Republican China: 1912-1949 Background: (notes optional) Domestically, China was ruled by regional gov’ts & warlords. Internationally, a military regime in Beijing, known as the Beiyang gov’t represented China. The Beiyang gov’t accepted foreign aid to put down opposition & in return offered concessions. Foreign imperial influence was high.

Background: (notes optional) Republican China: 1912-1949 Background: (notes optional) May 4th Movement Students & intellectuals, inspired by the 14 points, were disappointed by the Beiyang gov’ts weak reaction to Paris Peace Treaty. German held Shandong prov. was ceded to Japan in the treaty, not returned to China. May 4: 3,000 univ. students met in Tiananmen square, Peking (Beijing) to protest Versailles, Western influences, Japanese influences & their own gov’t.

Background: (notes optional) Republican China: 1912-1949 Background: (notes optional) Under pressure, the gov’t refused to sign the Treaty, but Shandong remained under Japanese control. Both Nationalists & Communists were moved by this display of Chinese nationalism. 70 years later, students would celebrate the anniversary of this movement, but it became a protest demanding democratic freedoms… Shandong Province

(maybe start getting these notes down!) Republican China: 1912-1949 (maybe start getting these notes down!) KMT In 1919, Sun Yat-sen worked in Shanghai to re-establish the Nationalist Party (Kuomintang- KMT) 1920-1925- He worked to establish a southern regime & unify the nation, with limited success. The KMT was given support and assistance from Russia, and was encouraged to cooperate with the new Communist Party of China (CPC).

Republican China: 1912-1949 Communist Party of China The CPC grew directly out of the May Fourth Movement 1919- The Russian Comintern helped to support the new party 1921: 50 members in various cities, held 1st Party Congress in Shanghai 1923: 300 members & ~4 thousand in the Socialist Youth League.

Republican China: 1912-1949 KMT+CPC Sun Yat-sen allowed communists to join the KMT, but didn’t form an alliance Comintern helped with funds & training. 1925: Yat-Sen died & Chiang kai Shek took over. 1925: students in Shanghai protested imperialism and the “Unequal Treaties”, but foreign police shot Chinese students, causing a general strike. Anti-imperial and Nationalist conflict & protests increased KMT and CPC membership

Republican China: 1912-1949 The Split of the KMT & CPC By 1927, Chiang began to purge the KMT of Communists, and brought most of south & central China under KMT control. BUT- the CPC led peasant revolts & industrial strikes, causing instability. By 1928 Chiang completed “The Northern Expedition”, a military campaign to eliminate warlords & unify China under the KMT. 1928- The KMT established a nationalist government in Nanjing.

Republican China: 1912-1949 The CPC and the Long March 1928-34 The Communist party re-established itself in enclaves in south & central China BUT- in 1934 the Nationalists forced the Red Army to abandon their bases. Pursued by the Nationalist Army, the communists undertook a punishing retreat. They marched west and circled north, through some of China’s harshest territory.

Republican China: 1912-1949 Although it was actually a series of marches, it became known as “The Long March” They covered 12,500 km over 370 days. Many did not survive (est. range from 1/10, to 2/10) During the Long March a new leader emerged, Mao Zedong.

Republican China: 1912-1949 Unity Against Japanese Aggression 1931-1937- the Japanese increased their control over Manchuria, renaming it Manchukuo, and installing the last Chinese Emperor as a puppet ruler. Chiang continued to battle the Communists, but in the face of Japanese aggression, both parties agreed to work together to oppose the Japanese. However, tensions and struggle between the two parties continued for the length of the Second World War.

Republican China: 1912-1949 Post-War Civil War During the war, Mao led a strong campaign against the Japanese with little support from the USSR, while Chiang held back despite significant help from the US. When the civil war resumed, Chiang held more territory, had more men, and was better equipped than Mao. BUT: Mao was seen as the true defender of China and free from foreign influence! By 1948 Mao had more support. After losing Peking in 1949, Chiang’s forces began to retreat to Formosa (Taiwan).