Chinese Revolution of 1911 & The Rise of Mao Zedong

Quick recap of where we left off with China…

China before the 1911 Revolution The Chinese hostility towards westerners had been growing. Opium War/Treaty of Nanjing Taiping Rebellion China’s Opening: Spheres of Influence/Open Door Policy Anti-foreign Chinese took strong actions against foreigners, attacking and killing them in 1900 (Boxer Rebellion). Western powers sent a multinational army and crushed the Boxers. As a result, a foreign army was allowed to stay in China.

Revolution of 1911 In 1911, opposition to the government’s reliance on Western powers led to a series of uprisings. This forced the Qing dynasty out of power, ending the ancient system of imperial rule. From 1911 – 1928 the country seemed ready to break into pieces. Civil war broke out and many people tried to claim rights to China. Among the groups pushing for modernization and nationalization was the Nationalist Party, or the Kuomintang (also spelled Guomindang), led by Sun Yat-sen.

Sun Yat-sen (Sun Yixian) Sun Yat-sen was declared the first president of the new Chinese Republic in 1912. He hoped to establish a modern government based on the “Three Principles of the People” Nationalism Representative Government Livelihood for all people Sun lacked the authority and military support to secure national liberty

Impact of the Treaty of Versailles In 1917 (during WWI), the government in Beijing, hoping for an allied victory, declared war against Germany. However, under the Treaty of Versailles, the Allied leaders gave Japan, not China, the territories and privileges that had previously belonged to Germany. May 4, 1919: When the news of the Treaty reached China, outrage swept the country. Demonstrations broke out in many Chinese cities and people protested and joined parties like the Kuomintang or the newly founded Communist Party.

China under Chiang Kai-shek Sun Yat-sen had appointed his brother-in-law, Chiang Kai-shek (also spelled Jiang Jieshi) to lead his new Nationalist Army. After Yat-sen’s death in 1925, Chiang Kai-shek took control of the Nationalist Party. Became known as Generalissimo He continued Sun’s plans of modernizing China Technology, medicine, end of foot binding, language simplified, efforts to improve literacy New capital built in Nanjing Some people became rich, but many remained very poor

Civil War: Communists vs. Nationalists Chiang and the Nationalists then faced a challenge to their authority by the Chinese Communist Party. The communists were being led by a man named Mao Zedong. In 1927, Chiang moved against the communists. Chiang killed thousands of Communist supporters, forcing them to flee to the southeastern border of China. Mao gained support from the large peasant population in China and communism grew extensively in numbers. Chiang found this out and launched a hunt for the communists.

Mao Zedong and his wife on the Long March In 1934, greatly outnumbered, Mao led his Red Army forces more than 6,000 miles to northwest China. This chase lasted more than a year. About 90,000 Communists with their families set out on this “Long March”. Only about 7,000 survived. Mao Zedong and his wife on the Long March

The Long March

Japan’s Invasion Suspends the Civil War Japan invaded Manchuria in 1931 which posed an even bigger threat to both the Nationalists and Communists. In 1937, the Japanese launched an all-out invasion of China. Very successful but brutal campaign – ending with the Rape of Nanjing Massacre of 300,000 civilians - raped, pillaged, executed Now, even Chiang Kai-shek fled to interior of China By 1938, Japan held control of a large part of China.

Japan’s Invasion Suspends the Civil War By 1941, the world was at war and China found a great ally in America who sent men and tons of supplies. America also tried to bring the Nationalists and Communists together The Japanese threat forced an uneasy truce between the Nationalist and Communists – temporarily – and they united to fight the Japanese. Reluctant and distrustful allies, Chiang and Mao

Communists Gain Control Once the Japanese were defeated, the Civil War (1946-49) began again. The Communists had the best leaders and the best tactics. America became disillusioned with the corruption of Chiang’s regime and withdrew support. Popular support for the communists among the peasants and women proved decisive and Chiang fled to Taiwan to set up his Republic of China. The People’s Republic of China was declared by Mao Zedong in 1949. The Chinese now had their first strong government in over a century.

Why did the Chinese support Mao and the Communists? Reasons for victory: Mao won support of China’s huge peasant population. The communists pledged to redistribute land to poor peasants and end oppression by landlords. Many women backed Mao’s forces. The nationalists had made little effort to improve their harsh lives. The communists rejected the inequalities of the old Confucian order. Many saw the nationalists as morally and politically bankrupt.