Imperial China Collapses

I. China ready for revolution 1911 Foreigners control trade & resources Humiliated by outsiders C. Many Chinese believe nationalism and modernization key for future D. Others feared change & wanted to keep tradition

II. Nationalists overthrow Qing A. Kuomintang = Nationalist Party removed last emperor of Qing Dynasty (dynasty had ruled since 1644) Kuomintang Flag B. Sun Yat Sen (Sun Yixian) became leader and president of the Republic of China 1912 “Father of Modern China” Sun Yat Sen

III. Sun Yat Sen’s Nationalism A. “Three principles of the People” 1. Nationalism - end foreign control 2. Democracy - people’s rights 3. Livelihood - economic security B. Weak leader, power w/ warlords: Sun did not have authority or military support to secure national unity “The Chinese people…do not have national spirit. Therefore even though we have four hundred million people gathered together in one China, in reality, they are just a heap of loose sand.”

IV. WWI outrage A. China had fought with the Allies B. Versailles Treaty 1. Treaty gave Chinese land that had been controlled by Germany to Japan!! a. the Chinese wanted the Japanese OUT 2. May Fourth Movement – 3,000 students protested Versailles Treaty a. others join the cause; people began to look away from democracy and look toward Lenin’s Communism 3. Led to rise of Communist Party in China

V. Civil War = Communists vs. Nationalists Communist leader - Mao Zedong B. After death of Sun Yat Sen, Chiang Kai-shek (Jiang Jieshi) became Nationalist Leader 1. anti-Communist; tried to wipe out Communist Party with assassinations and slaughter 2. promised democracy and political rights 3. Government became corrupt… peasants sided with Communists C. Lasted until 1949 Mao Zedong Chiang Kai-Shek

VI. Mao Zedong’s revolutionary movement… A. Communist party leader 1. used Guerrilla tactics 2. had support of USSR B. The Long March – 100,000 Communists fled to avoid defeat 1933 1. Many died on 6,000 mile march 2. on the run from Nationalist troops C. Japan benefited from China’s internal conflict – invaded! 1. 1931 and 1937 2. Nationalists and Communists come together to fight off Japanese

Rape of Nanking = Genocide committed by Rape of Nanking = Genocide committed by Japanese on the Chinese 1937-1938 Japanese forces seized the capital of Kuomintang, while raping and slaughtering 300,000 Chinese people