Kuomintang Founded in 1912 by Sun Yet- sen after the Republican Revolution of 1911 Tolerant of communism Influenced by President Abraham Lincoln and Confucius Followed the Three Principles of the People – Nationalism – Democracy – Social Reform Sun Yet- sen

Under Chiang Kai- shek: Completely anti- communist Imposed heavy taxes The provinces of China began to revolt through Communism. Chiang Kai- shek

Born to a farmer in 1893 Became a Marxist during 1911 Chinese Revolution Inspired by Lenin, Mao established the Chinese Communist Party in 1921 Created the Chinese Red Army Is credited with modern- day guerrilla fighting tactics

Created in 1927 Mao ordered the Army to not harm the peasants, and officers were forbidden from beating the men within the ranks. The peasants readily joined the communists In 1930, soldiers staged a revolt. Mao ordered 2,000 soldiers to be shot.

Mao’s Tactics The enemy advances, we retreat. The enemy camps, we harass. The enemy tires, we attack. The enemy retreats, we pursue. Put back all doors when you leave a house. Rice-stalk mattresses must all be bundled up again and returned. Be polite. Help people when you can. Give back everything you borrow, even if its only a needle. Pay for all things broken, even if only a chopstick. Don’t help yourself or search for things when people are not in their homes. Six Principles of the Red Army

The city of Hunan was no longer able to handle the growing population of the communists. In 1929, Mao started a journey to Jiangxi, but lost 50% of their troops due to hunger, cold, and attacks from the KMT. Once in Jiangxi, they fought off the war lords and freed the peasants. By 1931, the total population of the communists was one million people.

In 1933 a German general named Hans von Seeckt advised the Kuomintang to launch an attack on the communists that were in Jiangxi. The method was slow but steady as they surrounded the territory with trenches and blockades, starving them out. Within a year, the Red Army had lost 50% of their territory and 60,000 soldiers. Otto Braun and his Russian agents advised the Red Army to fully attack the Kuomintang. Mao disagreed. In your opinion, which method do you think is better? Who do you think the Red Army will listen to?

The Red Army decided to full scale attack, as suggested by Braun. this cost the Red Army man and supplies, but they were able to break out. Mao suggested a second attack at the rear of the Kuomintang forces, but Braun lead a retreat to Hunan, another communist base. This began the Long March in the fall of Kuomintang found it easy to attack them on their retreat, as Braun led them in a straight line. Mao took back the lead of the troops and took them in a twisting path to Shaanxi. They reached Yan'an, Shaanxi in October of Only about 10% of the troops made it back.

The Long March

The Kuomintang government was weak with corruption. Mao took the opportunity and illegally set up a Communist government. The population was much more supportive of Communism rather than Nationalism. Chiang Kai- shek had to run away to Taiwan. October 1, 1949 the People’s Republic of China was established.

Mao became chairman of People’s Republic of China from The Communist Party took over the media and promoted good images of Mao. Beginning in 1949 and lasting until 1953 millions of KMT officials, businessmen, landowners, and people who used to work for western companies were publically executed for suspected loyalty.

In 1953 Mao began the first of two Five Year Plans. Purpose was to get China’s focus away from agriculture and towards industry. Industrial plants were built and produced so much that China did not need outside support. In 1958 Mao launched the second Five Year Plan, also called, “The Great Leap Forward”. This plan led the country into a famine that didn’t end until 1961.