1. Overthrow of Manchu Dynasty (1644-1911)
1911 Manchu Dynasty overthrown by Kuomintang (KMT)--nationalists
Sun Yat-sen becomes president of China with hopes of establishing a
modern government based of the three principles of the people..
1. Nationalism
2. Democracy
3. People’s Livelihood
Holds power for six weeks.
Problem: lacked authority and military support
Result: the revolution provided no basis for further progress—
deep divisions exist among various political groups.
Sun Yat-sen ( )

2. Era of the Warlords ( )
Local concentrations of power emerge in the provinces
Powerful military leaders & local gentry assert their
power & take control of their provinces.
Warlord armies terrorize the countryside.
Millions of peasants suffer & die of famine & disease.
Peasants’ long desire for land went unresolved; landless
grew

3. World War I--Asia Japan: Seeking a foothold in China
Wanted to establish China as a protectorate
Internal problems prevent China from acting
1917-China goes to war with Germany in
hopes of an allied victory.
U.S. recognizes Japan’s interest in China.
1919 Treaty of Versailles:
Japan is given territory & privileges
previously belonging to Germany in China.
Result: May Fourth Movement

4. May Fourth Movement: May 4, 1919
3,000 plus students gather in center of Peking.
Protest under slogan: ‘Down with the Imperialists’
Explodes into a nationalist movement:
1. Spreads to other cities, workers, manufacturers,
shopkeepers, & professionals join the cause.
2. Nationalism & anti-imperialist sentiment grew.
Outcome of Movement:
Creation of the first broadly based Chinese revolutionary coalition.
Forced the release of imprisoned students & the dismissal of Japanese officials from government.
Majority of reformers turn against Sun Yat-sen’s belief in western democracy.

5. Rise of Marxism & Formation of the CCP
—young intellectuals form a Marxist study society.
Student magazines become an outlet for disseminating
Marxist-Leninist principles & organizing strikes.
Seen as a method to vitalize Chinese peasantry.
Gains acceptance in wake of Chinese industrialization.
Capitalism seen as cause of foreign exploitation & aggression.
1921—Chinese Communist Party (CCP) formed
Sun Yat-sen himself becomes disillusioned with the west.
Mao Tse-tung

6. KMT and CCP Alliance
Sun Yat-sen organizes the KMT along Bolsheviks lines
Works towards uniting all revolutionary groups for common action.
1923—Lenin sends military advisors & equipment in return for allowing the
CCP to join forces with the KMT.

7. Break-up of KMT and CCP Chiang Kai-shek 1925—Sun Yat-sen dies
Chiang Kai-shek emerges as leader of KMT.
KMT & CCP forces successfully defeat the Warlords.
1927—Chiang fears CCP and its leaders.
KMT troops overrun Shanghai
Execute CCP leaders & union members.
Purges spread to other cities.
Surviving CCP leaders go into hiding.
Chiang Kai-shek

8. Nationalist Republic of China (1928-37)
Chiang Kai-shek becomes President.
U.S. & Britain formally recognize KMT government, the USSR does not.
He promises democracy and political rights for all people.
Government becomes dictatorial and corrupt.
Focuses on modernizing & developing cities.
Ignores the peasants—life does not improve

9. Mao Tse-tung and the Peasants
Recognizes their revolutionary potential.
Begins to organize soviets to train peasants as
professional revolutionaries
Divides CCP controlled land amongst peasants
Wins loyalty by improving food production
and educating them.

10. Civil War--1930 Mao recruits thousands of peasants into his Red Army.
Well trained in guerilla warfare.
1933—700,000 KMT soldiers surround
the CCP’s mountain stronghold.
CCP is outnumbered 6 to 1.
1934--CCP forces flee for their lives.

11. The Long March
Begin a one year 6,000 mile journey to escape the wrath of KMT army.
Forced to cross rivers & mountains while fending off KMT attacks.
Only 20,000 of the 90,000 that began the journey survived

12. WW II begins in ASIA Japan invades Manchuria & in 1937 launch
An all out invasion of China.
Japanese threat force a KMT & CCP truce.
CCP under Mao mobilize peasants for
Guerilla war against Japan

13. Chiang Kai-shek with FDR & Winston Churchill
Chiang Kai-shek gathers 2.5 million soldiers
Received 1.5 billion in U.S. money & equipment to fight Japan.
Japan defeated in 1945.
1945—CCP controls Northern China & KMT Controls Southern China.

14. Civil War 1946-49 KMT outnumbers CCP
Chiang receives 2.5 billion more in U.S. aid
KMT can’t muster popular support
China’s economy collapses
Thousands of KMT soldiers desert

15. Mao Zedong Proclaiming the
1949 Mao’s Red Army takes over China’s Major
Cities.
Mao gains control of the country
Chiang Kai-shek & KMT leaders flee to Taiwan
People’s Republic of China

16. Credits
Beck, Roger B. et al. Modern World History: Patterns of Interaction.
Boston: McDougal Littell
Craig, Albert M. et al. The Heritage of Western Civilizations
New Jersey: Prentice-Hall
No Author Given. Chinese Photo Gallery.
No Author Given. China. Compton’s Encyclopedia Online