A Brief Introduction to History of Modern China

Jin Guangyao

Professor of History

Fudan University

Chinese Modern History:

• Late Qing Period: 1840—1911

• Republican Period: 1912—1949

• People’s Republic: 1949--

Ancient China

• Over 5000 years of historical continuity

• Among the oldest civilizations in the world

• More than twenty dynasties recorded in Chinese long history

• Tang dynasty (618—907), one of the most prosperous dynasties.

Confucius (551- 479 B.C.)

the Confucians emphasize

• the concept of REN 仁• the need for self-discipline

• the self-examination

• compromise and tolerance as the inner virtues of people

• Qing Dynasty 1644-1911

Late Qing Period

• Qing: the last dynasty in China founded by Manzu in 1644

• Man zu, Han zu: different nationalities

• Qing facing the crisis in early 19th century from both within and without

• The First Opium War 1840-1842

Nanjing Treaty 1842:the first unequal treaty between China an

d Powers

• the opening of five ports;

• the cession of HK,

• extraterritoriality

• an indemnity as war compensation

After the First Opium War

• Most of Chinese officials were still arrogant

• Some began to face the reality

• The Second Opium War 1856-1860

Li Hongzhang (1823 - 1901), considered as the leader of the “Self-Strengthening Movement”, was the most influential politician in late 19th century.

• Chinese-Japanese War 1894-1895

Aftermath of the War 1894-95

• Calling for reform

• Reform demand rejected by Qing dynasty

• New generation turned to revolution

Sun Yat-sen( 1866-1925), the leader of a new generation of revolutionaries. His political ideal was to overthrow the monarchy system and to set up a republic based on American model.

On Jan. 1, 1912, the Republic of China was established.

Sun Yat-sen’s political ideal

• Military governance

• Tutelage governance

(Nationalist Party)

• Constitutional government

• Political turbulence→ warlord period

• Sun failed to get support from Great Powers

• Sun’s cooperation with Russia and CCP

Chiang Kai-shek (1887-1975) became the leader of the Nationalist Party after Sun’s death

•

In July 1921, the first congress was held in Shanghai, marking the birth of CCP

Nationalist-Communist coalition between 1924 and 1927

Mao Zedong (1893-1976) became the leader of CCP

In 1937 Japan launched a full-scale aggression against China

Mao Zedong and Jiang Jieshi

The Civil War between KMT and CCP (1946-1949)

Mao announced the establishment of the People’s Republic of China on Oct.1, 1949

Mao’s Path to China’s Modernization

• mass mobilization: revolutionary experience

• rapid economic growth: eager to economic

development

Great Leap Forward:

millions of people were mobilized to making Steel

People’s Commune: Public Canteen

Mao’s Road to China’s Modernization

• Economic chaos created the difference between Mao and the pragmatic leaders Liu Shaoqi and Deng Xiaoping

• Policy difference resulted in the Cultural Revolution

The Cultural Revolution 1966-1976

Deng in 1978

The opening up of Pudong