China After the Revolution

The Rise of New Revolutionary Groups

Areas to considerWhat was the new government

following the fall of the Manchu?Yuan ShikaiThe warlord eraWho were the Guomindang (GMD)?Sun Yatsen and 3 principlesDevelopment of Chinese Communist

Party

Recap and explore

What were the characteristics of Chinese history?

Challenges of Chinese history?Interpretations - country divides (China,

Japan, USSR, Atlantic community)

‘A revolution against the world to join the world’

(Abandoned archaic systems - wanted to adapt new W. ideas in order to drive out the foreigners and restore old glories)

Rule of Yuan Shikai - ‘Modernising Conservative’

Yuan Shikai (done the deal) - little GMD could do (power in S. Nanjing - govt. N.)

Republicanism too sophisticated for peasantsYuan acceptable to gentry and merchants -

no social reform or economic reform - confusion and uncertainty

Ruled as military dictator (despite frail parliamentary institutions - closed down with provincial assemblies). Opposition bribed or crushed. ‘Emperor’ but rebellions.

No vision for new system; dissolved GMDDied 1916 - further disintegration

The Warlord Era

Yuan had faults – so did Republican contempories – naive and corrupt

Did attempt resolve problems & reassert central authority

At least held the country togetherDeath ushered in chaotic period ‘the

Era of the Warlords’ 1916-27

The Warlord EraJapan ‘21 demands’ – mood of intense

nationalism ‘4 May movement’ – series of anti-foreigner

demonstrationsMay – month learned about Versailles agreement

(lost former German territories – Shandong province, port of Quingdao) despite support for Allies

1919 – embrace of Marxism following Russian Revolution

1921 – founding of CCP – 1922 united front with GMD = ‘a revolutionary alliance’ – rid China of warlords and foreign imperialists

Nature of Warlord RuleNominal republican governmentLittle real power – split into factions – couldn’t

maintain loyal army so couldn’t impose will on provinces

So provinces under influence of private armies – commanders took civil authority too – answerable to selves

Own laws and taxation systemsCf. Renaissance Italy or War of Roses in

England ‘Confusion and fragmentation’

Phases of Warlord Rule

Pre-1920Post-1920First warlords – power by default – in

power at time. Conservative. After 1920 new military commanders

appeared – opportunists seized power

Sun Yatsen

Mao Zedong

Sun Yatsen and the GMD

The Development of the Chinese Communist Party