Post on 03-Jan-2016
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Mao Zedong and the Origins of Communism in China: Lots o’ fun stuff like wars and massacres
Kuomintang
Originally formed by Sun Yat-sen (also called Sun Yixian) to oppose imperial rule in China
Overthrew the last dynasty (Qing) and established the Republic of China
Three principles: Nationalism, Democracy, and Economic Security
Republic was unstable and various warlords seized power
Kuomintang reformed a govt. in the south Civil war with Warlords in the North
Communist Party
Origins go back to angers about imperialism after WWI and dissatisfaction with the Kuomintang
- Communism seemed to offer an answer
- May 4th Movement Formed by Mao and other young intellectuals in
1921
- Initially allied with the Kuomintang
- Grew disillusioned with Kuomintang after death of Sun Yat-sen
Shanghai Massacre 1927 Chiang Kai-shek (Jiang Jieshi) took power in the
Kuomintang after Sun died
- Mistrusted Communists Communists took Shanghai from the warlords Gave it to the Kuomintang Kuomintang killed hundreds, perhaps thousands, of
communists and union members in Shanghai
- attempt to preemptively wipe out the communist party
Even worse massacres followed in Guangzhou and Changsha
Civil War Prior to WWII
Mao Zedong and a few other important communist leaders survived the purges
- Who will support the communists and who the nationalists?
Mao started a guerilla war against Chiang About 100,000 communists vs. 700,000
Kuomintang
The Long March
Actually a series of marches
- Outnumbered communists fled nationalist forces Largest one came after Chiang surrounded Mao's
mountain stronghold
- fled 6-8000 miles over the course of a year
- numbers went from about 100,000 to 10,000
- many stories of heroism in the face of superior odds Mao's leadership let him more firmly establish his
leadership
During WWII
Civil war was suspended when Japan invaded Mao organized a guerilla war against the Japanese
occupiers Chiang had a secure base in the south but did
relatively little
- gathered an army of over 2.5 million that he did not use
- probably saving his strength for the communists
After the War Chiang had larger force but less popular support
- many nationalist soldiers actually deserted to join communists
Communists were experienced in guerilla warfare Chiang eventually fled to Taiwan with his army
- Leads to two Chinese governments, both claiming legitimacy
Communist China expanded into tibet and mongolia Communists claimed a new mandate of heaven Began trying to industrialize China