CHINA

Case Study Background

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/1/12/250px-Map_of_China_%28physical%29_%28small%

http://www.gowallpapers.com/walls.asp?cat=Animals&id=30

http://commons.wikimedia.org/upload/thumb/4/43/250px-Great_Wall_of_China.jpeg

Early history

China has been considered one of the cradles of civilization.Chinese writing system dates back almost 4000 years.Had imperial dynastic form of government since 200 years B.C.Dynastic system overturned in 1911.Weak republican government till 1949.

http://www.chinatown-online.co.uk/pages/images/culture/history/first4.JPG

Three main revolutions

1911: Sun Yat Sen led a revolution against the Manchu dynasty ending 2000 years of dynastic government.It centered on the Three Principles of the People: "nationalism, democracy, and people's livelihood." The principle of nationalism called for overthrowing

the Manchus and ending foreign hegemony over China. The second principle, democracy, was used to describe

Sun's goal of a popularly elected republican form of government.

Three main revolutions

People's livelihood, often referred to as socialism, was aimed at helping the common people through regulation of the ownership of the means of production and land.

1912: Sun Yat-sen returned to China from the United States. But power in Beijing already had passed to the commander-in-chief of the imperial army, Yuan Shikai.So Sun resigned and Yuan succeeded him, forming a republican system of government with a premier, a cabinet, a draft constitution, and a plan for parliamentary elections early in 1913.

Three main revolutions

The Kuomintang (KMT)(National People's party) was formed at this time to prepare for the election.

Influence of communism

Yuan Shih-kai weakened the republic, and his death in 1916 left China in poor condition.

1921: first meeting of communist party in China, led by Mao Zedong

Sun was successful in forming a new government in 1923; but was greatly influenced by Russia, to the extent that he reorganized the Kuomintang on the model of the Soviet Communist party.

Split

On-going battles occurred to rid China of warlords who exerted much control over the people.Chiang Kai-shek of the KMT was trained by Moscow and when Sun died, he succeeded him in KMT.Professed to be Sun’s follower, so broke with communist factions in KMT. He started purging communists from the KMT.By 1928 Chiang had officially united all of China.

Nationalist Era (1928-1937)

Problems with Japanese aggression and corruption within the communist party In efforts to deal with these things Chiang ignored needed land reform for the peasants1928: Mao Zedong started guerilla movements in SE China; formed the People’s Liberation Army (PLA)Mao believed that the best way to win the conflict was to isolate the cities by gaining control of the countryside and the food supply.

Japanese aggression

Between 1931 and 1932, Japan started invading NE China

Japan occupied Manchuria

Japan attacked Shanghai

1937-1945: Sino Japanese War

1934-35: “Long march” by Mao and PLA (1000 km)- to escape the purge by KMT forces

75% of PLA forces destroyed

Long march (http://www.chinatown-online.co.uk/pages/images/culture/history/first2.JPG)

But:

Communists and KMT manage to come together long enough to oust the Japanese

1946-1949: civil war resumes. PLA wins over KMT.

Chiang Kai Shek and remaining nationalist forces retreat to Formosa (Taiwan)

Second revolution

1949: dictator Chiang Kai Shek and the KMT are overthrown in a communist revolutionLeader of revolution was Mao Tse TungMao wanted to develop China into a modern national power to rival the WestHe believed it should be done through the destruction of ancient traditions and provincial loyalties, and the elimination of the middle and upper classes of society