Transcript CHAPTER 8 FROM MANCHURIA TO A UNITED FRONT, 1931-7

COMMUNIST TAKE POWER IN
CHINA
Kuomintang Power
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1911 – Sun Yixian (Chinese Nationalist Movement) overthrows last
emperor (Pu Yi)
Nationalist Theme “Three Principles of the People”
 1. an end to foreign control
 2. people’s rights- democracy
 3. people’s livelihood- economic security for
all Chinese
“The Chinese people…do not have national spirit.
Therefore, even though we have 4 million people
gathered together in one China, in reality, they
are just a heap of sand.” –Sun Yixian
WWI – Allied Involvement
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China was on the Allied side against Germany in WWI
China hoped to regain lost lands from Germany (Germany had colonized
parts of China)
Instead, Japan occupied “Chinese territory” previously occupied by
Germany.
This enrages many Chinese youth against Japan.
Throughout 1915-1916, German efforts to negotiate a separate peace
with Japan failed.
On 3 July 1916, Japan and Russia signed a treaty (to protect each other,
among other items) This treaty helped further secure Japan's
“ownership” in Manchuria and Inner Mongolia.
Betrayal
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1917 China declares war on
Germany hoping for an Allied
victory.
At end of WWI, German territories
given to Japan – not China
1917 Russian Revolution occurs
Russia begins to help China
establish itself as a unified
country. (looking to establish
allies in the area)
A military school is established,
and Chiang Kai-Shek emerges as a
top military leader
Meanwhile….An Unlikely Alliance is created
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In a hope for common action the
Nationalists (Kuomintang) turn to
the Communists.
Both groups had common goals
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China freed from foreign control
Strong and United China
1921 Mao Zedong…
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Communist Theory
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Private ownership of property is abolished
People own land, factories, transportation and
communication
Abolish social division and class based on
wealth
Death, & a Sharp Right Turn
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Sun (previous Nationalist
leader) died in ’25, Chiang
Kai-Shek becomes the new
leader.
Beliefs
 Eliminate warlord control
of China
 Remove foreign
domination of China
(Same as Mao)
The Shanghai Massacre, 1927
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As Europe leaves, Chiang
consolidates power.
1st step eliminate the war
lords who are fracturing the
country into small
Moves to be the sole
unquestioned leader of
China
Distrust for Communist
begins.
Chiang felt Communists
34 warlords eliminated,
were trying to control China and finally communists
are targeted
Chiang Kai-Shek
 Had promised democracy and political rights
to all Chinese
 Yet his government became steadily less
democratic and more corrupt
 Peasants believed that Chiang was doing little
to help them, so they begin to support
communism and Mao
Nationalist split with Communist
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A major split between the Nationalists and Communists
occurred in 1927; and, under Chiang's leadership, the
Nationalists fought a nation-wide civil war against the
Communists.
Chiang confiscated the wealth of capitalists even while he
denounced and fought against communists. Chiang crushed
pro-communist worker and peasant organizations and rich
Shanghai capitalists at the same time.
Chiang continued Dr. Sun Yat-sen's anti capitalist ideology,
directing Kuomintang media to openly attack capitalists and
capitalism, demanding government controlled industry
instead. (more aligned with Socialism)
The Nationalists Distracted
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Japan had watched the
power struggle in China and
decided to launch an
invasion
Japanese invasion of
Manchuria (northern China)
combined with Depression
allow Mao to rest & survive.
This would force a
temporary and uneasy truce
between Mao and Chiang’s
forces to fight against Japan
Japan attacking
Japan invades
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Despite some early cooperative military successes against
Japan, by the time that the Japanese surrendered in 1945 neither
the CPC nor the KMT trusted each other or were actively
cooperating.
After American-sponsored attempts to negotiate a coalition
government failed in 1946, the Chinese Civil War resumed.
The CPC defeated the Nationalists in 1949, forcing Chiang's
government to retreat to Taiwan, where Chiang imposed martial
law and persecuted people critical of his rule in a period known
as the "White Terror.”
After evacuating to Taiwan, Chiang's government continued to
declare its intention to retake mainland China.
Chiang ruled the island securely as President of the Republic of
China and General of the Kuomintang until his death in 1975.
U.S. Anti-Communist feelings
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Chinese and Soviets
sign Treaty of
Friendship in 1950
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U.S. viewed this as
another step in
Communist campaign
to conquer the world
China divided
Mainland=People’s
Republic of China
 -Soviet Union aided
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Taiwan= Nationalist
China
 -U.S. aided
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PRC= People’s Republic of China
ROC= Republic of China