Problems with China in 1900

1. Problems with China in 1900 • Society unchanged for centuries • Rule of the Manchus • Rule of the landlords • Peasant poverty • Unequal treaties • Rebellions e.g Boxer 18995 • Boy Emperor 1908 • Growth of nationalism

2. China Revision Part 1 - 1900-1949

3. Sun and the KMT • Revolution of 1911 • 3 principles - nationalism, democracy, people’s welfare • KMT established in 1905 • Revolution of 1911 starts in Wuhan in Oct • Sun out of the country but declared president by his supporters • North and army remain loyal to the emperor • Feb 1912 Sun resigns following a deal with Yuan Shi Kai - Yuan president, emperor abdicate, 3 principles followed

4. Yuan’s Rule 1912-1916 • Emperor abdicated • Elections held for a people’s assembly • KMT declared illegal by Yuan and assembly representatives forced to leave • Feb 1915 - 21 demands conceded to Japan • Dec 1915 - Yuan declares himself emperor but forced into a u-turn by army

5. Warlord China • Central control collapses in 1916 • Provinces under control of army generals • Results in higher taxes, opium growth, fighting, devasted crops, harsh punishments, growth of foreign influence • Also growth of nationalist movements e.g May Fourth Movement 1919 - TV, modernization, western imperialism and Japan • CCP formed 1921 in Shanghai • KMT reorganised - remain strong in the South - Sun president - rewrites 3 principles, Soviet help, army developed under Chiang, work with new CCP

6. United Front and beyond • 1923 UF formed • 1925 Northern expedition under Chiang • By June 1928 Beijing occupied • CCP grew because - peasant support, message, land reform in CCP areas • Huge threat to Chiang - Shanghai massacre April 1927 - CCP forced to retreat to Jiangxi Province

7. Why was Chiang not able to gain complete control of China from 1926-1935 • Not all warlords defeated by the Northern Campaign • Japanese invaded Manchuria in 1931 • CCP continued to grow in Jiangxi • Cities controlled by KMT - country by CCP • Land reform in the Jiangxi soviet • 4 KMT campaigns against the Soviet failed due to guerilla tactics of the CCP

8. Long March and consequences • 1933 KMT adopted the blockhouse tactic • Fifth campaign a success • Oct 1934 CCP forced into the retreat to Yanan • Constant attack, physical dangers, hunger, but CCP survived • CCP ideas spread, looked more patriotic, Mao emerged as leader, USSR influence declined

9. Communists, Nationalists and the Japanese War • 1931 Japanese invaded Manchuria • Chiang at first ignores this • Chiang arrested in Xian by Zhang Xueliang in 1936 • 1937 - 1945 Second United Front formed • KMT retreated to Nanjing in the West • KMT rule became corrupt and harsh • Cut off from natural supporter in the eastern cities • KMT appeared unwilling and cowardly • CCP remained in the country and continued with land reform • Operated in areas controlled by the Japanese

10. Civil War 1945 - 1949 • CCP troops motivated and disciplined - KMT not • Support of the peasants • Inspirational CCP leadership • Mass desertion from KMT armies • Red Army grows steadily • Red army tactics were superior • KMT loses US funding • Jan 1949 - PRC established

11. Mao’s aims in 1949 • 1950 the elimination of landlordism began - 1950 Land Law • Land redistributed among the peasants • Many landlords tried in people’s courts • One party state - all parties suppressed • All non communist were labeled a counter revolutionary or an imperialist • Women’s position improved - 1950 Marriage Law • Concubinage, polygamy, child betrothal, arranged marriages were banned • Women given right to own property, equality in education and workplace • Maternity benefits introduced and nurseries in government industries

12. First Five Year Plan 1952 • Concentrated on coal, steel and petro chemicals • Most targets were achieved, with the notable exception of oil and merchant ships • Plan aided by Soviet advisers • Economic growth of 9% • Success of the plan caused huge problems. Food and housing were in short supply • Mao called for public discussion in 1957 • Most untypical of Mao who resented criticism and disliked experts

13. Hundred Flowers - 1957 • Mao believed that it was possible to allow greater freedom • Allow people to offer new ideas • In reality the campaign may well not have been sincere, but simply an attempt to discover potential opponents • Many people openly criticised the Plan and Mao • At that point Mao called an end to the campaign and began an anti rightist movement • Most of the critics arrested and sent for “thought reform”

14. The Second Five Year Plan • Collectivization introduced • China’s growing population needed more food • Peasant farming needed to be brought under central control - communes were created • Peasants ordered to live communally in dorms and pool land/resources/ labour • Peasants ordered to farm according to instructions not their own experience • The result was famine and death

15. Great Leap Forward • In 1957 Mao announced the Great Leap Forward, which was part of the Second Five Year Plan • This was an attempt to turn China into an industrial superpower by using massive manpower • The GLF was based upon Communes • All over China people were asked to set up backyard blast furnaces and produce steel. The steel produced was of poor quality • To produce steel, peasants neglected their crops that went to ruin. This added to the famine caused by collectivisation

16. Why did it fail? Results • No capital investment • No technology • No planning • No specialist knowledge • Mao resigned as President of the PRC in 1958 • 1962 he handed responsibility over the economy to Deng and Liu Shaoqi • The moderates then recommended some free market reform • Peasants were allowed to have their own plots of land • Mao withdrew from the front line

17. The Cultural Revolution • Regretting his loss of power and concerned by the moderates changes Mao began to build up his support in the PLA • Mao thought the revolution was becoming remote from the people • Too many specialists and experts had control over the economy • The revolution was being betrayed • He wanted permanent revolution and change • He wanted to appeal to the mass over the heads of the CCP leadership • Old Chinese ways and culture had to be replaced by socialist ideas

18. Events • 1966 Mao sets up the Red Guards and published his “Red book” • Mao urged them to attack the “four olds” of customs, thoughts, culture and habits • The red guards attacked all authority figures • Deng and Liu were arrested • Teachers, doctors, intellectuals were humiliated and subjected to “struggle sessions” • Temples, shrines and art were destroyed • New socialist culture glorified the CCP and the revolution

19. Effects? • All authority undermined • Schools and colleges closed • Rival Red Guard groups clashed • PLA ranks were abolished • Mao’s opponents were accused of revisionism and dismissed • Industrial production was at a standstill • Country in chaos and Mao forced to order the Red Guards to halt their attacks • The PLA were called in to restore order • Red guards sent into the countryside to learn from the peasants