The chinese communist revolution

1. The chinese communist revolution

2. background • China becomes a republic in 1911 under Sun Yat-sen • Republic must work to unite the many parts of China • Western influence modernizes the coastal regions • Interior still influenced by local authorities, not modernized

3. Traditional China • Landlords control local lands • Peasants subject to landlord control • Some landlords benevolent and seek the good of the people, others impose much control on peasants

4. Western Influence Resisted?

5. The 1920’s in China • Chinese Communist Party (CCP) est. in 1920 • Chiang Kai Shek, military leader, takes over 1925 as leader of KMT (KuoMinTang) • Warlords compete for power

6. Warlordism: • When local military leaders take power • Usually strongmen seeking autonomy • Want to increase power, do not want to be reponsible to a larger central power

7. The Warlords Li Yuanbong Zhang Zuolin Yan Xishan Feng Yuxiang They fought for control of Beijing, to be recognised as the official government of China . The effects were disastrous, particularly on the peasants who were raped and pillaged and forced to pay taxes up to 30 years in advance, for their “protection and safety”.

8. Chiang Kai Shek & the Nationalists • Head of Whampoa Military Academy • KMT seeks to unify China • Chiang not an effective unifier • Capital in Nanking in the 20’s & control of E. China (including Beijing) • Becomes increasingly intolerant of multi-party system • Weeds out Communists • Makes alliances w/ warlords • Internationally seen as legit gov’ t of China

9. Late 1920’s KMT seeks to eliminate CCP members Shanghai Massacre April 12, 1927

10. Suspected communists eradicated Death in Guangzhou

11. Mao Tse-Tong (Ze-Dong) & The CCP • CCP initially in Southern China esp. Guangxi Province • Has wide support of the peasantry • Growing KMT pressure and attacks forces CCP to move base north

12. The Long March • 1934 , Mao moves 8000+ miles in 1 yr • Moves CCP HQ to Yenan in • 8th Route Army created under Zhu De • New 4th Army under Lin biao

13. Japan Invades 1932, forces unite • By 1935-6, forces united • KMT/Warlord troops refuse to fight CCP when Japanese seen as bigger threat • Dec 12, 1936 Xi’an incident – Chiang’s army leaders kidnapped Chiang to force unification w/ CCP Does this sound like a strong alliance?

14. Japan Moves Further In • Occupying force brutal • Chiang retreats to SW China • “Modern” society retreats down the Yangtze R • Abandons N & E China to the Japanese • New capital at Chongqing in Szechwan Provice

15. Japanese Tactics Mainly invade through RR’s Japanese control trade and supply lines, set up block houses there Occupation sometimes brutal – Success of Japanese in part due to KMT failure

16. Rape of Nanking Dec. 1937 • Chinese Resistance in capital Nanking is met with brutal response • 6 week attack on civilians; machine gunes, swords, bayonets, fire, live burial, raping, torturing

17. Failure of KMT #1 Move out of Nanking (into interior) has impact on economics and leadership ability Cut from trade & gov’t revenues Was not able to replicate the success of the coastal areas in interior Printed money – leads to inflation

18. Failure of KMT #2 – Liberal Democratic Ways abandoned New leadership overshadowed by old, traditional warlord leadership of interior Chiang himself somewhat dictatorial Interior’s leadership not used to participatory democracy KMT strong-arms intellectuals (liberal-democracy types) for fear of their criticism Radical intellectuals begin to drift north to Yenan

19. Failure of KMT #3 – Will of the People Old ways meant taxing of peasants for war effort Upper class only get education Chiang has no alliances w/ interior warlords, - much energy keeping factionalism at bay Conscription of farmers and grain for war effort means starvation in rural areas

20. Compare w/ Mao’s successes

21. Mao’s Philosophy – Success #1 Based on Marxism, but creates “Sinification of Marxism” for China Marxism based on power of proletariat, Maoism based on power of the peasant Maoism intends to bring down power of the landlord and have peasants become more self-sufficient All signs of old, exploitive culture should be disbanned Peasants should be the center and recipients of the revolution Bourgeois/capitalist phase essentially skipped

22. CCP System Works a bit like old imperial regime Centralizes a decentralized country Main CCP at Yenan has department heads (i.e. labor, women, military affairs, united-front issues, education, etc) Each dept head had underlings in regional offices – messages to regional offices must be followed Mao Yenan Dept’s Regional Dept Heads

23. Mao in Action: Build a Base Give the Peasants what they want Indoctrinate Encourage economic activity through mutual aid teams – co-ops and trade Recruit activist peasants, esp upper-level peasants w/ leadership Positive view of the future

24. After base, military, & Land Can only be accomplished after the following are established: Military control Economic improvement Recruitment of village activists HOW? GOAL IS TO GET 1/3 CCP in local governing body, then win the rest through own merits

25. “New Democracy” or China’s version of Democratic Centralism Integral part of appeal of Maoism Everyone has a say until the party votes Once party votes, all must comply Message: people can make better future for themselves if they organize in a new type of unity Individual can achieve nothing alone State can guarantee the equality of all levels of society, unlike bourgeois democracy No room for counterrevolutionary or reactionary voices in a new communist gov’t (hmmm….democratic?)

26. CCP Success #2 Short & Long Term goals combined effectively Combines short term goals: promotes the “New Democracy” as a unifying principal (even if KMT were not on board) With Long Term goals: develop party organization, including control over intellectuals (see “New Democracy”)

27. Success CCP has 40,000 in 1937 CCP has 1,200,000 in 1945 Some setbacks during WWII, (esp 41-42) but generally an upward trend No KMT allowed in Yenan CCP maintains most initiatives, economy, morale By 1945, peasant rebellions common in KMT territories

28. Military Maneuvers-Japananese Japan has superior military might Has problem of controlling alien pop. in their own territory (compare to US in Vietnam, USSR in Afghanistan) Japanese spread a network of strong-points and blockades to starve out Chinese military guerrillas (esp. CCP) Japanese blockades cut trade, created inflation esp. after 1940

29. Military - CCP Saw need for guerrilla tactics in response to Japanese superiority Hundred Regiments Offensive –Aug 1940, mass cutting of Jap. Rail lines, destruction of blockhouses Initially very successful – main offensive of CCP during war Retaliation by Japan exceedingly brutal – broke up CCP control in North - DISASTER

30. CCP Cont’d Retaliation also from KMT Prompted withdrawal of CCP from South of the Yangtze to North of the Yangtze New Fourth Army incident Jan 1941: HQ for CCP troops ambushed & destroyed by KMT END OF UNITED FRONT if not officially, then de facto

31. Civil War Continues WWII on other fronts aids Chinese against Japanese US war in the Pacific divideds Japan’s efforts Allied helps to stave off Japanese in China, not always successfully

32. Ichigo Plan Japanese offensive to offset damage done by Allied destruction of shipping fleet Want to connect supply lines from Indochina to troops in N. China Success for Japanese

33. American influence in China Funded Nationalist Cause WWII saw British & Americans sending supplies via Burma Road to aid formal Chinese gov’t (KMT) vs. Japanese Anti-communism in US growing Free China as a US base vs. Japan is appealing to US

34. Confusion in US Policy US against Warlordism pro Unity (KMT appealing) US against Communism (KMT appealing) US pro-Democracy (KMT not democratic) China Lobby at home favors KMT US delegates in China see value of early CCP China Lobby doesn’t see Mao’s variance from Stalin’s communism US ends up on KMT side…

35. US after WWII US continues to give advice; much not heeded George Marshall, after Stilwell, attempt to help them form a coalition gov’t Marshall sees

36. Incompetence & Failures of KMT 1945-49 Despite … US Backing US Naval Support Being 2x the size of CCP Holding majority of China KMT still doesn’t win……WHY?

37. Failure #1: Economy Mismanagement of the Economy Inflation Cessation of Japanese indudstrialism after occupation over KMT taxes formerly Japanese areas in China

38. Failure #2: Misuse of Population KMT “hires” the Japanese to fight against CCP Poor treatment of Chinese who collaborated Treat intellectuals & students in occupied areas

39. Failure #3:KMT not interested in Peace Ignores citizens attempts at peace movements Chiang’s military training pushes him to see only military solutions to complex social & political problems

40. CCP vs. KMT Maintains Land Reform esp. in North Keeps peasant population interested & mobilized Uses guerilla tactics; withdraws until ready – sucks enemy in Moves at night in rural areas Indoctrinates populace, Army a part of the populace Holds rail lines (Japanese tactic) Becomes stretched out & over-extended (against advice of US) Can’t move at night Can’t move quickly Holds cities/pop centers Soldiers can’t fraternize w/ populace

41. CCP Counter-Attacks KMT 1947-49 CCP quickly able to get support of people Tides turn against KMT 2 years of KMT on the defensive (mostly) KMT flees to Taiwan in 1949

42. KMT flees to Taiwan (Formosa) & China remains officially divided Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall

43. CCP announces People’s Republic of China 1949