Formation of the People’s Republic of China & Institutional Set up of China

Struggles between the Communists and the Nationalists/ How did the communists riseTo power?

Man factor VS Time factor

Man factor:1. Laying the foundation by forming The Chinese Communist Party (CCP/CPC)• Civil War 1916-28• Paris Peace Conference-humiliation• The influence of the USSR/ Communism

• Chen Duxiu, Li Dazhao, Mao ZedongFormed the Chinese CommunistParty in Shanghai.

Background for the Rise of Chinese Communist Party

1. Humiliation at the Paris Peace Conference--Shandong was Given to Japan without her approval

2. Attracted by Marxism during the May-Fourth Movement—Determined to end their country’s reliance on the West.

3. Success of the Bolsheviks after the October Revolution

4. Marxist movement started by Li da-Chao, Chen du-xiu andMao ze-dong.

5. Help from the USSR-agreed to give up all special rightsIn China

Strengthening of Guomindang (GMD)/ Nationalist Party

1. Sun re-organized GMD (1916) in Guangzhou and gained The support of Chen Jiongming (warlord)

2. He expanded Sanmin Zhuyi and declared them the political Doctrine of the GMD—stressed anti-imperialism and expandedThe principle of democracy.

3. He turned to Soviet (efficient organization model for the GMD).---1922, He allowed the CCP leaders to join the GMD on individualsRather than a group. In 1923, he made an agreement with Joffe, Soviet agent that the Soviet would help Sun to reorganize the GMD.

4. In 1924, Sun reorganized GMD and modelled on Soviet Communist party. He set up the HuangpuMilitary Academy.

CCP’s goals:-overthrow Bourgeois class-eliminate class differences-establish the dictatorship of the proletariat-abolish the privatization system

CCP’s direction to achieve the goals:-gather people from the labour class and lead The labour movement

2. Joining into the First United Front 1924-7(with Guomindang) to control it

•Joined the GMD as individuals rather thanAs a group.•They received advisors and loans from USSRto drive out the warlords and unify China by takingNorthern Expedition.•However, GMD, CCP and the USSR had Different aims and ideologies—no lastingAnd true cooperation p.128/129

The Northern Expedition 1926-8

-Jiang took command of the National Revolutionary Army andStarted the Northern Expedition against the warlords in July.-They captured Shanghai and Nanjing. -By 1927, the Nationalist government was moved from Guangzhou To Wuhan.-Less people (left wing GMD) trusted Jiang’s government. They Planned to overthrow him.-Jiang executed more than 300 Communists in Shanghai, Nanjing,Guangzhou and other cities.

There were three governments in China by that time:

1. *Jiang established a new government in Nanjing

2. The Beijing government at Beijing under warlords

3. The Nationalist government at Wuhan (controlled by CCP and left wing GMD) under Wang

1927, left wing GMD leaders broke with CCP. The First United Front ended and the right wings of GMD reunited with Jiang’s Government.

1928, With the help of Yan and Fang (warlords),Jiang became the most powerful leader of new government.Jiang occupied Beijng and almost terminated all warlords.

1930s

-the Growth of CCP-the Long March-the Second United Front

3. Reorganizing the CCP 1927-34Why reorganizing?•CCP worked among the people of the citiesWhich fell under GMD during the NorthernExpedition (organize unions & helped Peasants overthrow their landlords)

•Worried Jiang & the nationalists supporters- sudden attack on Shanghai communists in 1927killed 300 Communists •CCP & GMD cooperation collapsed•1927, CCP staged uprisings in Nanchang, •Changsha and Guangzhou •(Support from the workers were limited)

How to reorganize the CCP?a. Mao and Zhu de fled and formed the Chinese Red Army at Jinggangshan. Zhu Became the commander in chief.

b. Mao shifted the focus to the peasants •CCP seized the land from the landlords and Give them to peasants. All debts were wiped Out.

c. Mao used the guerilla tactics to avoid directFighting with the GMD

d. Mao stressed the importance of army discipline-quite successful.

•1931, CCP set up the Chinese Soviet RepublicAt Ruijin in Jiangxi with Mao as theChairman. (map p.132)

4. Launching the Long March 1934-5

•GMD continued the anti-CommunistCampaigns and tight blockade to cut the supplies•CCP retreated and 100000 went on the LongMarch

Any difficulties?•Passed through 11 provinces •25000 miles•Chased and attacked by the GMD•Harsh weather•6000 miles

100000—20000 survived 80000 died.

•Finally took the base at Yan’an in Shaanxi 1936 and spread their ideas to the interior of China.

DBQ p. 123

1. Why did the Long March take place?2. How did Mao judge the Long March?3. How useful was the source in understandingThe benefits that brought to CCP?

To the nationalists?

To the Communists?

5. Taking the Second United Front 1937

•Japan seized the northern province of ManchuriaSince 1931 (Manchurian Incident)•Jiang: “the Japanese are a disease of the skin,It can be cured. The Communists are a diseaseOf the soul; it affects the whole body.”

•CCP called for united front against the Japanese.•Xian Incident 1936Zhang Xueliang, Yang Hucheng kidnapped JiangZhou Enlai mediated the crisisJiang agreed to the Second United Front.The Second Sino Japanese War started.•Not much cooperation until 1945.

• Jiang received aids from the US & China wasDivided into 3 parts. P.133

a. Jiang fled to Chongqing-Nationalistsb. Japanese-controlled territoryc. Communist-Yenan

6. The growth of CCP 1937-45

•Guerilla war against the Japanese•Worked among the peasants and controlledThe countryside. (reduced the land rent, Built schools, provided medical care, helpedThe field works.

•Seen as “defenders and friends of people”•Controlled 300000 square miles and 95 millions

8. Winning the Chinese Civil War 1945-9

•US sent Marshall to mediate the coalitionGovernment but collapsed in 1946.•1947, People Liberation Army continued toControl northern China and won several Decisive battles.•Captured Nanjing and proclaimed“People’s Republic of China”•Jiang retreated to Taiwan and set up the Nationalist government there.

Time factor

1. In early 1920s—favoured the setup of CCP•Civil War 1916-28•Paris Peace Conference•The influence of the USSR/ Communism

2. The instability caused by warlords in 1924-7---favoured the formation of First United Front

3. Made use of the Northern ExpeditionAnd GMD’s attacks to reorganize CCP

4. Taking the Long March to spreadThe communist ideas in interior China.

5. Japanese attacks in 1930s—favoured theStoppage of GMD attack and the formation of Second United Front.-worked among the peasants and controlledCountry-side “friends & defenders”

6. The US reduced the aids to GMD during theThe Civil War 1945-9.

Why were the Communists able to defeat the Nationalists?

•Leadership?•Strategies?•Peasant support?•Foreign aid?

(text p.135-6)