Covers Unit 1 of the AQA A-level History Course (The Transformation of China )
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, SECTION 1: The Origins of the Civil War, 1936-1946
The condition of China in 1936
China in 1936:
BACKGROUND:
Under authority of emperors for thousands of years = belief that it was a unique and self-sufficient
country & needed nothing from other countries
‘Unequal treaties’ changed this in the 19 th century: France, Britain, Germany & Japan = “Treaty
Ports” = under foreign control & crippling economic impacts on China.
This = growing sense of nationalism in China & resentment towards the Qing (Manchu) dynasty –
which was seen as incapable of resisting foreign encroachment.
Chinese revolution = led by Sun Yat-Sen (GMD) – replaced by Yuan Shikai (Prime minister under
Qing)
Qing = chose to abdicate due to growing opposition & mutiny in 1911
First objective of the GMD = to bring down Qing – despite help in the Chinese revolution = wasn’t in
a position to take over
AUTHORITY = in new Republican government in Beijing (Yuan Shikai)
China = in a worse state than before = near bankruptcy
Chiang (GMD) took over China in 1928
MAY 4TH MOVEMENT (1919)
China had entered WW1 (1914 – 1918) in the hope of getting support from the Allies and
reclaiming its German held territories
Treaty of Versailles (1919) – China wouldn’t have its territories restored – they were to go to Japan
Caused outrage in China
Students took to the streets to protest against the humiliation of China and the inability of their
Republican government to resist
Known as the May 4th Movement (after its starting date – May 4th, 1919)
This caused the CCP to be created in 1921
Mao = one of the founding members
THE UNITED FRONT (1926)
Initially = CCP & GMD = cooperative
Because all Chinese revolutionaries had the same aim = to get rid of China’s external and internal
enemies
Joint wish to destroy the warlords who since 1912 had exploited the weaknesses of the Republican
government and had set themselves up as independent rulers in China = didn’t respect the
authority of the national GMD government.
To crush the warlords = the first United front between the CCP & the GMD in 1926
NORTHERN EXPEDITION = major military campaign (the united front) – to defeat the warlords &
unite China under GMD rule (1926 - 1928)
, Largely successful = by 1928 = warlords had been largely destroyed = sense of unity
Experienced its most politically stable period in generations after the successful Northern
Expedition in 1928
Key Warlords: Yan Xishan (the “Model Governor”) and Feng Yuxiang (the “Christian general”)
Warlords didn’t really have any ideology – exemplified by the actions of Bai Ling – an important bandit
leader = initially fought in support of the Qing dynasty but then formed an alliance with the GMD and
fought against the warlords.
THE WHITE TERROR:
Chiang turned on the CCP killing thousands in Shanghai
Attempt to destroy them completely due to his hatred of communism
This caused his commitment to destroy the CCP throughout his rule
THE LONG MARCH: (1934 – 1935)
Chiang devoted himself to hunting down the CCP = nearly succeeded
Massive pressure on their main base in Jiangxi in the South
The only way they were to survive was to flee
Escaped from Jiangxi to Yenan in the north
Became enshrined communist legend – portrayal as a 6000-mile triumphant journey whose
survivors had been made into an irresistible force destined to rule China
Chiang continued trying to destroy them = but they had escaped and defied the GMD.
WHY WAS THE LONG MARCH IMPORTANT?
PROPAGANDA FOR CCP OTHER WAYS:
Shows Mao as a great & heroic leader Only way the CCP could survive – escaping from
the GMD
Shows CCP was very powerful Helped to establish Mao’s reputation
CCP can overcome difficulties Established a power base at Yenan
Shows determination to defeat the nationalists FROM YENAN:
- Able to defeat the GMD and the Japanese =
all the weak had died in the Long March –
they now had only strong followers.
Army said to be made up of ‘supermen’
Survivors had been forged into an irresistible force
destined to rule China
Many posters, films, stories about it – spread
worldwide by people like the American journalist
Edgar Snow
- The Long March was used by Mao in the Cultural Revolution – it became a myth & it was used as a
motivating tactic for young students
- The first Chinese satellite (1970) was called ‘Long March’
, ECONOMY & SOCIETY:
Underdeveloped from an international perspective in 1936
Agriculture = predominant activity
Century of foreign domination had left China in an economically weak position
Poverty & hunger = widespread
Both the GMD & CCP = committed to social reform & ending of poverty
GMD moved the capital from Beijing to Nanjing
BUT…
More politically stable = period of reform & economic growth
1931 = a Provisional Constitution published
1936 – elections for a National Assembly to discuss & approve a new constitution
Elections at local/town level introduced – run by headmen
Legal system was reformed
However…
Difficult to reform deeply embedded national and local traditions
GMD government = corrupt & authoritarian = constitution did little to change this
Local level = the headmen were still being chosen by magistrates rather than being elected.
GMD authority still didn’t extend over the whole of China:
o Warlords only accepted GMD rule if they could keep their private armies
o 1931 onwards: Japanese began extending dominance over Manchuria in the North
o Despite GMD efforts to eradicate the CCP – it survived & established a new base in Yenan
Political violence & military campaigns continued
Massive contrast in the 1930s between cities & countryside
USSR:
Creation of the CCP = product of Chinese admiration for the USSR
USSR = quick to send representatives, through Comintern, to China to help them take over.
USSR self-interest = a priority = shown in the support of both parties
USSR – thought that the GMD = more likely to win and that the CCP should instead merge with
them – ideologically because a real communist revolution has to first come from a bourgeois
society.
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