Chinese modern history until after the Tiananmen summary
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Course
Modern Chinese History
Institution
Universiteit Leiden (UL)
This summary shows a number of important events in Chinese modern history, including timelines, key concepts and characters from the 2nd semester.
See “Chinese Modern History to Mao Zedong” for the comprehensive summary of Chinese modern history for semester 1.
Unit 7: The Chinese Civil War (1946-1950)
Key terms
Feb 27 Incident (peace memorial day)
The Feb 27 Incident, also known as the 2-27 Incident, was a popular
uprising that occurred in Taiwan in 1947. At the time, Taiwan was under
the control of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT), which had retreated to
Taiwan after losing the Chinese Civil War to the Chinese Communist Party
(CCP).
The incident began with a dispute between a cigarette vendor and a
government official in Taipei on February 27, 1947. The altercation quickly
escalated into a city-wide protest against the KMT government's corrupt
and authoritarian rule.
The protesters demanded reforms:
End to police brutality;
End to corruption;
End the establishment of a democratic government.
The KMT government responded to the protest with a brutal crackdown.
Martial law was declared, and thousands of people were arrested,
imprisoned, or executed. The KMT also imposed strict censorship,
prohibiting any discussion of the incident and its aftermath.
The Feb 27 Incident marked a turning point in Taiwan's history. It
shattered the myth of KMT legitimacy and exposed the government's
corruption and authoritarianism. The incident also helped pave the way for
the democratization of Taiwan in the following decades.
Today, the Feb 27 Incident is remembered in Taiwan as a critical moment
in the country's history, and the day is commemorated as Peace Memorial
Day.
General Marshall
George C. Marshall was a key figure in the Chinese Civil War. He was a
five-star General in the United States Army and served as the US
Secretary of State from 1947 to 1949 under President Harry Truman.
In 1945, shortly after World War II, General Marshall was appointed as the
US special envoy to China, with the goal of negotiating a peace settlement
between the Chinese Nationalists, led by Chiang Kai-shek, and the Chinese
Communists, led by Mao Zedong. However, the negotiations failed, and
the civil war between the Nationalists and Communists resumed.
In 1946, General Marshall proposed a truce between the Nationalists and
Communists, which came to be known as the Marshall Mission > to be
followed by the formation of a coalition government that would include
both Nationalists and Communists. The goal of the coalition government
was to end the civil war and establish a stable and democratic China.
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,However, both sides rejected the proposal, and the civil war continued.
Some historians argue that the failure of the Marshall Mission was due to
the Nationalists' reluctance to share power with the Communists, while
others point to the CCP's belief that it could win the war on its own.
Despite the failure of the Marshall Mission, General Marshall remained
involved in the conflict. He played a key role in brokering the ceasefire
agreement that ended the Korean War in 1953 and was awarded the
Nobel Peace Prize in 1953 for his efforts to promote international peace
and cooperation.
Guerrilla warfare
Guerrilla warfare is a form of irregular warfare in which small groups of
combatants, often operating independently, engage in military actions
such as ambushes, sabotage, and hit-and-run attacks against a larger,
more conventional military force.
During the Chinese Civil War, the Communist Party of China (CPC) led by
Mao Zedong employed guerrilla warfare tactics against the Nationalist
forces led by Chiang Kai-shek. The CPC's guerrilla forces were known as
the People's Liberation Army (PLA).
The PLA's guerrilla tactics were designed to disrupt the Nationalist forces
and undermine their control over rural areas. The guerrilla fighters would
avoid direct confrontation with the Nationalist army and instead focus on
sabotaging their supply lines, attacking isolated outposts, and launching
surprise attacks on key targets.
The guerrilla warfare tactics employed by the PLA proved to be very
effective. They allowed the PLA to operate in areas that were difficult for
the Nationalist army to control, and they wore down the Nationalists'
resources and morale. In addition, the PLA's guerrilla tactics allowed them
to win the support of the local population, who provided them with food,
shelter, and information.
By 1949, the PLA had successfully driven the Nationalist forces from
mainland China and established the People's Republic of China. The
success of the CPC's guerrilla warfare tactics played a significant role in
the outcome of the Chinese Civil War.
Hyperinflation
Hyperinflation is a rapid and extreme increase in the prices of goods and
services in an economy. Hyperinflation often occurs as a result of a
breakdown in the monetary system, usually due to an excessive expansion
of the money supply.
During the Chinese Civil War, hyperinflation was a major issue for both the
Nationalist and Communist forces. The Nationalist government, which was
based in mainland China, faced a severe economic crisis due to its
involvement in World War II and the ongoing civil war. In order to finance
its war efforts, the Nationalist government printed large quantities of
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,paper money, which led to a rapid increase in prices and a loss of
confidence in the currency.
Similarly, the Communist forces, which were based in rural areas, also
faced economic challenges. They often relied on barter and self-sufficient
farming to sustain themselves, but they also had to use paper currency in
some transactions. In order to maintain the value of their currency, the
Communists implemented price controls and limited the circulation of
money.
The hyperinflation in China during the civil war had severe consequences
for the Chinese people. Many lost their life savings, and the value of their
wages and pensions was greatly reduced. The hyperinflation also
contributed to social unrest and political instability.
After the Communist victory in 1949, the new government
implemented
economic policies aimed at stabilizing the currency and controlling
inflation.
Introduction of a new currency, the People's Bank of China;
The implementation of price controls;
Other measures to stabilize the economy.
These policies helped to bring an end to hyperinflation in China.
Land reforms
Land reform was a major policy implemented by the Communist Party of
China (CPC) during the Chinese Civil War. It involved the redistribution of
land from wealthy landowners to poor peasants.
Prior to the civil war, land ownership in China was concentrated among a
small number of landlords, who often exploited the peasants who worked
on their land. This system of land ownership was one of the major sources
of social inequality and political instability in China.
In response, the CPC implemented land reform policies aimed at
redistributing land to the peasants who worked on it. The CPC's land
reform program involved the confiscation of land from wealthy landowners
and its redistribution to the peasants. The wealthy landowners were often
labelled as "landlords" and subjected to public trials and punishment,
which served as a way of legitimizing the land reform process.
The land reform program was a popular policy among the peasants, who
saw it as a way to gain access to land and improve their living conditions.
It also helped to undermine support for the Nationalist government, which
was viewed as being aligned with the landlords.
After the Communist victory in 1949, land reform became a key policy of
the new government:
The government redistributed land to the peasants;
Implemented policies aimed at modernizing agriculture;
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, Improving living standards in rural areas.
The land reform policy was a significant factor in the success of the CPC
during the Chinese Civil War. It helped to mobilize support among the
peasants and weakened the power of the landlords and other elites who
supported the Nationalist government.
Lin Biao
Lin Biao (1907-19071) was a prominent military leader and politician in
China during the mid-20th century. He played a significant role in the
Chinese Civil War and was a key figure in the Communist Party of China
(CPC).
Lin Biao's connection to the Cultural Revolution is complex and marked by
both his rise to power and his subsequent downfall. He was initially a close
associate of Mao Zedong and played a crucial role in the Chinese
Communist Party's military operations.
During the Cultural Revolution, Lin Biao was instrumental in implementing
Mao's policies. He held significant positions in the party and the military,
serving as Vice Chairman of the Communist Party and Vice Chairman of
the Central Military Commission.
Lin Biao was born in 1907 in Hunan province and joined the CPC in 1925.
He quickly rose through the ranks of the party and became a leading
military commander during the Chinese Civil War. Lin Biao was known for
his military strategy and leadership skills, and was instrumental in several
key battles, including the Battle of Huai-Hai in 1948.
After the Communist victory in 1949, Lin Biao continued to serve in the
military and became the Minister of Defence in 1959. He played a key role
in the development of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) and oversaw
several military campaigns, including the invasion of Tibet in 1950 and the
border conflict with India in 1962.
In addition to his military career, Lin Biao was also a prominent politician
and served as a member of the Politburo Standing Committee, the highest
decision-making body in the CPC. He was considered to be a close
confidant of Mao Zedong, the leader of the CPC, and was often viewed as
a potential successor to Mao.
However, Lin Biao's political career came to an abrupt end in 1971 when
he was accused of plotting a coup against Mao. Allegedly, he planned to
use the People's Liberation Army (PLA) to overthrow Mao and establish his
own leadership. The details of the alleged coup attempt remain shrouded
in secrecy, and the true nature of the events is still debated.
He fled China with his family in a plane that crashed in Mongolia, killing all
onboard. The circumstances surrounding Lin Biao's death remain a
mystery and are the subject of much speculation and debate.
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