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The United Front
Sun Yat-sen returns to politics based in Shanhai w/ little influence over the Beijing Gov. Actual power was dispersed amongst the various regional warlords. Aug/Sep 1916 the old National Assembly gathered @ Guanzhuo. Sun was elected Grand Marshall of a new military gov. here on 10 Sep 1917. Allied w/ southern warlords, it stood in the opposition of the Beijing gov. Factional in-fighting kept Sun's gov. weak, he fell out w/ warlords and Beijing gov. Sun dreamed of re-establishing the republic. -
Sun-Joffe Declaration
Sun called for support from West + Jap but was consistantly rebuffed. Aug 22 1922 he met w/ Comintern agents Hendricus Maring + Adolph Joffe to discuss re-org of GMD and conditions of Soviet aid. Comintern began negotiations for a United Front where CCP members could take up indiv memb in the GMD. Joint manifesto b/n Joffe + Sun outlined urget goals of alliance : "national independance" + "national unity." -
Re-organized Guomindang- Coalition
Three way, Lenninist-style party structure. An alliance between the GMD, CCP and Comintern. Chiang Kai-shek went to Moscow for 3 months where he recieved further training, met with Trotsky and reviewed the Soviet military. Communists (in the GMD) were assigned the task of rallying support amongst workers + peasants after the GMD saw how "energetic" and enthusiastic they were. -
Nationalist Army
The preparation of a professional military force for the new Nationalist coalition. Chiang Kai-shek had returned from the USSR and was appointed head of the academy and commander-in-chief on 3 May 1924. -
Death of Sun Yat-sen
In 1924 Sun Yat-sen set out for the capital to engange in talks with those competing for power (in Beijing where a new gov. seemed likely.)
Sun was stricken with stomach pain and taken to hospital where an investigation revealed terminal liver cancer.
He died in Beijing on March 11, 1925.
Sun was 59 years old.
His final testament urged his followers to continue the struggle for national reunification, as he wanted a party alliance with Stalin.
This death destabilised the United Front. -
Implications for the CCP
Protesting workers in Shanghair were fired at by British guards. 11 men were killed. A supporting protest for the 'May 30 Martyrs' was once again violently dispersed by British soldiers (another 52 deaths.)
Support for the CCP swelled as anti imperialist sentiment inflamed (May Fourth Protests)
Workers and students were attracted to the message of Communist agitators and strikes spread throughout the country. 1927- Communists had 57,000 members.
Liao Zhongkai was assassinated 20 August 1925. -
The Northern Expidition
Chiang Kai-shek- "To protect the welfare of the people we must overthrow all warlords and wipe out reactionary power so that we may implement the Three People's Principles and complete the National Revolution."
The Nationalist Revolutionary Army, with Chiang as its commander-in-chief, began the Northern Expidition on 27 July with a total of 85,000 troops. The army was disciplined, professional fighting force with high morale.
Strikes to destabilise warlords (left GMD and Communists) -
The White Terror
The Guomindang CEG and Comintern advisor Borodin relocated to Wuhan, central China, and established and the city as the new seat of government. The Nationalist Government, under left influence, were not trying to lessen Chiang's authority.
Communist-led workers' unions formed militias and staged huge strikes paralysing the city of Shanghai. The Nationalists held the city by March 22. Were the communists a 'filfth column or a secret bid to set up a Soviet? -threat to Chiang who wanted them gone. -
Shanghai Massacre
W/ assist. from the French Consul Gen., Big Ears Du armed a 2000-man militi w/ the title of China Mutual Progress Association. 5,000-10,000 Communists/workers killed.
Chiang had brought about 'a bloodbath that virtually destroyed both the CCP and the workers' movement in China's largest city.'
CCP cut leadership w/ Chiang and adopted the very strategies that had been refused in previous weeks. GMD was a house divided against itself. Nationalist flag flew throughout China- Chiang Kai-shek. -
Communists in Crisis
Chen Duxiu resigned as CCP secretary-general and was replaced by Qu Qiubai- younger man lived in Moscow. CCP was ideological and political power-play b/n Josef Stalin and Leon Trotsky. Stalin directed a number of uprisings through Heinz Neumann and Besso Lomindaze. Eg: Nanchang Uprising, Autumn Harvest Uprising. -
Canton Commune
Communists attempted another insurrection, this time at Guangzhou. Dispute in GMD created a politically unstable situation which the Communists sought to exploit. Siezed the city and Canton Soviet Council was proclaimed. Socialist measures were announced (land redist., reduced working hours, collective ownership of indust.) The Canton Commune lasted 2 days as workers of Guangzhuo were not interested. Natioalists re-took the city and brutal reprisals were dished out to suspected Communists. -
Recriminations
Much discussion of who was to blame for the Communists' dire position. Mao was criticised for taking a purely military viewpoint and lost his seat on the Politburo. Gen sec. was given to Xiang Zhongfa and Li Li-san headed the Party's propaganda department. -
The Jiangxi Soviet
Rural base organised by Mao Zedong in Jiangxi was arguably the most significant. Difficulties in finding sufficient food combined with raids by GMD armies forced Mao and Zhu to abandon previous base and est. a new one deeper in the mountains (Jiangxi). On 7 Nov 1931 the First All-China Congress of Soviets was convened (Mao vs 28 B's but Mao won out against the Comintern-backed Politburo and, for the moment, his policies would be pursued. -
New Leadership
Heading the Politburo was entrusted to a new group of Moscow-trained Chinese students headed by Want Ming and Bo Gu- 28 Bolsheviks (young and inexperienced)
CCP Central Committee was far removed from the revolution that was taking shape in the mountains, lead by Mao, Zhu and others. By 1931 Mao and Zhu were known as the 'real power faction' amongst their party comrades. It was in the villages, not in the cities, that the Communists were finally gaining strength. -
Nationalist Decade
Nationalist unification of China was a major triumph and there was goodwill and hope directed toward Chiang's gov. Regionalism, financial pressures and other issues caused threat. Chiang was able to suppress any single breakaway but not strong enough to impose order across the whole nation. National renewal was therefore limited by regional politics and financial constraints. Nationalists: moderisation programs- transport, comm., industry, finance and sovereignty. Tax collections corrupt. -
War with Japan
Bomb went off on South Manchurian tracks, "the troops have already moved." By the end of the year Jap controlled all of Manchuria, Chinese were furious. Thousands took to the streets of Nanjing and Shanghai in protest. Chiang's forces were not in position to challenge Japan. On 18 Feb 1932 Jap declared Manchuria's independence from China. Chiang's apparent unwillingness to confront Japan brought his gov. into disrepute. -
Mao's Red Army
"Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun"
Mao was to give his army a sense of self-worth, discipline and direction. Red Army was a volunteer force and aimed to reverse the idea that good men should not be wasted as soliders. When not on active duty Red soldiers carried out chores such as cutting firewood for the surrounding communities and assisted with sowing crops. A "people's army." Reds used guerilla tactics + from 1930 onwards Chiang Kai-shek tried exterm. (Reds were victorious) -
Mao Loses Influence
Ideological dispute b/n Mao and CCP was role of peasants. Politburo called for changes but he would not respond. Mao was replaced by Zhou Enlai as gen political commissar of the Red Army. Mao therefore turned his full attention to social reforms, focussing on educating men and women and giving women marriage and divorce rights.Onslaught of Chiang's determined anti-Communist campaigns meant that the Jiangxi Soviet only lasted 3 years. -
New Life Movement
Chiang's attempt at national moral rejuvenation through discipline and tradional values. It was meant to give China a sense of moral purpose and an alternative to Communism. It remained an urban movement and had little or no impact on the peasantry, Big Ears Du (Green Gang boss) financed the gov. with profits from opium while Meiling privately smoked like a chimney. Chiang's rule was "Confucian Fascism" -
Luding Bridge
When Yang arrived at the bridge it was defended by enemy troops from Sichuan province. Communists eventually captured the bridge. The main body of the First Front Army arrived and crossed a few days later. Spirits somehow triumphed over matter that afternoon at the Dadu. Red Army soliders dragged themselves across the Great Snowy Mountains. By the time they got to Sichuan, 10,000 survivors were left to meet up with Fourth Army (Zhang Guotao). High grasslands were even worse for the troops. -
End of the Long March
Of the original 100,000 marchers only 7-8,000 survived. Tactically it was a retreat but psychologically it imbued the Communists with a strong sense of purpose. It brought Mao to the forefront of leadership. Zhang's political career never recovered. -
The Second Sino-Japanese War
Japanese claimed Chinese troops had fired on their men and that a Japanese soldier was missing, presumed captured or killed. They used this incident for launching a full-scale invasion. Japanese threw all they had into the offensive. Second front opened at Shanghai 12 Aug, Chinese fighting bravely for first 2 months however Shanghai and Nanjin were both lost. 30,000 killed in the Rape of Nanjing. New capital at Chongqing Nov 1937. The wartime inflation destroyed the economy. -
The Yan'an Way
From 1935-1937 surplus land was taken from landlords and redistributed to those in need. Women's support groups and evening schools were established. The lit. rate in Yan'an was raised from 1% 1936 to 50% by 1943. Everyone was involved with growing food and making useful things. "Good rev. leaders should take people's ideas and carry them through." 50 million people lived in Liberated Areas by 1940. Yan'an was governed efficiently, corruption-free and benefited it's people. A1949 4.5 mill. -
Fighting resumes between GMD and CCP
Communist New Fourth Army was ordered by Nationalist High Command to move to north of Yangzi. Deadline was not met and Nationalist troops launched a devastating attack on the Communists. The Second United Front came to an end. The Dixie Mission was an attempted settlement b/n GMD and Communists. Hurley's agreement was refused by Chiang. Japan surrendered on 14 Aug. due to atomic bombs. Chiang's GMD seemed more equipped to return to gov. -
The Long March
Southern warlords and communists had agreements to break them out of encirclement. 25 Nov- 3 Dec Xiang River battle almost brought the Long March to an end. At the Zunyi con. Mao regained some support, Zhou Elani saying Mao was right and that they should listen to him- Mao was put into the role of chief advisor. Conduct of the Reds was important propaganda initiative. -
Chinese Civil War
In the first faze, Nationalists appeared to make gains taking Yan'an in March 1947. 1st May 1946 Communist forces were renamed the People's Liberation Army (PLA). Peasants joined the people's war against Chiang. Morale of Chiang's forces was low. Crippling inflation caused middle class supporters to desert GMD. In April and May 1946 the PLA launched spectaculr offensives. 21 Jan Chiang resigned as president and fled to Taiwan. Comms won and Nationalists lost. 1949 victory marked the beginning...