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May Fourth Movement
An outbreak of student demonstrations that protested China’s response to the Treaty of Versailles, which including China giving up territories to Japan. These were anti-imperialist protests, resulting in cultural and political movements, as well as a rise in nationalism. -
Northern Expedition
A military campaign launched by the National Revolutionary Army (NRA) of the Kuomintang (KMT), also known as the "Chinese Nationalist Party", against the Beiyang government and other regional warlords. -
Autumn Harvest Uprising
An failed insurrection led by Mao in response to the White Terror. -
Shanghai Massacre / White Terror
The violent suppression of communists in Shanghai by GMD military forces, later leading to full scale purge. This would increase tensions between the two competing ideological groups. -
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Chinese Civil War
China engages in Civil War between CCP and NP -
Jiang takes Beijing
Following the Northern Expedition, Jiang claims paramount leadership of China, however there is no real victor to the war at this point. -
Kutian Conference
Mao reveals his ideology: focus on the peasants, indoctrinate the people, Unite party and army, Unite people and Army, Develop Guerilla Tactics - Also 3 Rules and 8 Points for Treatment -
Japanese Invasion of Manchuria
The Kwantung Army of Japan invades Manchuria. This occupation would last for five months, and was the initial invasion that would lead to a war between the nations, motivating an alliance between the GMD and CCP. -
Mukden Incident
Japan blows up its own South Manchuria Railway and blames it on China to invade their territory further - "Started WW2" -
Lytton Report
The US investigates the Mukden Incident and finds Japan's invasion unjustified, but does not label it as the aggressor. -
Stimson Doctrine
This Doctrine stated that the United States would not recognize any treaty or agreement between Japan and China that violated U.S. rights or agreements to which the United States subscribed. -
Manchukuo Established
Japan Establishes the Puppet state of Manchukuo in Manchuria -
Long March Begins
Military retreat by the CCP after their loss during the Fifth Encirclement Campaign, where the Red Army attempted to escape from the south to the north and west. This is influential as it began Mao Zedong’s rise to power as he led the troops. Acts as a "seeding machine" for the CCP and develops Mao's cult of personality. -
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Neutrality Acts
The US passes a series of acts to restrict its involvement in the China-Japan conflict, but slowly loosens. -
Second United Front
This was a brief alliance between the GMD and CCP to resist the Japanese invasion, where GMD stopped its efforts to restrain the communists to focus its military power on Japan. -
Japan invades China
The Japanese invasion of China began the largest Asian war in the 20th century. Japan invaded China with imperialist goals, which put a stop to the Chinese Civil War, lasting for eight years. -
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Japanese involvement in China
Japan invades China