Communists vs. Nationalists

Right to Rule Nationalist Party Sun Yat-sen then Chiang Kai-shek Chinese Communist Party

Combination of Parties Both parties combined Why? Both opposed warlords and to drive out the imperial powers

Separation of Parties Shek attacks Chinese Communist in Shangai Founded new Chinese republic of Nanjing Communist went into hiding – Shek tries to root out all Communists

The Long March People’s Liberation Army (PLA) – Comm. Travel 6000 miles by foot to reach Communist base in northwest China

2 Chinese Government Nationalist Gov (Shek) – southern and central China (US supports) Communist Gov (Mao) – Northern China

Civil War Peasants were attracted to Communist (mil) – liked the promise of land By 1949 they defeated the Nationalist – fled to Taiwan (2 Mil)

New Socialist Society Land taken away from the wealthy – given to poor (2/3’s of peasants received land) Private farmland was collectivized Why? Increase food production and allow people to work ind. Industry and commerce was nationalized

Great leap Forward Collective farms combined into communes (3000 people) Purpose – reach final stage of communism – classless system Total disaster Decreased in food production 15 mil. Died of starvation

Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution “Great Revolution to create a proletarian (working class) culture Mao wanted an atmosphere of constant revolution fever

Red Guards Young people Rid nation of “Four Olds” Old ideas Old culture Old customs Old habits Ex – destroyed temples, books by foreigners, and foreign music Individuals were attacked Intellectuals and artists of Pro-Western ideas Mao Zedong dies in 1976