1. 20th Century China

2. Background
The Qing dynasty collapsed in and China became a republic
The Chinese republic was weak due to foreign influence and powerful warlords
The May Fourth movement was a powerful force for reform in China- modernization, rights for women, etc.
Some Chinese began to embrace Marxism as the solution for the country, others looked to a strong central government

3. Nationalists
The nationalist party in China was the Guomingdang, led by Jiang Jieshi (Chiang Kai-Shek)
The Guomingdang rejected both democracy and communism
Jieshi worked with communists to defeat the powerful warlords
Afterwards, he turned on them and slaughtered them

4. Communists The Chinese communists were lead by Mao Zedong
Mao believed the communists must win the support of China’s rural peasants
Mao’s army was forced to retreat and was harassed by Guomindang forces- called the Long March
The Long March became a symbol of communist heroism

5. Japanese Invasion
Communists and nationalists agreed to join forces when Japan invaded in 1931
The Japanese military brutalized China, including the “Rape of Nanking”
When the war was over, Jiang and the Guomindang still controlled the government, but the communists had strengthened themselves by winning the support of the peasants

6. Post-War Civil war began between the nationalists and communists
The communists won, establishing the People’s Republic of China
The nationalists fled to Taiwan, establishing the Republic of China
Mao and the communists took and land of the warlords and redistributed it to the peasants

7. Changing Chinese Society
Mao discouraged the practice of Buddhism and Confucianism
The property of landlords and business owners was seized by the government
Anti-communists were put in “re- education camps,” where huge numbers were killed
Mao sought to “collectivize” China- pool land, resources, and labor together to increase productivity

8. The Great Leap Forward
From , Mao sought to increase farm and factory output
He forced peasants to work together to make steel and iron in their backyards
The metals were useless because of low quality and food production dropped, leading to famine
Perhaps 55 million Chinese starved to death

9. The Cultural Revolution
Mao then sought to purge China of any anti-communist thought
Teenagers formed bands of Red Guards and attacked and beat anyone they thought was anti- communist
Schools and factories closed down, slowing the economy
Finally, Mao was forced to use the army to restore order
Over a million died and 100 million were persecuted in some way

10. Aftermath
After Mao’s death, China slowly moved away from communism and became more of a market economy, leading to huge economic growth-led by Deng Xiaoping
The People’s Republic of China won recognition from the United States, beginning a major trading relationship
Still, China has not embraced democracy and is quite repressive
The Republic of China (Taiwan) remains independent