1. Communists Take Power in China
Spinrad/World History
Communists Take Power in China

2. Causes of Chinese Revolution
Nationalism-Desire to drive out foreign influence
Modernization- Desire to build modern, industrial economy, military

3. Fall of Imperial China- 1911
Last Chinese Emperor Overthrown by Chinese Nationalists led by Sun Yixian (Sun Yat-sen)
Create Republic of China with Sun as pres.
Dedicated to nationalism, democracy, and economic security

4. Problems for Republic
Weak leadership, Warlord Rebellions, protests, WWI, corruption, and Civil War

5. Two Opposing Views
Kuomintang- China’s nationalist party led by Jiang Jieshi (Chiang Kai Shek)
Communists- New party based on Lenin’s ideas led by Mao Zedong

6. Chinese Civil War
Nationalists tried to fight communists instead of Japanese invaders
Money often ended up in hands of corrupt officers
Bigger army than the communists
Received little popular support
Communists helped by peasants & guerilla warfare

7. The Long March 1933
Daring Communist retreat, saves the Red Army

8. Japanese Invasion 1937 Japan invades China
Communists and Nationalists join against Japan
US sends nationalist government $billions

9. Mao’s Victory 1949 Civil War resumes after Japanese defeat
With China’s economy collapsing, thousands of Nationalist soldiers deserted to the communists
By spring, 1949, China’s major cities fell to the well-trained communist forces
Red Army wins entire country by October, 1949
Nationalists retreat to Taiwan

10. 2 Chinas
People’s Republic of China- Mao’s Communist government in mainland China
Republic of China- Jiang’s Nationalist gov. on Taiwan

11. The Two Chinas Affect the Cold War
Jiang Jieshi fled to Taiwan and the US helped him set up a nationalist government on that small island: the Republic of China
Soviet Union gave financial, military, and technical aid to Communist China
The US tried to halt Soviet expansion in Asia by setting up a separate non-communist state in the southern half of Korea

12. Expansion
Communists expand China into Tibet, Mongolia, & India

13. Mao’s Reforms
Redistributes land to peasants, millions of landlord’s killed
Collective farms created
Private companies given to government
5-year plan to grow industry and mining

14. The Great Leap Forward Plan to create giant communes, expand industry
Famine kills 20 million
“Backyard Industries” hamper growth

15. Cultural Revolution
Mao encourages Chinese youth to “Learn Revolution”
Tried to create society where peasants and workers rule
Closed schools, colleges, art houses
Mao’s “little red book” of quotations was required reading
Threatens civil war, so Mao ended it