Emblem of Communist Party of China is in public domain
Important Events in the rise of communism in China:
-Between 1905 and 1912 Sun Yat-sen develops Revolutionary Alliance political movement (later turns into KMT party)
-1911 Qing Dynasty falls due to military revolt
-1912 a republic is formed to govern China
-1921 Chinese Communist Party (CCP) formed building off existing marxist groups in China (Mao Zedong later became leader of this organization)
-1927 KMT leaders formed a nationalist government and outlawed the CCP
-August 1927 the CCP led a revolt in the city of Nanchang which quickly failed (similar occurance in December of 1927 in Guangzhou)
-These rebellions began an on-off civil war in China between the nationalists and communists
-1934 the CCP fled to Northern China in the Long March (following a series of devastating military defeats) and in doing so shifted its attention from a workers' revolution as Marx outlined to a peasant revolution (as Mao envisioned)
- From 1934 until the early 1940s the CCP remained in Northern China, utlizing this time to strengthen itself militarily, ideologically, and gained mass support amongst peasants
-From 1937 until 1945 the nationalist government was focused primarily on fighting the Japanese and in doing so was weakened
-1946 the CCP recognized this and war broke out between the CCP and the KMT led government
-The war concluded when Chiang Kai Shek stepped down as president and along with the rest of the KMT, fled to Taiwan to set up a new government of the Republic of China
-In 1949 the People's Republic of China under the leadership of Mao Zedong and the CCP was announced
For a more detailed analysis on the communist's rise to power in China: Click here
For a condensed timeline on the communist's rise to power in China: Click here
For a full timeline of events following the rise of communism: Click here
-Between 1905 and 1912 Sun Yat-sen develops Revolutionary Alliance political movement (later turns into KMT party)
-1911 Qing Dynasty falls due to military revolt
-1912 a republic is formed to govern China
-1921 Chinese Communist Party (CCP) formed building off existing marxist groups in China (Mao Zedong later became leader of this organization)
-1927 KMT leaders formed a nationalist government and outlawed the CCP
-August 1927 the CCP led a revolt in the city of Nanchang which quickly failed (similar occurance in December of 1927 in Guangzhou)
-These rebellions began an on-off civil war in China between the nationalists and communists
-1934 the CCP fled to Northern China in the Long March (following a series of devastating military defeats) and in doing so shifted its attention from a workers' revolution as Marx outlined to a peasant revolution (as Mao envisioned)
- From 1934 until the early 1940s the CCP remained in Northern China, utlizing this time to strengthen itself militarily, ideologically, and gained mass support amongst peasants
-From 1937 until 1945 the nationalist government was focused primarily on fighting the Japanese and in doing so was weakened
-1946 the CCP recognized this and war broke out between the CCP and the KMT led government
-The war concluded when Chiang Kai Shek stepped down as president and along with the rest of the KMT, fled to Taiwan to set up a new government of the Republic of China
-In 1949 the People's Republic of China under the leadership of Mao Zedong and the CCP was announced
For a more detailed analysis on the communist's rise to power in China: Click here
For a condensed timeline on the communist's rise to power in China: Click here
For a full timeline of events following the rise of communism: Click here
Mao Zedong
Mao's Rise to Power:
Mao Zedong became the leader of the Chinese Communist Party in 1927. Yet his true claim to power began with the Long March in 1937. With the communists surrounded by one million plus nationalist government soldiers, Mao ordered a daring retreat to northern China. This journey took almost a year, with mass casualties being suffered by the Red Army. As the communists settled in Yanan, Mao began to build ideological support which later translated to increased resources. Thus, the Long March was not the death but the rebirth of the CCP as Mao began to brand Chinese communism as a revolution by the peasants. While the communists remained in Yanan, Japan weakened the nationalist's power. Japan became such a threat that the nationalists opted to halt the on-off civil war with the communists. The communists actually assisted Shek and the nationalists in fighting the Japanese. Yet with the conclusion of WWII, the civil war quickly resumed. The result of which was power for Mao and the CCP, upon the flew of Shek and the KMT to Taiwain.
For more information on the Communist Revolution: Click here and here
For more information on the Communist Revolution: Click here and here
Mao's Divisive Legacy:
Upon his death in 1976, Mao Zedong's legacy was largely debated in Chinese society. Mao succeeded in altering the Soviet model of communism to reflect his own ideals. This form of communism came to be known as Maoism. While this model initially succeeded in mobilizing the vastly peasant base in a communist revolution, Mao's policies proved far less successful. The 100 Flowers, Great Leap Forward, and Cultural Revolution fell short of their aims. Additionally, Mao guided China into a state of isolation within global affairs. Under is leadership, the United States didn't even recognize the communist government as the legitimate governmental authority of China (despite the Cold War context in which both China and the U.S. opposed the Soviets). Instead the United States recognized Shek's nationalist government in Taiwan. Despite these shortcomings in policy, one of Mao's greatest accomplishments was restoring a sense of national pride to China. This debate became very divisive to the point at which Mao's family was jailed to avoid to the potential of a family member taking power. Additionally, Mao's wife was later sentenced to death for involvement in politics. Despite all of this Mao was honored in his death, with his being preserved and displayed to this day in Chairman Mao Memorial Hall in Beijing (explore the area around the memorial below).
Explore the area around the Mausoleum of Mao Zedong:
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China vs. Taiwan
When Shek and the KMT fled to Taiwan the rivalry between the communists and nationalists persisted. Yet in some regard it grew as the rivalry was now between opposing states. However, both sides claimed "One China" with their government being the sovereign authority. To this day, the dispute persists in who has governing authority over Taiwan. Initially, this dispute created a key dilemma in international politics. The question became which China should be recognized in diplomacy. Furthermore, upon the formal creation of the UN in 1945 the security council was established with five permanent veto powers. The five permanent veto members were: Britain, the U.S.S.R., the U.S., France, and China. The first three were given veto power because they were key to the allies winning the war and represented the top global powers in the U.S.S.R. and the United States. France was selected to counter the spread of communism in Europe and to check German influence moving forward. China was originally selected because of its geography with the ability to counter both the U.S.S.R. and Japan. Therefore outside of the U.S.S.R., the United States worked to stack the permanent veto powers with allies. However, this shifted when Mao and the CCP took over mainland China. Overtime, the veto power than shifted to the People's Republic of China, as the communist government gained increased international recognition.
To find out more about the China vs. Taiwan dispute: Click Here
To find out more about China's history in global affairs: Click Here
To find out more about the creation of the UN: Click Here
To learn about President Elect Trump's controversial take on China vs. Taiwan: Click Here
References:
Albert, E. (2016, May 18). China-Taiwan Relations. Retrieved November 17, 2016, from http://www.cfr.org/china/china-taiwan-relations/p9223
BBC - History - Mao Zedong. (2014). Retrieved November 17, 2016, from http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/mao_zedong.shtml
Brocken Inaglory. (2007) Zedong and Stalin Stamp [digital image] retrieved from
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c9/Chinese_stamp_in_1950_edit_1.jpg. Available under public domain
Cienciala, A. M. (2002, Spring). The Chinese Revolution and Chinese Communism to 1949. Retrieved November 17, 2016,
from http://acienciala.faculty.ku.edu/communistnationssince1917/ch9.html
China remembers Mao, 40 years after death [Video file]. (2016, September 9). In Youtube. Retrieved November 17, 2016,
from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zyIAlHvZoM
Communism: In China. (n.d.). Retrieved November 17, 2016, from
https://cs.stanford.edu/people/eroberts/cs201/projects/communism-computing-china/china.html
Google. (n.d.). [Google Maps Mausoleum of Mao Zedong] Retrieved November 17, 2016, from https://goo.gl/maps/waqgHT46SGA2
Hanna, Noel. (2004) The Statue of Mao Zedong at Central Square in Shanghai [digital image] retrieved from
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/3e/Mao_Statue_at_Zhong_Shan_Guang_Chang.jpg. Available under CC BY
Orihara1. (2014) Mao Zedong proclaiming the People’s Republic of China [digital image] retrieved from
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/85/Mao_Proclaiming_New_China.JPG. Available under CC BY
Petras, J. (2012, March 7). China: Rise, Fall and Re-Emergence as a Global Power ... Retrieved November 17, 2016, from
http://www.globalresearch.ca/china-rise-fall-and-re-emergence-as-a-global-power/?print=1
PhiLip. (2002) Emblem of Communist Party of China [digital image] retrieved from
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/69/Danghui.svg. Available under public domain
SKoop. (2009). Flag of the People’s Republic of China [digital image] retrieved from
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fa/Flag_of_the_People%27s_Republic_of_China.svg. Available under public
domain
SKoop. (2005). Flag of the Republic of China [digital image] retrieved from
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/72/Flag_of_the_Republic_of_China.svg. Available under public domain
The Chinese Revolution of 1949. (2001, January 20). Retrieved November 17, 2016, from https://2001-2009.state.gov/r/pa/ho/time/cwr/88312.htm
The Formation of the United Nations, 1945. (n.d.). Retrieved November 17, 2016, from https://history.state.gov/milestones/1937-1945/un
Zhenshi, Zhang. (2011) Portrait of Mao Zedong at Tiananmen Gate [Portrait] retrieved from
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e8/Mao_Zedong_portrait.jpg. Available under CC BY
20th CENTURY: China in Revolution, 1912-1949 | Central Themes and Key Points | Asia for Educators | Columbia
University. (2009). Retrieved November 17, 2016, from http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/main_pop/kpct/kp_chinarevolution.htm
Albert, E. (2016, May 18). China-Taiwan Relations. Retrieved November 17, 2016, from http://www.cfr.org/china/china-taiwan-relations/p9223
BBC - History - Mao Zedong. (2014). Retrieved November 17, 2016, from http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/mao_zedong.shtml
Brocken Inaglory. (2007) Zedong and Stalin Stamp [digital image] retrieved from
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c9/Chinese_stamp_in_1950_edit_1.jpg. Available under public domain
Cienciala, A. M. (2002, Spring). The Chinese Revolution and Chinese Communism to 1949. Retrieved November 17, 2016,
from http://acienciala.faculty.ku.edu/communistnationssince1917/ch9.html
China remembers Mao, 40 years after death [Video file]. (2016, September 9). In Youtube. Retrieved November 17, 2016,
from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zyIAlHvZoM
Communism: In China. (n.d.). Retrieved November 17, 2016, from
https://cs.stanford.edu/people/eroberts/cs201/projects/communism-computing-china/china.html
Google. (n.d.). [Google Maps Mausoleum of Mao Zedong] Retrieved November 17, 2016, from https://goo.gl/maps/waqgHT46SGA2
Hanna, Noel. (2004) The Statue of Mao Zedong at Central Square in Shanghai [digital image] retrieved from
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/3e/Mao_Statue_at_Zhong_Shan_Guang_Chang.jpg. Available under CC BY
Orihara1. (2014) Mao Zedong proclaiming the People’s Republic of China [digital image] retrieved from
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/85/Mao_Proclaiming_New_China.JPG. Available under CC BY
Petras, J. (2012, March 7). China: Rise, Fall and Re-Emergence as a Global Power ... Retrieved November 17, 2016, from
http://www.globalresearch.ca/china-rise-fall-and-re-emergence-as-a-global-power/?print=1
PhiLip. (2002) Emblem of Communist Party of China [digital image] retrieved from
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/69/Danghui.svg. Available under public domain
SKoop. (2009). Flag of the People’s Republic of China [digital image] retrieved from
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fa/Flag_of_the_People%27s_Republic_of_China.svg. Available under public
domain
SKoop. (2005). Flag of the Republic of China [digital image] retrieved from
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/72/Flag_of_the_Republic_of_China.svg. Available under public domain
The Chinese Revolution of 1949. (2001, January 20). Retrieved November 17, 2016, from https://2001-2009.state.gov/r/pa/ho/time/cwr/88312.htm
The Formation of the United Nations, 1945. (n.d.). Retrieved November 17, 2016, from https://history.state.gov/milestones/1937-1945/un
Zhenshi, Zhang. (2011) Portrait of Mao Zedong at Tiananmen Gate [Portrait] retrieved from
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e8/Mao_Zedong_portrait.jpg. Available under CC BY
20th CENTURY: China in Revolution, 1912-1949 | Central Themes and Key Points | Asia for Educators | Columbia
University. (2009). Retrieved November 17, 2016, from http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/main_pop/kpct/kp_chinarevolution.htm