CHINA 1949: EMERGENCE OF A NEW GOVERNMENT

   The Chinese Revolution in 1949 laid the foundation for modern day China. How China is today can be traced back to the Chinese Revolution in 1949 where a civil war led to a change in government. The communist party was able to win the civil war against the nationalist party because they had strong leadership, effective formation structures, and high morale.

     The Chinese Revolutions started with the downfall of the Qing dynasty (Manchu dynasty) that faced increasing internal disorder, pressure from foreign governments, and the weakness of their central government. The success of the nationalist revolt in 1912 saw the establishment of the Republic of China where constitutions were being established.  The nationalist party could not restore the authority of the central government, faced constant threat from warlords, and were being challenged by the growing communist party. China was under control by the nationalists (Kuomintang) under an authoritarian single-party state until the establishment of the communist party of china where a power struggle between the two parties started to occur.

     The nationalists and communist party allied to defeat the warlords who had control over north China. After being successful in teaming up and defeating the warlords, the nationalist leader, Chiang Kai Shek launched an anti-communist purge in 1927 which brought the nationalist party into conflict and civil war against the communist. The communists proved no match for the nationalists who surrounded them and caused Mao to lead his followers on the “Long March” to reestablish a new base in northwest China. During this war, Mao had lost most of his men and had to retreat.
   
     The Long March
    " The Red Army fears not the trials of the Long March
     And thinks nothing of a thousand mountains and rivers.
     The Wuling Ridges spread out like ripples;
     The Wumeng Ranges roll like balls of clay.
     Warmly are the cliffs wrapped in clouds washed by the Gold Sand;
     Chilly are the iron chains lying across the width of the Great Ferry.
     A thousand acres of snow on the Min Mountain delight
     My troops who have just left them behind."
     Mao Zedong
     September 1935

     Above is a primary source in Mao’s journal which describes the Long March. Mao Zedong, head of the communist party is on a journey called the “Long March” to the northwest to reestablish a new base after having his troops decreased significantly by the nationalists.

     In 1937, the nationalists and communists suspended fighting to form another alliance to stop Japanese invasion. The second Sino-Japanese war ended under the terms of the Japanese unconditional surrender to the United States where the Japanese troops were forced to surrender to the nationalist troops. After World War 2 and the Sino-Japanese War ended, Chiang Kai Shek (nationalist), and Mao Zedong (communist) attended a peace conference where an agreement could not be reached.

     Peace talks between the nationalist party and communist party broke down causing an all-out war in 1946. At this time, the United States and the Soviet Union was engaged in a period of indirect warfare called the cold war which was why the communist party was backed by the Soviet Union meanwhile the nationalist party was backed by the United States who provided them with hundreds of millions of dollars worth of military supplies and equipment. The communists were well established in the northern part but the nationalists had a bigger territory and population, more weapons and world support. However, the nationalists had low morale, undisciplined troops and were very corrupted which reduced domestic civilian support. The undisciplined nationalists proved no match for the communists who were victorious due to strong leadership and formations structures. The communist party was able to take over major cities which made them stronger and able to infiltrate areas to the south of the Great Wall. When they were victorious, Mao Zedong established the People’s Republic of China causing the nationalists to retreat to Taiwan where they would try to re-conquest Chinese mainland but did not succeed.

Timeline:

1911: Downfall of Qing Dynasty
1912:  Establishment of Republic of China under nationalist control

1927: Nationalists launch anti-communist purge; civil war between nationalists and communists

1935: The Long March

1937: Nationalists and communists team up to stop Japanese invasion

1946: All out war between nationalists and communists

1949: Communist Red Army defeats nationalists in civil war; Establishment of People’s Republic of China; Nationalists retreat to Taiwan

1950: Signing of Sino-Soviet Treaty, China enters Korean War, marriage law provides freedom of marriage and divorce

1952: Land reform (land redistributed and two million landlords executed)  

1953: First Five Year Plan relying on Soviet Model

1954: Collectivization of agriculture

1956: Hundred Flowers Movement

1958: Great Leap Forward

1966: Cultural Revolution
1978: economic reform under Deng Xiaoping
(1. decollectivization of agriculture
2. opening up the country to foreign investment
3. allowing entrepreneurs to start up businesses)

China 1949 on Dipity.