China: China: from dynasties to from dynasties to communismcommunism

DYNASTIEDYNASTIESS

China had been ruled by dynasties (ruling families) for thousands of years

The Last Chinese Dynasty, the QING dynasty ended in 1911.

Why the Qing Dynasty Why the Qing Dynasty FellFell

◦People were unhappy with the ruling family & money spent by them

◦Govt. corruption

◦Foreign influence

Last emperor took the throne at the age of 2

BIRTH OF A BIRTH OF A REPUBLICREPUBLIC

The Qing collapsed when the people rebelled

The rebel group wanted China to become more modern and adopt a constitution

YUAN- was a Qing army general who did NOT fight against the rebels◦Becomes the 1st President of the Republic of

China

YUANYUAN

After becoming President, he dismisses the National Assembly

Makes himself “President for Life” and his sons his predecessors

Dies in 1916

1916-1916-19281928

China not unitedRuled by different warlordsIn 1921 the CCP is founded

◦(Chinese Communist Party)

1928-19371928-1937

China is reunified under the Nationalist Party

Led by Chiang Kai Sheik (Jiang Jieshi)

Very ANTI-Communist

ANTI-COMMUNIST MOVEMENTSANTI-COMMUNIST MOVEMENTS

(Of the Nationalists in China)

“White Terror”◦Green Gang was given the job to “eliminate” communists

◦Many communists flee to the countryside (and spread communism there)

“5 campaigns of annihilation & extermination”

WWII BEGINSWWII BEGINS(In Asia)

7/7/1937- Japan invades China

Chiang Kai Sheik (CKS) is not ready for this- too busy trying to eliminate communists

WWIIWWII

The Chinese people are being slaughtered by the Japanese◦Massacre/Rape of Nanjing◦13 year olds are drafted◦Troops lack food and supplies

◦Meanwhile, CKS is living in a big house, while Mao ZeDong (Communist leader) is living in a cave

AFTER WWIIAFTER WWII

1945-1949: Bloody Civil War in China◦Nationalists (CKS) vs. Communists (Mao)

◦1949- CHINA BECOMES COMMUNIST Mao ZeDong= leader CKS & Nationalists flee to Taiwan

Chairman Mao

CHINA UNDER MAOCHINA UNDER MAOGreat Leap Forward

Not really great- even Mao admits thisWhy didn’t ppl protest if times were so

tough◦b/c they were restricted to communes (&

not allowed to leave)◦Many thought they were the only ones

enduring the “bitter” years (not true)◦Failed b/c of poor products & lack of

incentive

CHINA UNDER MAOCHINA UNDER MAOCultural Revolution

Launched by Mao to remind youth what their country was about

Ppl taught to LOVE communismMao’s Little Red Book- read by students in

schools, workers etc…◦Everyone must have a copy on them at all

times!Old customs, ideas, habits were to be

destroyed

CHINA UNDER MAOCHINA UNDER MAOCultural Revolution continued

Students became “Red Guards”◦Accused people of being anti-Mao

Parents, teachers, intellectuals, wealthy

At peak, CR= lots of violence◦Students not in school◦Factories not producing (reading Mao)

CHINA UNDER MAOCHINA UNDER MAOCultural Revolution continued

China is very sheltered at this time◦Radio, newspapers all pro-Mao propaganda

Mao dies in 1976◦This marks the end of the Cultural Revolution

◦**After Mao- Deng Xiaoping