CIVIL WAR & COMMUNISM

1. CIVIL WAR & COMMUNISM CHINA

2. We will cover • China at the beginning of 20th century • Reform movement led by Sun Yat-sen • How China became a republic in 1911 and came under control of warlords • Rivalry between KMT and the Communists • Civil war in 1920s and 1930s • Why Communists won the civil war and came to power in 1949 • China’s relations with other countries during these years

3. China at the beginning of the 20th Century • China was ruled by a Manchu emperor • Manchus (from Southern Manchuria) ruled China since 1636; over 250 years • Adopted the Chinese dynastic name of ‘Qing’ • Govt was autocratic; run by many civil servants [MANDARINS] • Much of China was owned by landlords – often rich people with large estates • Also many with smaller estates • In their own areas, these landlords were very powerful • Most Chinese were peasants living in the country side and working on the land

4. China at the beginning of the 20th Century • They were usually under the control of their local landlord • They had to work for their landlords • Many lived in great poverty • Famines occurred frequently because of bad harvests • Millions would die at times

5. China at the beginning of the 20th Century • Chinese empire was one of the largest in the world • Contained many different peoples speaking different languages and dialects • During 19th century – Europe and US were militarily more powerful than China • Took advantage of China’s military weakness to force it to trade with them and to hand over bases, such as HK, along its coast, as well as to grant them special trading rights and concessions • China, as a result, came into contact with western ideas and ways of life

6. Sun Yat-sen and his Three People’s Principles • Some educated Chinese began to criticize the way the China was governed • Angry that Manchu rulers were unable to stop interference of China’s affairs by western powers • They were influenced by western ideas but wanted to use these to help China become a strong nation again • Others were keen to improve the people’s lives but felt that the Manchus were incapable of doing so

7. Sun Yat-sen and his Three People’s Principles • The leading figure in this group was SUN YAT-SEN • He wanted change based on 3 principles : • NATIONALISM • DEMOCRACY • SOCIALISM

8. Sun Yat-sen and his Three People’s Principles • NATIONALISM • Freeing China from Western control • Involve taking back the bases and territories they had seized • Cancelling special privileges given to some European countries • However, to SYS, ‘nationalism’ does not mean gaining new territories and imposing Chinese rule on other countries, unlike the Japanese

9. Sun Yat-sen and his Three People’s Principles • DEMOCRACY • Allowing the people, at least some of the more educated people, a say in how the country was governed • Involved getting rid of the Manchus and, • Turning China into a Republic

10. Sun Yat-sen and his Three People’s Principles 3. SOCIALISM • Not in the sense of communism • Meant that reforms are needed to improve the people’s way of life • Eg he was concerned that the landlords should treat peasants better • Wanted peasants to have more land of their own

11. THE 1911 REVOLUTION • SYS believed that change could only come about through revolution • SYS support was mostly in southern China • Here attempts to overthrow the Manchus began • After a number of unsuccessful attempts, an uprising on 10 Oct 1911 [DOUBLE TENTH] was successful • SYS quickly returned from exile in the US and on 1 Jan 1912 proclaimed the creation of the Chinese republic with himself as President • Known as the “1911 Revolution”

12. THE 1911 REVOLUTION • But Manchus were still in control of northern China • They turned to a powerful army leader, Yuan Shih-kai to help them remain in power • YSK was a firm believer in autocratic rule • Had very different views from SYS • However, YSK was shrewd enough to see that Manchu rule would not last long • When SYS approached him for help to overthrow the Manchus, he agreed to join SYS to overthrow the Manchus • YSK condition? To be installed as the new President! • SYS held the office of President for only 6 weeks before handing over to YSK

13. THE 1911 REVOLUTION • SYS also agreed to step down as accept YSK as the President of the new Chinese republic • In 1912, YSK managed to get Pu Yi, the last Manchu emperor [REMEMBER HIM?] to give up his throne • This marked the end of Manchu rule in China • The KMT [NATIONALIST PARTY OF SYS] was very disappointed as YSK was even more autocratic than the Manchus • Declared KMT illegal, dissolved parliament and took steps to declare himself Emperor • Little seemed to have been gained