Chinese Civil War

Chinese Civil War

1. Chinese Republic (Yuan Shikai)

   • Yuan Shikai opportunist
   • Only 5% of the chinese population voted in the election
   • Sun Yatsen's new People's National Party won the majority of seats
     • GMD=KMT Guomindang or Kuomingtang led by Song Jiaroren
     • Brought in western ideas, in order to modernise the country
     • 3 principals Nationalism Democracy Peoples livelihood
   • Yuan Shikai tries to become emporor
     • Assassinates Song Jioren March 1913
   • Second revolution July 1913, Fails Sun Yatsen flees
   • Yuan Shikai declares himself emperor
   • 5th June 1916, Yuan Dies
   • Signing of the 21 demands, gave control of a lot of factories, railways and ports and threatening war if refused

2. Chinese Republic (Warlord Era)

   • China begins to Fragment
     • Page 257 r&t textbook
   • Living under the warlords was very hard
     • 30 years of taxes in advance for their 'safety and protection' Rape and pillage war common Harsh punishments 
   • May 4th movement
     • Links to the foreign intervention problems, includes a lot of the young population of china.
   • Chinese communist party formed 1921
   • Reformation of the GMD in 1920. 3 principles of 1924
     • National freedom Democratic government The peoples livelihood
   • Sun Yatsen allowed CCP members to join the GMD
     • Russian government sent agents to help improve the GMD army
     • Sun Yatsen dies 1925 succeeded by Chiang Kaishek
       • Jiang Jieshi
       • Chiang felt threatened by the ever increasing popularity of the CCP
     • Success of the northern expedition means the removal of the common enemy
     • 1924 CCP had 1000 members April 1927 had 58000

3. Western Influence

   • European industrial revolution
   • Rise of Japan
     • After the defeat of Russia, Japan had become a powerhouse
     • Humiliating 21 demands given to Yuan which is agreed to because they need the help of Japan
   • World War One
     • Treaty of Versailles didnt give them the land that they expected
     • Paris peace conferences, 140000 chinese labourers worked in Labour Battalions for the armies in France, Turkey and Africa
   • Opposition to Foreign Influence
   • Communism in Russia due to the 1917 Russian revolution
     • 1918 Beijing University set up the 'Society for the study of Maxism'
     • Sun Yatsen turns to USSR for external help
       • Run with strict obedience and discipline to party decisions. Had to join forces with CCP

4. Triggers

   • April 12 1927 Shanghai massacre
     • Chiang sent his army into Shanghai and found and killed as many communists as he could
     • Oct 1928 Chiang became the Chairman of the National Government of China