1912-1921

Question 1

Yuan Shikai and Republican China

Answer 1

• Yuan offers an ultimatum to the Qing and TMH due to his ultimate authority over the government
• Sun agrees and allows Yuan to become president on 14 February 1914
• Capable leader, introduced some reform:
  
  • Judicial reform
  • Suppression of opium farming
  • Improved primary education
• Yuanity: Western applause to Yuan’s ‘unity’ and ‘strength’
• Undemocratic : Chose Hong Xian (Grand Constitutional Era)as his Dynastic title
  
  • Too far: Some generals and provincial governors declare independence
• June 1916: Yuan dies

Question 2

Event: Sun and the Formation of the GMD

Answer 2

• August 1912: Formation of the GMD
  
  • Turned the Revolutionary Alliance into a modern political party
• Sought to curb Yuan Shikai’s powers
• However, Yuan’s hold on power meant that parliamentary democracy was a farce
• Pro-GMD governors establish a second Chinese revolution; doomed due to lack of funding and support
  • September 1913: Revolutionary GMD capital in Nanjing overthrown
• November 1913: Following GMD’s attempt to overthrow Yuan, Yuan bans the party
• February 1914: Yuan bans China’s parliaments

Question 3

Stats: Sun and the Formation of the GMD

Answer 3

7 provinces seceded from Yuan’s gov’t in 1913, encouraged by GMD

Question 4

Event: The Twenty-One Demands

Answer 4

• TP: 25 May 1915
• Yuan signs ultimatum by Japanese gov’t in return for financial aid
• Demanded special privileges:
  
  • Access to harbours
  • Control of railway and mining
  • Special concession in Manchuria
• Yuan accepted most demands (except one seeking to use advisers to control Chinese affairs)

Question 5

Views: The Twenty-One Demands

Answer 5

Ryan:

• China would become a virtual protectorate of Japan

Morgan:

• The Twenty-one Demands contributed significantly to increased anti-Japanese sentiment throughout China

Question 6

Date: National Shame Day

Answer 6

7 May: National Shame Day

Question 7

Event: Death of Yuan Shikai/Warlord Era

Answer 7

• TF of Warlord Era: 1917-1928
• TP: 6 June 1916: Yuan Shikai succumbs to liver cancer
• After his death, China fragments into smaller autonomous regions under the control of warlords
• Tibet and Mongolia declare independence
• China under the warlords was generally bad:
  
  • For most warlords, holding and capturing territory was a priority
  • Warlord armies often plundered peasant cops and resources
  • Imposed high taxes
• Many generals had the backing of foreign powers (monetarily and business/peace treaties)

Question 8

Views: Death of Yuan Shikai

Answer 8

Ryan:

• For all his faults, Yuan Shikai had held [China] together

Hsu:

• Paved the way for future warlordism

Question 9

Views: Warlord Era

Answer 9

National Congress of GMD:

• [Of Warlords] hack the people to pieces

Milston

• Not all evil men

FitzGerald

• Were only interested in money
• China was controlled by ‘many small despots’

Question 10

Event: New Culture Movement

Answer 10

• Movement led by young Chinese intellectuals - wanted reform and modernisation of Chinese society
  
  • Sparked from disillusionment of Chinese intellectuals during WW1
• Four main contributors:
  
  • Hu Shi: Created baihua, ‘every-day speak’ - made writing and discussion more accessible for Chinese people
  • Lu Xun: Leading philosopher and ideologue - equated Confucianism with cannibalism
  • Chen Duxiu: Creator of New Youth magazine - an important avenue for progressive discussion - founding CCP member
    
    • Mao published in 1917 in New Youth
  • Li Dazhao: Chief librarian at Beijing University - Worked with Mao, believed in the importance of peasants
• Women’s rights celebrated during the movement

Importance:

• Questioned Confucian values of society
• Increased interest in alternative thought
• Increased anti-conservative sentiment

Question 11

Views: New Culture Movement

Answer 11

Ho Shi:

• Sole aim… to re-create civilisation

Chen Duxiu:

• Our youth must take up the task of rejuvenating China
• Call to youth - six principles
  
  • Be progressive, not conservative

Question 12

Event: May Fourth Movement

Answer 12

• China’s involvement in WW1: Provided the Triple Entente with 100,000 workers
• In Treaty of Versailles, China expected to be treated fairly - release from uneqaul treaties (Boxer Protocol) and Twenty-one demands
  
  • Instead, Japan was allowed to maintain control of Shandong province
• Outrage in China: ‘National Shame Day’ moved back to 4th May 1919

Importance:

• People and students protest; ending studies in Japan, traders boycotting Japanese goods
  
  • Student protests spark protests across the nation
• Demonstrated the unity of the people under ill-treatment
• Increased radicalisation of students (Mao Quote)

Question 13

Stats: May Fourth Movement

Answer 13

3000 students protest in Tiananmen Square

Question 14

Views: May Fourth Movement

Answer 14

Mao:

• After the May Fourth Movement, I had devoted most of my time to student political activities

Question 15

Event: Establishment of the CCP

Answer 15

• TP: 23 July 1921
• 12 delegates for the First National Party Congress of the CCP
• Chen Duxiu elected as secretary-general
• Assisted by Russia: Maring or Volintsky?
  
  • CCP and Comintern differed on points (Chen’s temper vs. Maring; use of peasants vs. Li)
  • Russia provided almost all of the Party’s funds
• Was not unified as was Russia:
  
  • Importance of the peasantry a point of tension: Chen argued that peasants were useless; Li argued they were important
  • ‘Chen in the North, Li in the South’

Question 16

Stats: Establishment of the CCP

Answer 16

• Initially 52 members for 400 million people
  
  • Thus, the Chinese wanted change

Question 17

Consequences: May Fourth Movement

Answer 17