2. Communist China Flashcards
Why did China become Communist?
What was the GMD (Guomindang) or National People’s Party?
More established political party
Three principles= Nationalism, democracy and people’s livelihood
Led by Jiang Jieshi
Who was Mao Zedong?
Founding member of CCP in 1921
Led China from 1949 until his death
Killed 84+ million
US ACTIONS: why did the USA’s actions lead China to become Communist? 4 points
Civil war…USA helped Jiang
Truman gave $450 million, 50,000 US marines and 400,000 GMD troops
1945: State department opposed aid to Jiang
USA abandoned Jiang
JAPANESE INVASION: why did the Japanese invasion lead to China becoming Communist?
1937
Distracted Jiang
Cost him money and troops
Damaged nationalist leader reputation
…refused to cooperate with CCP= less patriotic
COMMUNIST APPEAL TO THE PEASANTRY: why did Mao’s actions towards the peasantry lead China to become Communist?
Mao = from peasant background = relatable
90% of population = peasants
Peasants had to give 50-80% of crops to landlord
Communism = appealing
Mao= support
JIANG’S LOSS OF MIDDLE CLASS SUPPORT: why did Jiang’s actions worh the middle class lead China to become Communist?
Employed corrupt bureaucrats
GMD secret police = repressive
Hyperinflation…printing lots of money
…prices rose x6000
…April 1949…one rice grain = 2500 Chinese dollars
JIANG’S ARMY: why did Jiang’s army lead China to become Communist? 4 points
Corrupt…
Officers sold food on black market
…soldiers left with sand bags and under fed
70% desertion rate
No morale
…tied soldiers up at night
JIANG’S STRATEGY AND MAO’S LEADERSHIP: how did Jiang’s strategy (or lack of) lead China to become Communist?
Suspicious of successes but unaware of Communist spies
Weakened troops
Mao = better
…8 Rules of Conduct
…more support
…guerrilla warfare
Why was Mao better than Jiang?
4 points
8 Rules of Conduct
…helped villagers
…no latrines near homes
…repair damages made
Used Chinese Nationalism
Guerrilla warfare
Democratic
