China Flashcards
Sun Yat-sen
Founder of China’s Nationalist Party that overthrew 2000 year-old Imperialist system of government. First President of Chinese Republic.
Mao Zedong
Leader of China’s Communist Party during China’s civil war.
Chiang Kai-shek
Leader of the Chinese Nationalists during China’s civil war.
CCP
Chinese Communist Party
Years of the Chinese Civil War
1927-1949
Who won the Chinese Civil War
Communists
Population of China
1.4 Billion
China’s world rank in population
1st
China’s world rank in land area
4th
Which country has more land, the U.S. or China
U.S.
Chinese Imperialist System
Form of government ruled by emperors in which officials were appointed based on merit after passing a series of difficult exams that tested their mastery of Confucianism.
Confucianism
Philosophy that emphasizes obedience to authority, respect for elders, and the responsibility of rulers to govern benevolently.
Confucius
Chinese philosopher from 551 to 479 BCE during the Tang Dynasty. He is considered the paragon of Chinese sages who emphasized personal and government morality, correctness of social relationships, justice, kindness, and sincerity.
Reasons for Failure of Chinese Imperialism
Fatally weakened in late 19th Century by poor governance, an explosion in population that led to economic stagnation and poverty, internal rebellions, and external aggression.
Opium Wars
Two armed conflicts that pitted China against Britain and Britain/France over China’s attempt to suppress the Opium trade. China lost both times producing unequal treaties and weakened Chinese sovereignty.
Years of the Opium Wars
Mid 19th Century
Initial problems faced by Chinese Republic under Sun Yat-sen
Competing against warlords for control of various parts of the country.
Chinese Nationalist Party
Political party formed by Sun Yat-sen to fight the warlords.
Chinese Communist Party
Previous allies of the Nationalist Party against the warlords. Formed in 1921, inspired by Russian revolution with hopes of producing more radical reform in China.
Long March
Year-long, 6000 mile retreat of the Communists from the purge by the Nationalists. Of the 80,000 troops that started on the march, 10% survived. Formed a base in northwest China where Mao began consolidating his power.
Sino-Japanese War
1937-1945 war between Japan and China, sometimes referred to as the Asian Holocaust because of the estimated 10-25 million missing or dead civilians in addition to the almost 4 million missing or dead soldiers on both sides. (Pseudo-cooperation between the Nationalists and Communists during the war.)
Chinese Civil War after Japan’s Surrender
War resumed. Communists gained the upper hand and eventually won.
What happened to the Nationalists after the civil war ended?
They fled to Taiwan.
Successes of CCP rule after Civil War
Land redistribution, reduction/elimination of opium addition and prostitution, improved legal status of women, growth of economy.
Downsides of CCP rule after Civil War
Brutal suppression of dissent, increase in economic inequality.
Great Leap Forward
Mao’s attempt to eliminate economic inequality. A five year economic and social campaign to reconstruct China’s agrarian economy into a communist society through communes with quotas to multiply grain yields.
Result of Great Leap Forward
The fear of reprisals for failure resulted in local officials overfilling grain quotas by falsely claiming they were surpluses, ironically leaving farmers and local communities to starve. The resulting famine is estimated to have killed at least 15 million people.
Economic Reforms after Great Leap Forward
Moderate leaders convinced Mao to allow economic reforms in order to get China’s economy back on track.
Cultural Revolution
Mao’s response to his concern that economic reforms after Great Leap Forward ended were leading to more inequality. It was a political purification of the country that led to widespread destruction of historical monuments as well as psychological and physical persecution with an estimated death toll of 2 million.
When did the Cultural Revolution end and why?
1976 when Mao died.
Chinese Leadership after Mao
A group of moderate leaders arrested Mao’s wife and other Mao sympathizers after his death before they could seize power.
Deng Xiaoping
Pragmatic leader who followed Mao. More of a king-maker since he never formally took the position as head of either the Communist Party or the Chinese Government.
Effects of Deng Xiaoping’s leadership in China.
Reduced state control of the economy. Market forces were allowed to play an increasingly important role. Chinese economy began to grow. Educated officials were recruited. Artists had more freedom.
Tianenmen Square
1989 – Mass protests against inflation, corruption, and slow pace of political reform. Brutally suppressed.
China’s Political System
Communist party-state; officially, a socialist state under the people’s democratic dictatorship.
China’s Administrative Structure
Unitary system with 22 provinces, 5 autonomous regions, 4 centrally administered municipalities, and 2 special administrative regions.
China’s Executive
Premier (head of government) and President (head of state) elected by legislature but only with approval of CCP leadership. The General Secretary of the CCP usually serves as the President of the country.
China’s Legislature
Unicameral National People’s Congress with 3000 delegates elected indirectly from lower-level people’s congresses. Typically acts as a rubber stamp.
China’s Judiciary
Nationwide system of people’s courts that is, theoretically, independent but, in practice, largely under the control of the CCP.
China’s Party System
One party system but there are 8 politically insignificant “democratic” parties.
