China

Question 1

Sun Yat-sen

Answer 1

Founder of China’s Nationalist Party that overthrew 2000 year-old Imperialist system of government. First President of Chinese Republic.

Question 2

Mao Zedong

Answer 2

Leader of China’s Communist Party during China’s civil war.

Question 3

Chiang Kai-shek

Answer 3

Leader of the Chinese Nationalists during China’s civil war.

Question 4

CCP

Answer 4

Chinese Communist Party

Question 5

Years of the Chinese Civil War

Answer 5

1927-1949

Question 6

Who won the Chinese Civil War

Answer 6

Communists

Question 7

Population of China

Answer 7

1.4 Billion

Question 8

China’s world rank in population

Answer 8

1st

Question 9

China’s world rank in land area

Answer 9

4th

Question 10

Which country has more land, the U.S. or China

Answer 10

U.S.

Question 11

Chinese Imperialist System

Answer 11

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.

Question 12

Confucianism

Answer 12

Philosophy that emphasizes obedience to authority, respect for elders, and the responsibility of rulers to govern benevolently.

Question 13

Confucius

Answer 13

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.

Question 14

Reasons for Failure of Chinese Imperialism

Answer 14

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.

Question 15

Opium Wars

Answer 15

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.

Question 16

Years of the Opium Wars

Answer 16

Mid 19th Century

Question 17

Initial problems faced by Chinese Republic under Sun Yat-sen

Answer 17

Competing against warlords for control of various parts of the country.

Question 18

Chinese Nationalist Party

Answer 18

Political party formed by Sun Yat-sen to fight the warlords.

Question 19

Chinese Communist Party

Answer 19

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.

Question 20

Long March

Answer 20

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.

Question 21

Sino-Japanese War

Answer 21

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.)

Question 22

Chinese Civil War after Japan’s Surrender

Answer 22

War resumed. Communists gained the upper hand and eventually won.

Question 23

What happened to the Nationalists after the civil war ended?

Answer 23

They fled to Taiwan.

Question 24

Successes of CCP rule after Civil War

Answer 24

Land redistribution, reduction/elimination of opium addition and prostitution, improved legal status of women, growth of economy.

Question 25

Downsides of CCP rule after Civil War

Answer 25

Brutal suppression of dissent, increase in economic inequality.

Question 26

Great Leap Forward

Answer 26

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.

Question 27

Result of Great Leap Forward

Answer 27

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.

Question 28

Economic Reforms after Great Leap Forward

Answer 28

Moderate leaders convinced Mao to allow economic reforms in order to get China’s economy back on track.

Question 29

Cultural Revolution

Answer 29

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.

Question 30

When did the Cultural Revolution end and why?

Answer 30

1976 when Mao died.

Question 31

Chinese Leadership after Mao

Answer 31

A group of moderate leaders arrested Mao’s wife and other Mao sympathizers after his death before they could seize power.

Question 32

Deng Xiaoping

Answer 32

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.

Question 33

Effects of Deng Xiaoping’s leadership in China.

Answer 33

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.

Question 34

Tianenmen Square

Answer 34

1989 – Mass protests against inflation, corruption, and slow pace of political reform. Brutally suppressed.

Question 35

China’s Political System

Answer 35

Communist party-state; officially, a socialist state under the people’s democratic dictatorship.

Question 36

China’s Administrative Structure

Answer 36

Unitary system with 22 provinces, 5 autonomous regions, 4 centrally administered municipalities, and 2 special administrative regions.

Question 37

China’s Executive

Answer 37

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.

Question 38

China’s Legislature

Answer 38

Unicameral National People’s Congress with 3000 delegates elected indirectly from lower-level people’s congresses. Typically acts as a rubber stamp.

Question 39

China’s Judiciary

Answer 39

Nationwide system of people’s courts that is, theoretically, independent but, in practice, largely under the control of the CCP.

Question 40

China’s Party System

Answer 40

One party system but there are 8 politically insignificant “democratic” parties.