China AOS1 Flashcards
What were Sun Yat-sen’s Three Principles of the People?
- Democracy- republic w a popularly elected pres + parliament- modelled on separation of powers (b/w judiciary, executive + legislative) of west h/w w C style exams for civil servants w 3yrs of Military dictatorship followed by 6yrs of Political tutelage (trial + error what characteristics of dem work in C) + then democracy
- Nationalism- Stop Mau ruling C (ethnic minority) + have Han ruling C + to end foreign imperialism/influence in C
3 People’s livelihood- Improve welfare of working ppl, inc regulation > ag land ownership, inc state inf in industry, a single fairer tax syst (aim 2 dec corruption)
What were the strengths of Yuan Shikai’s leadership?
- Early actions increase support from abroad e.g. Br say he is ‘just the right man for the job’ of modernising C
- Willing to reform- e.g’s legal syst, supress opium farming, encouraged primary edu= free + compulsory, centralising currency
- Strong + autocratic helped to unify C- demonstrated ability to reform h/w post death inc regional tensions (esp b/w warlords + provincial strong men had near complete control > provinces + Tibet + Mongolia declared independence)
What were Yuan Shaki’s limitations?
- Autocratic power + corruption of ideology to guide him- e.g. Jan 1st 16 declares self emp w belief it would legitamise his power h/w piss of gen + provincial governors disapprove (trad supporters) t/f declare independence + Yuan consequently resigned in Mar 16
- Still reliant on coop from Warlords + landed gentry- t/f decision to make self emp pissed them off + revealed limitations of YS gov to implement reform
- Ideologically x inline w 3PP t/f undermined support from republicans e.g. ‘Second Rev’ (July 13 GMD backed provincial gov declared independence + 6others follow) to justify autocratic measures= Nov 13 banned GMD, Jan 14 dissolved national + provincial parls + replaced w advisory state council (no obligation to follow)
What challenges did the GMD face in its attempts to limit the authority of Yuan Shikai?
- YS had support of Beiyang Army t/f able to suppress 2nd rev (July 13 GMD backed provincial gov declared independence + 6others follow)
- New gov base in Beijing X Nanjing (where rev basis of support was)
- Lack of positions in new gov (despite maj of votes)- e.g. June 12 pressure 4x GMD memb to resign from cab + PM Song assassinated + YS reps in key cab roles e.g. Min for War
- Increasingly Autocratic legislation- Nov 13 banned GMD, Jan 14 dissolved national + provincial parls + replaced w advisory state council (no obligation to follow) + May 14 create new const that extend pres term from 5 to 10 yrs + inc dictatorial control > mil, dip + financial decisions
What happened to central political authority following the death of Yuan Shikai?
-Decreased- Increased return to warlordism- e.g. warlords + provincial strong men had near complete control > provinces + Tibet + Mongolia declared independence
What was the nature and purpose of the New Culture Movement?
Purpose- Need to determine what modern C identity should be esp w trad Conf viewed as antithetical to new society t/f need to ‘recreate civilisation’ (Hu Shi)
Nature- Esp concentrated in urban areas + mainly involved students + intellectuals e.g. Chen Duxiu, Li Dazhu
- Focused on spreading new/Western ideas in amore accessible vernacular (e.g. Baihua) that countered confuncianism/trad social order
- Circulated ‘New Youth’ mag to ‘jabbed the rapier of modern Western ideas through the ribs of C’s rigid traditions’
- Inc in feminism (still fringe tho e.g. Ding Ling)
Why did anti-imperialist feelings increase as an expression of the May Fourth Movement?
- B/c Nat gov made secret agreement in ’18 they had agreed to give Ger concession to J + C dip @ TOV ignorant of deal + t/f humiliated b/c x able to desire for Shandong prov + self determination met- N. Gov failed to fulfil 3PP
- 3k students (YOUTH) gathered @ Gate of Heavenly Peace in TS
- Inc nationalism spread b/w other groups e.g. in response to students being arrested 20 provinces + 100+ towns/cities w/in a month) + workers went on strike + J goods boycotted (June 100k Shanghai workers went on strike for a week)
- Inc motivation + catalyst for change turned even more eagerly to rev theory… gave a sense of direction to radicals + revolutionaries- Lynch)
What led to the founding of the CCP?
- Inc frustration @ lib ideals esp following May 4th Movement/ TOV ‘betrayal’ t/f Marxism = alternative
- Anti-imperialist sentiment of USSR- 1919 July Karkkhan Manifesto (renounce all imperialist claims in C) + Bol victory in 20-21 against Foreign Imperialists in Civ War–> inc support among republicans
- Ap 20 Comintern agent arrived in C to create CCP meeting b/w Li Dazhao + Chen Duxiu = creation of com cells (esp in urban areas) –> July 21 12 1st Nat Congress of C Com Party = creation of com party
How did Soviet Comintern influence and support the GMD?
-Provided stabilising influence following Sun Yat-sen’s failed Guangzhoa gov x2 (+ rejection from foreign powers such as US + J 4 aid)
-26th Jan 1923 Sun + Joffe created joint manifesto (Sun-Joffe Declaration) - CCP memb join GMD = increase unity w/in opposition to nat gov-
1st May ’24 founded Huangpu Mil Academy ($$ from sov)
-Provided policy advice + advisors- E.g. Agent Borodin + sent JJ to Russia to learn policy/mil technique + inc democratic centralism + adapted 3pp to inc rid C of warlords + emphasising the role of peasantry in C
What was the significance of the First United Front?
- Created alt power structure to gov w inc legitimacy
- Inc prestige of CCP (only 420 memb by 1922) + inc ability to influence politics (provided 24 positions in cab)
- Inc stability w/in GMD e.g. used com $$ to create Hyuang mil accademy, dem centralism
- Expanded concept of 3PP to include riding C of warlords + placing peasantry more central role
Who emerged as the leading contenders in the Nationalist movement following the death of Sun Yat-sen?
-Following 20th Aug 1925 Miao Zhongkai (leading GMD memb) assassinated- 3 man leadership team= Wang Jingwei (right faction), Jiang Jeishi (C-in-C) + Mikhail Bordin (comintern advisor = reps CCP)
What happened during the Northern Expedition?
- Started 27th July 1926 Nat Rev Army w 85k troops + 6k Huangpu officers w J as C-in-C vs 750k troops of Northern Warlords = ‘hopeless folly’ according to int observers
- Initial successes- saw CCP go ahead + inc support from locals + surround certain warlords –> start of 27 inc army from defections + march on Shanghai + Beijing
- March 22nd 27- Shanghai controlled by Nat h/w JJ afraid about CCP inc power t/f 12th Ap 27 Big ears Du armed 2k man militia (China Mutual Progress Association) dressed in working clothes to WC districts
- Communists + unionists systematically rounded up + executed (est b/w 5-10k com)
- Spread throughout Nationalist controlled cities= 100ks killed
- Following collapse of UF + dec in opposition to JJ returns 2 C 1st Jan 28 + as C-in-C takes Beijing w/in June + July
To what extent did the Northern Expedition achieve its aims of national rejuvenation?
- Semblance of Nat unity (h/w x all provinces under GMD control)- 1st unified gov since Yuan Shikai death (June 1916) = controlled 4x provinces
- Able to embark on decade of modernisation
- March ’29 start of political tutelage period- ostensibly aiming to fulfil 3PP
H/W
- Inc autocratic control of GMD= JJ inc in prestige + power= chairman of GMD CEC + state council, sec gen of GMD + head of mil council (esp b/c retained influence > Huangpu mil academy)
- GMD never controlled more then 1/3 of territory and 2/3 of population + 80% of gov income on army to maintain territory e.g. 23 campaigns to
- NE saw break down of UF + revealed extent of links to criminality e.g. Green Gang endorsed violence against com + given exclusive rights to sell opium in B
What led to the Shanghai Massacre?
- March on Shanghai in March 27- Com go ahead + agitate w workers unions + formed militias causing city to become paralysed + t/f UF control by 22nd March
- JJ felt threatened by com influence in C (sig for eco position + size of pop) t/f goes to Green Gang (headed by Big Ears Du) + promises them legal immunity, exclusive rights to sell opium if rid Shanghai of militant workers
What were the consequences of the Shanghai Massacre?
- 12th Ap 1927 Big ears Du armed 2k man militia killed 5-10k com + unionists
- Violence against com + sympathisers spread throughout nat cities (100k+ killed)
- Repressed/decreased CCP memb- memb dec from 57k to 10k + reduced ability to organise/spread info (e.g. 6th Party Congress June-July 20 had to be held in Moscow)
- Inc fragility of UF e.g. Ap 27- Wang Jingwei (GMD) + Chen Duxiu (com) issued a joint statement trying to reaffirm r/ship- demonstrates fragility h/w - 15th July 1927 UF end when GMD expel CCP + comintern from gov- X able to recover r/ship
How did Comintern have influence over the leadership and strategies of the CCP?
Strategies- Focus on urban areas + trad workers (X peasantry)
-Stalin send comintern agents to C to stage uprisings against GMD in urban areas- e.g. Stalin orders Qu Quibai to launch insurrection in Guangzhou only able to proclaim Guangzhou State Council w radical measures (e.g. land redistribution) for 2 days b4 GMD retook + 1st Aug Nanchang uprising lasting only 4 days b/c GMD over powered + ppl indifferent
Leadership-
- Leaders oft allegiances 1st w USSR e.g. Qu Quibai edu in Moscow + Li Lisan strong Marxist-Leninism interpretation of rev t/f supported by USST
- Failure to deliver on comintern goals –> change in leadership e.g. Li Lisan replaced w 28-Bol (aka returned student’s clique)
What significant strategies and reforms were developed by Mao Zedong and Zhu De during the Jiangxi Soviet period?
- Est RA (aka ppl’s army)- adopted 3 main rules for discipline (e.g. obey all orders in action) + 8 Points for attention (e.g. speak politely)- create army that was seen as point of contact b/w peasantry + party + provided them political instruction e.g. pol commissar to each group + remove symbols of status w/in army e.g. officer ate + slept w soldiers
- Use guerrilla warfare as main tactic e.g. lure GMD ‘in deep’ + use r/ship w peasantry to gain intel
- Land reforms- focused on strengthening ties b/w ppl + com through executing most exploitive + brutal landlords - land 4 all memb of villages (inc rich pes) + created fixed grain tax of 15-20% (seen as level able to support both peas + RA)= X alienate any locals
- Initiatives introduced to imp women’s edu + services 4 local ppl (Women edu more imp b/c impacts spread through family x man alone) e.g. divorce, opium fam strongly discouraged, red postal service established, ‘ppl’s bank’ created its own currency, campaigns against foot binding, arranged marriages + child labour/slavery
- Furitan purges- up to 20k killed after initial 200 leaders of anti-Mao protests spread throughout region
What were the strengths of the Nationalist government during the Nanjing Decade?
Strengths
- Gov reforms- created 5 major bureaus (aka Yuan =Executive Yuan (gov- State Council= highest body ), Legislative Yuan (legislative), Judiciary Yuan (legal system), Examination Yuan (civil service appointments), Control Yuan (behaviour + standards in bureaucracy) = aimed to reduce corruption)
- Modernisation- e.g. communication= C gov created airline (no. of aircraft inc from 56 in ’29 to 2290 in ’36), highways inc 606% b/w ’27 to ’36 (inc from 28k km to 169.35k km) + reformed eco syst, inc infrastructure= new hospitals built (inc 1 in Nan of int standard) + inc no. fact from 1547 in 27 to 2695 in 32
What are the limitations of the Nationalist government during the Nanjing Decade?
- Inc autocratic= JJ inc + consolidate power by using support from military e.g. 1931 had assumed title of Generalissimo (general of generals) + maintained authority over some cliques/factions e.g. family clique
- Economically- spent 80% of gov rev on mil + run 13mil yuan p/m deficit min Soong resign + H.H. Kung inc inflation in 40s by printing $$
- Excessive taxation- X imp livelihood of ppl¬¬- ‘Special taxes’ on every day items (e.g. in Guansu = 44 dif taxes), Some officials collected taxes yrs in advance (e.g. in Sichian 1971’s taxes collected in 1933), some provinces saw taxes 11x higher than official rate
- Only control 1/3 of territory + 2/3 of pop @ peak
- Corruption/inadequacies of bureaucratic structures- e.g. b/w 31-37 Control Yuan received 69.5k reports about infringements by GMD officials h/w only 268 found to be at fault and only 13 sacked
What was the role of and significance of Jiang Jieshi’s leadership during the Nanjing Decade?
-Significance-
What were the intentions and impacts of the New Life Movement?
Intentions
- To ‘thoroughly militarise the lives of the citizens of the entire nation so they can cultivate courage… especially the habit and ability for unified action’ (JJ)- GMD Launched Feb 34 to bring about national moral rejuvenation via discipline + trad values + present alternative to communism in rejuvenation
- Aim to do through 96 rules e.g. no spitting in the street, wash your face
Impacts-
- Limited b/c only in urban areas + only rlly ‘intruded into other ppl’s lives’ (Ryan)
- Reinforced use of thuggery by gov to enforce conformity
- Return to oppressive practices e.g. foot binding
Why did the Long March begin?
JJ’s determination to rid C of com (aka a ‘disease of the soul’) - Dec 30 Bandit Extermination and Encirclement campaigns against rural CCP strongholds + w aid of Ger advisor Von Seekt adopt new policy (build small forts + scorched earth style destroy farm land of com supporters to make CCP support unpalatable)
- Com overwhelmed by 1mil + GMD troops (inc JJ elite troops) + 200+ aircraft inc dif 4 Gur warfare caused 1000s CCP killed + 60/70 Sov controlled counties fallen by Sep 34 = necessity to retreat + rebuild
- Need exacerbated by abandoning guerrilla warfare + traditional warfare- made massively ineffective
What was the initial size of the Long March and what were its tactics and intentions?
Initial size- 80k soldiers + 20k CCP support staff
Initial intention- OG aim to move to Hunan (550km) to sov est by He Long
Initial tactics- Continual use of conventional warfare- e.g. @ Battle of Xiang River
- Slow progress- 4hrs on 4hrs off walking + walking column = 80km long
- Excessive equipment e.g. printing press, library + x-ray machine
- Only elites w/in party new aim of ‘operation moving house’
- Possible agreement w warlords to allow passage through provinces w/o GMD being alerted
How did the Battle of Xiang river impact on the nature of the march?
- Reduced no. of com supporters- 70% dec (from 100k to 30k)
- Increased influence of Mao as leader + decreased Otto Braun’s predictable ‘Head on, Straight on approach’ b/c increased discontent toward alt leadership e.g. on 12th Dec ’34 M told CCP to change route + was listened to
Why was the Zunyi Conference a critical turning point in the Long March?
- Mao given role of chief advisor + promoted to P. Standing Committee + Mao, Zhou + Wang take control of march (‘Central triad of leadership’- Braun’)
- Strongly discredited leadership of 28 Bol + inc support from Zhou Enlai
- Return to disciple + alignment w peasantry- com hold meetings in towns to explain nature of ‘ppl’s army’ = 8 areas of action +3 key rules reiterated
- TP b/c Mao defacto in charge + reversion to tactics
What changes in leadership and strategies emerged after Zunyi?
Leadership- Mao given role of chief advisor + promoted to P. Standing Committee + Mao, Zhou + Wang take control of march (‘Central triad of leadership’- Braun’)
Strategies- Return to Guerrilla Warfare + return to disciple + alignment w peasantry- com hold meetings in towns to explain nature of ‘ppl’s army’ = 8 areas of action +3 key rules reiterated
- Young men often recruited by force
- Military reforms- e.g. attach political commissar to each group + catchy slogans created to help reposition it as not just retreat e.g. ‘March North to Fight the Japanese’
What is the significance of the Battle of Luding Bridge?
- Arrived @ 29th May ’35 found defended by GMD + planking damaged on chain wood bridge (near Dadu River that CCP needed to cross to get to Zhang Guato’s Fourth Front Sov in Sichuan)
- Portrays com as fierce + successful fighting underdogs + allowed for huge propaganda victory + show huge level of heroism- 22 successfully crossed + 4 died
What difficulties were faced by the Long Marchers as they crossed the Great Snowy Mountains?
- Inadequate equipment/X prepared- e.g. cotton clothing + straw sandals
- Harsh conditions- freezing + ppl falling off mountain = ‘a nightmare of death and pain while it was in progress’
-Forces decreased from 30k to 10k
What difficulties were faced by the Long Marchers as they crossed the High Grasslands?
- Lack of food suitable to regular diet + lack of clean water– dysentery + diseases from eating boiled leather belts + undigested food in faeces of those ahead of them + poisons weeds + drinking swamp water
- Ppl drowned in mud pits
(Aug 35)
What is the significance of the Long March to the development of the CCP?
- Mao’s leadership strengthened- Zhang no longer opposition post failure = no credible internal opposition to Mao’s leadership
- Although tactical retreat- demonstrated JJ failed to exterminate com army + gave CCP strong sense of purpose
- Brought Mao to leadership front
- Long march= foundational narrative/base for PRC + created ‘long march’ spirit – attitude of perseverance in face of extreme adversity (create new foundation for cultural identity) all leaders b/w ’49 and ’90 veterans of LM
- Yan’an allow Mao to rebuild RA + implement rev program
- Limitation-lost 4/5 of no., driven out of southern base, JJ recognised by West + USSR (dec comintern b/c x agree w CCP/Mao), GMD inc control + CCP appear broken
How did Jiang’s government respond to Japanese military aggression in northern China?
- Trade space for time- 15th Aug Nat Gov declared a War of Self Defence (i.e. recognise x able to win t/f planned war of attrition) - 2 months of of fighting h/w retreat inevitable
- X plan for retreat (Sh. Lost in Nov 37 + Nanjing in Dec 37) caused 100ks refs blocking road + rail syst + wounded = no care
- X surrender- Shanghai front- ordered best units to defend (strictly x retreat) caused red. Flexibility of commanders t/f 250k (60%) of best troops killed or wounded
How did Jiang’s errors or those of his Nationalist generals decrease support for the GMD?
- Caused mass public suffering for little progress- E.g. ordered dykes of Yellow River to be blown up (7th June 38) caused crops in 3 prov destroyed, 11 cities flooded, 3-5mil left homeless + approx. 500k drowned b/c done w/o warning + no strategical sig b/w Wuhan fell Dec 38 + exacerbated Henan famine (killed 2-3mil ppl)
- Emphasised goodness of CCP- e.g. treatment of soldiers - 50% (of ppl who died in war- approx. 1,5mil) died from hunger, thirst or exposure + were chained together naked to prevent conscripted ppl escaping
- Use of lend-lease against CCP + X focus on offensive = decreased patriotism + morale of soldiers - contrasted to popular sentiment + CCP
What policies and strategies were implemented by the CCP at Yan’an?
Strategies- X alienate any groups + focus on targeting peasantry
- Target women + their issues
- Mao est practice of Mass line + encouraged flexibility from officials to adapt Maoism to own needs
Policies-
- Land + tax reform- e.g. b/w 35-37 surplus land given to those who need (Landlords still retain enough to keep alive) + post ’37 (due to 2nd United Front), X take land unless landlord flee resulted reduced interest from 18% to 1.5% + rents no more then 25% of harvests
- Use RA to build bonds w com-RA soldiers x on duty helped peasantry e.g. tilled land + helped w harvest
- IMR +MMR reduced by inc edu to local midwives (e.g. on importance of sterilising equipment) + inc food 4 mothers + preg women
- Imp literacy rates (inc from 1% in 36 to 50% in 43)
What were the key features of the Yan’an Way?
- Political change- degree of pop representation encouraged e.g. principle of three thirds – 1/3 of gov CCP, 1/3 from other leftist groups + 1/3 anyone except Japanese collaborators, local landlords or right wing GMD – followed loosely democratic centralism
- Social change- inc gender equity- e.g. inc ease 4 divorce 4 women,
- Eco change- Although high morale + all coop 2 progress eco (e.g. women’s spinning cooperatives + RA units produced 40% of own food) opium still Y Sov’s biggest source of $$
- Land reform- post ’37 (due to 2nd United Front), X take land unless landlord flee resulted reduced interest from 18% to 1.5% + rents no more then 25% of harvests
-Ideological underpinnings- est practice of Mass line - i.e. develop progs that provide appropriate leadership- ‘from the ppl to the ppl’ – Cadres work alongside peasants, listen to their concerns + find pragmatic solution + get peasantry to take greater involvement in work
What was the purpose of Mao’s Rectification Campaign?
- Make M’s rev ideas pre eminent + red pol opposition
- Why becoming purge- needed to remove leadership rivals (esp b/c felt threatened by intellectuals), felt some new recruits x reliable + X have ‘correct style of work.’
- E.g. Wang Ming (former 28-Bol/Returned Students’ Clique) attempted to undermine M + suggest corrupt - M complained his authority ‘not extend beyond his cave’
How did the Xian incident lead to the Second United Front?
How- In an attempt to force 2nd UF = 12th Dec 36 a division of Zhang’s army (GMD) attack temple JJ stay in = arrested JJ + placed under arrest + -Zhang + Zhou hold talks in Xi’an (debate about what to do w JJ e.g. execution vs freedom)
+ Stalin’s insistence saw JJ released on cond end anti com camp + form 2nd UF (united against J)
What were the details of the 2nd UF agreement?
- Yan’an sov = autonomous region of Nat Republic (t/f continue to self-govern)
- RA absorbed into Nationalist Armed Forces (renamed Eight Route Army) h/w com gens still in charge
- RA overall strat directed by GMD
- Second Com Army approved - ‘New 4th Army’ made of Jiangxi guerrillas and new recruits
How did the war with Japan impact on the Nationalist government?
- Inc supply of US equipment (via Lend-Lease) + advice e.g. Stilwell, construction of plane runways
- Reduced public support- E.g. following ordering of Dykes of Yellow River to be blown up (7th June 38) saw crops in 3 prov destroyed, 11 cities flooded, 3-5mil left homeless + approx. 500k drowned b/c done w/o warning + no strategical sig b/w Wuhan fell Dec 38 + 50% of all C troops died b/c of neglect from own gov
- Exposed inadequacies of JJ leadership/conscription- E.g. the Ap 44 Ichigo Offensive- large J victory took over large cities + GMD new airports in cent. + S China despite JJ having intel on it
How did the war with Japan impact on the CCP?
- Enabled inc displays of patriotism- E.g. Guerilla campaigns against J + 1 large scale assault (aka Hundred Regime Offensive in 1940 h/w saw death of 22k CCP, brutal reprisal against villagers + only 4k GMD)
- Emphasised GMD lack of patriotism- pushed ppl towards CCP e.g. trade space for time approach
- J’s 3 All’s (Loot all, kill all + burn all) inc support by peasantry for CCP
What were American observations of the Communists at Yan’an?
‘The communists are in C to stay. And C’s destiny is not Jiang’s but theirs’. -Reporter on Dixie Mission (July 44)
-Memb of Dixie mission praised com for morale, organisation + discipline
What was the overall impact of the war on China?
- Devastating loss of life/humanitarian impact- 3mil soldiers killed, 18mil civilians killed, 95 mil ppl became refugees + destruction of many towns + cities
- Inc support for CCP (esp among peasantry)
- Hyperinflation caused reduced support from GMD among all groups (inc trad wealthy supporters)
-H/w JJ gov inc support from US + equipment enabled inc position to return/restore national gov
What was the nature of Mao’s Rectification Campaign?
- Routine established to expose those x correctly interpreting the ideology- e.g. lecture to mass group + then small groups break out to ‘study’ w those found x correctly interpreting ideas sent to ‘struggle sessions’ (highlight lack of understanding + then rigorous reteaching Mao’s ideas) + those who refused to ‘reform’ = conduct manual labour or executed
- Helped to embed Mao as ‘prophet’ like leader by reducing political opposition e.g. Wang Ming undermined + Chen Boda helped to write speeches + compared M to Confu
Communist strengths during CW
- Mao’s response to GMD advances- e.g. in Yan’an March ’47- adaptable approach (dems sig of earlier development of Maoism) = ‘We will give Jiang Yan’an. He will give us China’
- Retreat in an orderly manner + GW = decreased morale of GMD- ‘Keep men, lose land, land can be taken again; Keep land, lose men, land and men both lost’
- Prior experience/experimentation w trialling admin styles –> effective administration in ‘liberated areas’ = inc pub support + position as ‘peoples war’ + PLA to inc appeal/support
- Adaptability- e.g. transition to conventional warfare in 1948
- Support from peasantry e.g. as result of land reform (killed 1+ mil landlords b/w ‘45-‘49
Key events/date in Civ War
- 1945 US Pres Truman sent Gen Marshal 2 C prevent war = 10th Jan 1946 ceasefire (till May ‘46)
- 1947- ‘The Strong point offensive’-JJ takes Yan’an h/w CCP in control of N-E proviences (e.g. Shandong + Shaanxi) + sees M pivot to offensive strat month l8er
- November ’48- Jan ’49 Pingjin Campaign- take Beijing + destroy GMD morale
- Ap ’49 cross Yangzi river (symbolic) –> fall on Nanjing, Shanghai + Guangzhao
- 1st Oct ’49 Mao declared the PRC @ entrance to the Forbidden City in Beijing
-GMD weakness in CW- nationalist mil failings
- Jiang’s army over stretched on offensive + X experienced in fighting GW- many troops spent long periods waiting in cities
- Lack of morale in troops- (esp following J-S war) = 3 Don’t cares- ‘1. Don’t Care to fight, 2. Don’t care about the people. 3. Don’t care about myself’ –> inc looting, pillaging + raping = dec pub support
- JJ bad leadership- appointed commanders on loyalty > skill
- X able to retreat effectively–> inc access to CCP 2 US grade arms e.g. Mao said ‘JJ was my supply officer’
-GMD weakness in CW- eco failings
- Hyperinflation ‘alienated the Nationalists’ (Lynch) from trad supporters of MC
- Spent 80% of budget on maintenance of mil
- V v high taxes for peasantry (70-90%) of crop yield + exacerbated by corruption w/in gov- e.g. 30% of aid provided by US ended up on black market–> decreased support 4 GMD
-GMD weakness in CW- lack of support 4 nationalists
-Brutality towards ppl- Instilled own commanders in rural areas (x taking into account local issues)
o Regime oppressive= Aug ’48 Shanghai public beheadings + firing squads 4 op
o Poor treatment on conscripted ppl = 50% of GMD casualties (1.5mil) = due to neglect
-Bad behaviour by military- 3 Don’t cares- ‘1. Don’t Care to fight, 2. Don’t care about the people. 3. Don’t care about myself’ = inc pillaging + raping of peasantry
-Blue shirts= used to enforce restrictions on free speech
Top 3 reasons 4 com victory (my opinion)
- Mao’s leadership- created systems of GW, admin etc used to inc support from public
- Jiang Jeishi’s leadership- enabled corruption + poor mil command + ill-treatment of peasantry
- Support 4 com from public/ ability to use the 3PP to create clear criteria to juxtapose CCP w GMD
