China in 1936 Flashcards
Who were the GMD?
The Chinese nationalist party - the ruling party of china in 1936
What was the northern expedition?
After the 1911 revolution, most of Northern and Central China was controlled by warlords, uninterested with complying with GMD rule. In 1926, Jiang Jieshi launched the northern expedition, aiming to defeat the warlords and bring China under the GMD - by 1928, the power of the warlords had been broken
Why was china in a period regarded as a ‘golden decade’ in the 1930s?
1) success of northern expedition
2) political stability
3) publication of a provisional constitution in 1931
4) elections for a National Assembly in 1936 to discuss a new constitution
5) legal reforms
6) economic reforms
7) elections at village/town level for headmen (a village level gov official) to run local administrations
Why were the reforms of the so called ‘golden decade’ not so impactful
1) the corrupt and authoritarian nature of the GMD - provisional constitution didn’t change this
2) headmen continued to be elected by magistrates rather than the people
3) GMD still didn’t control all of china
4) Many warlords only accepted GMD rule if they kept their private armies
5) Japanese expansion in Manchuria after 1931
6) failure to eradicate CCP - managed to establish a base in Yan’an after the long march in 1934-35
7) continued political violence and military campaigns
What were cities like in the 1930s?
1) economic growth in cities like Shanghai, Guangzhou and Tiajin
2) growth of the Chinese manufacturing sector due to the inflow of foreign capital and the establishment and growth of businesses, with cotton being a leading export - increase in cotton spindles produced: 1210 in 1913 - 5102 in 1936
3) availability of electrical power in large cities
4) infrastructural improvements - highways: 28000km in 1927 - 109749km in 1936 - also development of steamer services on rivers due to GMD investment
8) establishment of new Chinese schools coupled with schools provided by western missionary societies - improved education: high schools 373 in 1912 - 1911 in 1932. High school students: 52000 in 1912 - 409000 in 1932
9) modern hospitals with western medicine
10) flourishing cultural life, especially Shanghai
What were the rural areas in China like in the 1930s?
1) education beyond the reach of most peasant families
2) minimal healthcare, relying on traditional Chinese medicine
3) high infant mortality
4) low life expectancy
5) foot binding still rife despite being outlawed in 1902
6) arranged marriages and concubines still common
7) Chinese agriculture reliant on human muscle
8) farmers heavily impacted by the Great Depression 1931-1935
9) vast majority of the population. Lived in rural areas
What were treaty ports?
At the end of the opium war in 1842, Britain forced china to open 5 ports to British merchants. This was followed by similar treaties with France, USA, Russia, Germany and Japan
How had Japan previously exploited China?
1) After victory in the Sino Japanese war in 1894-1895, Japan took control of the Korean Peninsula and Taiwan
2) explored Chinese mineral resources and set up factories in the treaty ports
3) Japan extended their influence into Manchuria, through the construction of railways, and created a separate Japanese state with its own army in Eastern Manchuria
4) allied with Britain, France and Russia after outbreak of WW1, Japan took control of areas in the Shandong province
5) in 1915, Japan presented china with the 21 demands, including increased rights of exploitation in Manchuria and Inner Mongolia.
6) At the Versailles Peace conference in 1919, Japan was granted permanent control of shandong
How did Japan take Manchuria in 1932?
The Japanese army provoked an incident with Chinese forces near the city of Mukden, allowing for a full scale assault on Southern Manchuria. By early 1932, Manchuria was under Japanese control
What caused the Japanese attack on Shanghai and when was it?
After demonstrations and boycotts against the Japanese in China, Japan attacked Shanghai in January 1932. Japan withdrew, but expanded in the North, especially in Inner Mongolia
Who was Jiang Jieshi as of 1937? (3)
1) the leader of the GMD since 1925 - came from a middle class family
2) he underwent military training in Moscow in 1923, returning to China in 1924 to take charge of the Soviet funded Whampoa military academy, where NRA officers were trained
3) in 1925, he became leader of the GMD, naming himself ‘generalissimo’
How did Jiang consolidate his power 1926-1936? (2)
1) at the whampoa military academy, Jiang trained officers in modern military strategy, who were loyal to him
2) Jiang abandoned his wife in 1927, marrying Soong Mei-Ling, the daughter of a rich business man. Her sister had been married to Sun-Yat-Sen, whilst her brother was T.V. Soong. Jiang gained important connections to these elites and to Americans
Who were the GMD’s main supporters? (2)
1) Businessmen from the cities supported the anti communist stance and foreign trade
2) wealthier peasants and landowners
What was the national revolutionary army?
The military army of the GMD
What was the General political institute?
A GMD institute created by Jiang Jieshi, that trained men to become the future leaders of china. Anti-communist and anti-imperialist views were taught and loyalty to Jiang Jieshi was emphasised
