Chinese Civil War Flashcards
What are the overall short-term and long-term causes?
- Economic
- Ideological
- Political
- Territorial
What were the long-term economic causes?
- Agricultural stagnation
- Land inequality
- Industrial underdevelopment
- Regional disparity
How was agricultural stagnation a long-term economic cause?
Agricultural stagnation was a major long-term economic cause of rural poverty in 1920s and 1930s China. With 85% of the population engaged in farming in the 1930s, the sector remained largely underdeveloped, with little mechanization and low productivity. Most peasants lived on the edge of subsistence, vulnerable to natural disasters and crop failures. The situation was exacerbated by land inequality, with many peasants renting from wealthy landlords who charged high rents, sometimes up to 70% of crop value in Hunan Province. Agricultural prices fell dramatically, reaching only 41 percent of 1921 levels by 1932, while rural incomes in some areas dropped to 57 percent of 1931 levels by 1934. This stagnation created a cycle of poverty, limiting overall economic growth and development across China.
How was land inequality a long-term economic cause?
Land inequality was a major long-term economic cause of poverty in early 20th century China. Many peasants did not own their land but rented it from wealthy landlords who charged exorbitant rents, sometimes up to 70% of crop value in Hunan Province. This system perpetuated a cycle of poverty and hindered agricultural development. The Communist Party’s 1931 Land Law in the Chinese Soviet Republic aimed to address this by confiscating and redistributing land, but its impact was limited to specific areas.
How was industrial underdevelopment a long-term economic cause?
Industrial underdevelopment was evident in China’s small industrial sector, which constituted less than 10% of GDP in the 1930s. Modern manufacturing accounted for only 2.2% of GDP in 1933, with labor-intensive production of consumer goods dominating the industrial landscape. Textiles, garments, and food processing accounted for two-thirds of 1933 industrial output. Despite some growth in the 1920s and 1930s, particularly in cotton textiles, the industrial sector remained relatively small compared to agriculture.
How was regional disparity a long-term economic cause?
Regional disparity was a significant economic issue, with industrial activity heavily concentrated in coastal areas. Nearly two-thirds of 1933 industrial production was located in the southeast coastal provinces, with half clustered in Shanghai and adjacent Jiangsu province. The GDP share of modern industry in Shanghai and the Lower Yangzi region reached about 15% in the early 1930s, three times the national average. Meanwhile, vast regions, especially in the west, experienced very limited development of modern industry prior to 1937, exacerbating economic inequality between regions.
What were the ideological long-term causes?
- Communism vs. Nationalism
How was Communism vs. Nationalism an ideological long-term cause?
The ideological conflict between Communism and Nationalism was a significant long-term cause of the Chinese Civil War. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP), led by Mao Zedong, advocated for a Marxist-Leninist ideology adapted to Chinese conditions, while the Kuomintang (KMT), under Chiang Kai-shek, promoted Sun Yat-sen’s Three Principles of the People, which emphasized nationalism, democracy, and people’s livelihood. This fundamental difference in political philosophy created a deep rift between the two parties, even during their brief alliance against Japan. The CCP’s focus on peasant mobilization and land reform contrasted sharply with the KMT’s support for urban business interests and rural landlords. By 1927, this ideological divide led to a split in the revolutionary ranks, culminating in the Shanghai massacre on April 12, where hundreds of communists were purged from the KMT. This event widened the gap between the two factions and set the stage for decades of conflict.
What were the long-term political causes?
- Political fragmentation after Qing dynasty collapse
- Rise of regional warlords
