L07 Mao Zedong's Revolution in China Flashcards
What is Charles Tilly’s theory of “collective mobilization”?
Tilly’s theory suggests that groups emerge before the failure of the state and influence a revolutionary agenda, with contenders vying for control.
What is Samuel P. Huntington’s theory of “balanced development”?
Huntington proposes that as societies modernize, if politics and institutions aren’t updated, revolutionary conditions can arise. A stronger state can manage this transition through a “managed transition” from the top down, retaining control of the regime change.
What are the characteristics of a “Western” revolution according to Huntington?
-A weak, traditional regime disintegrates with minimal force.
-Struggles between moderates and radicals determine revolutionary scope.
-Moves from urban to rural.
-Emigration peaks early.
-Violence and terror occur in later stages, targeting moderates.
Question: What are the four elements Tilly argues are necessary for revolutionary outcomes?
- Members of the polity defect.
- Armed forces are acquired by revolutionaries.
- Elements of the state’s armed forces defect or are neutralized.
- Control of the state is assumed by revolutionaries.
What are the characteristics of an “Eastern” revolution according to Huntington?
-A narrowly-based, modernizing regime requires armed insurrection to be overthrown.
-Moves from rural to urban.
-Moderates are eliminated or forced to choose sides early.
-Emigration peaks late.
-Violence and terror occur in early stages.
What does Huntington argue is the key factor for “true” revolutions?
Huntington argues that “true” revolutions occur in modernizing or transitioning societies.
What led China into a cycle of reform, reaction, and revolution starting in the 1890s?
China entered this cycle due to political and social challenges that ultimately culminated in the victory of the Chinese Communist Party in 1949.
What are Sun Yat-sen’s “Three People’s Principles”?
Sun Yat-sen’s “Three People’s Principles” include nationalism, democracy, and the people’s livelihood, forming the ideological foundation for his vision of a modern China.
What were the key reasons for the collapse of the Qing Dynasty in 1911?
The Qing Dynasty collapsed due to internal political corruption, social unrest, military defeats, and pressures from modernization movements.
Why did Republican China fail to achieve longevity, leading to the Warlord Era?
Republican China failed due to internal instability, weak governance, and the inability to unify the country, which led to the fragmentation into the Warlord Era (1916-1928).
What factors led to the alliance between the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the Guomindang (GMD)?
The alliance between the CCP and GMD was driven by shared opposition to warlords and foreign imperialism, although ideological differences later caused tensions.
What was the role of the scholar/gentry class in Confucian social structure?
The scholar/gentry class were landed and literate individuals who staffed the royal bureaucracy.
What was the role of farmers in Confucian social structure?
Farmers produced food and paid taxes to support society.
What was the role of artisans in Confucian social structure?
Artisans created beautiful and useful objects.
What was the role of merchants in Confucian social structure?
Merchants sold objects created by peasants and artisans.
What was the significance of the Sino-Japanese War (1894-95) for China?
The Sino-Japanese War highlighted the different trajectories of China and Japan after their contact with the West, ending in a decisive victory for Meiji Japan and prompting a period of introspection for the Qing Dynasty.
How did the Sino-Japanese War affect the Qing Dynasty’s international standing?
The defeat in the war compounded China’s challenges, leading imperial powers to seek greater concessions from China.
What was the “Hundred Days of Reform” (1898)?
The “Hundred Days of Reform” was a short-lived attempt at modernization and reform in China, staunchly resisted by Dowager Empress Cixi.
What was the Boxer Rebellion (1899-1901), and how did the Qing Dynasty respond?
The Boxer Rebellion was an anti-foreign, anti-Christian uprising in China. The Qing Dynasty backed the Boxers and declared war on the Western powers, further isolating itself internationally.
Who was Sun Yat-sen, and what were his “Three People’s Principles”?
Sun Yat-sen was a revolutionary leader in China, and his “Three People’s Principles” were:
- Minzu – Nationalism or populism (“the people’s rule/government”).
- Minquan – Democracy or “the people’s power.”
- Minsheng – The people’s welfare or livelihood, a form of social welfare.
What was the Qing Dynasty’s desperate plan to reform the empire before its collapse?
The Qing Dynasty attempted to centralize power back into the hands of the government, but the effort was hampered by financial weakness.
How did the Chinese Republican Revolution (1911) begin?
The revolution began accidentally on October 9, 1911, in Wuhan when rebels seized control of the city and invited others to join them.
Why was the Qing Dynasty unable to respond effectively to the 1911 revolution?
The Qing government was financially weak and hampered in its ability to respond, and both the Qing and foreign powers turned to Yuan Shikai to restore order.
What role did Sun Yat-sen play in the Chinese Republican Revolution?
Sun Yat-sen was elected president in December 1911, but he had no army or military forces to contest the power of the warlords.
What major event marked the end of the Qing Dynasty?
Empress Dowager Longyu abdicated in February 1912 and proclaimed a republican government, marking the end of the Qing Dynasty.
What challenges did the early Republic of China face after the fall of the Qing?
The early republic was followed by a series of weaker central governments, and Yuan Shikai ignored the National Assembly after Sun Yat-sen’s Guomindang (GMD) won the majority in 1913.
What were the Twenty-One Demands of 1915?
The Twenty-One Demands were a revival of Japanese imperialism during World War I, pressuring China for more control over its territory and economy.
What was the Warlord Era (1916-1928), and how did it start?
The Warlord Era began after the death of Yuan Shikai in 1916, leading to the fragmentation of China into regions controlled by warlords.
What was the significance of the May Fourth Movement (1919)?
The May Fourth Movement protested the Paris Peace Conference’s decision to transfer German concessions in Shandong to Japan and contributed to the rise of Chinese nationalism.
