Why did Mao win the Chinese Civil War?

Question 1

Japanese invasion - China invaded by Japan 1937

Answer 1

Chiang and Nationalists unable to defeat Japanese - makes them look weak and costs money.
Mao wants to defeat Chiang more than the Japanese.

Question 2

Communist appeals to the peasantry

Answer 2

Landlords (10% of population) own 70% of land.
Rent was very expensive and paid for in crops (50-80%)
Mao promising land reform.

Question 3

Chiang loses middle-class support

Answer 3

Middle class affected the most.
Use of secret police.
Corrupt bureaucracy.
Hyperinflation - money loses value and affects savings.
Chiang and Mao refused to work together.

Question 4

Chiang’s mistakes

Answer 4

Corrupt officers.
High levels of desertion - 70%
Low morale.
Communist spies like Assistant Chief of Staff and military generals.
Strategic errors - focused on Manchuria.

Question 5

The communist military strengths

Answer 5

Eight rules of conduct - treat civilians well.
Use of guerilla tactics - hit and run to destroy enemy morale.
Very able generals - Zhu De.

Question 6

Mao’s leadership skills

Answer 6

Very popular with ordinary people especially economic and social policies.
Flexible - Land reform.
Focus on Chinese nationalism.

Question 7

End of civil war - USA

Answer 7

December 1948 US aid stopped. By October 1949 Mao and communists had taken over China (Truman was blamed for losing China) BUT he reaffirmed his commitments to defeat communism - Defense Perimiter strategy and NSC-68 (idea of rollback in Korea to force communists out but not really accepted as seen as aggressive so stick to containment instead.