China 1644 - 1949
China was ruled by dynastic monarchies for 3000 years. A dynasty is a line of hereditary monarchs or rulers. The Qing dynasty ruled China from 1644 to 1911. In the early rears the Qing Dynasty successfully expanded China to the current borders and governed the world's largest and most prosperous economy However the later Qing rulers became increasingly weak and cut off from the challenges face by Chinese society. A combination of environmental, social and external factors led to the eventual collapse of the Qing in 1911.
The 1911 Revolution
The 1911 Revolution was a spontaneous nationwide rebellion that erupted across China in late 1911 and led to the abdication of the Qing dynasty.
Throughout Chinese history, old dynasties had always been replaced by new dynasties. The 1911 Revolution, however, was the first to overthrow a monarchy completely and attempt to establish a republic to spread democratic ideas throughout China.
The revolution and the resulting social and political breakdown led to the Warlord era, a period of scial dislocation and lawlessness which lasted until 1927.
1. The Qing Dynasty 1644 - 1911
The Qing Dynasty was initially very successful, expanding China to the current borders. At its peak, the empire controlled one-third of the world's population and boasted the world’s largest economy
The dynasty's decline began in the late 18th century due to several factors:
A population explosion outpacing economic growth
Increasing elite competition for limited positions (elite surplus)
Economic decline and corruption
Foreign (mostly European) imperialism
Internal rebellions. e.g. the Taiping Rebellion lasted 15 years and led to the deaths of 20 million people.
The Qing's inability to adapt to Western imperialism and modernise effectively led to its downfall. Despite attempts at reform, such as the Self Strengthening and Hundred Days movements, the dynasty ultimately collapsed in 1911, ending over two millennia of imperial rule in China.
To do: The Qing. Losing the mandate of heaven
What is the mandate of heaven and how do dynasties lose it??
Include a map of China under the Qing
Were the Qing justified in their resistance to opening up trade with western countries. Use examples to support your answer.
Describe the purpose and outcome of the Opium Wars.
What were the main reasons for the decline of the Qing Dynasty.
Why do you think the end of the Qing led to the end of 3000 years of Dynastic Monarchies?
2. The Warlord Era 1916 - 1927
After the fall of the Qing Dynasty in 1912, several provinces declared independence and The Republic of China was formed with Yuan Shikai as President. Shikai wanted to be the new emperor of China, however he was corrupt and unable to maintain unity. After he stepped down, regional warlords began fighting for control of the government. During the warlord period China became disunited and divided into fiefdoms, there was no effective civic government. The country was ruled by powerful warlords acting in their own interest.
The Warlord Era: 5 Key points
The Warlord Era was a period of political fragmentation and regional militarism in China, beginning with the end of the Qing in 1916 and ending in 1927.
The emergence of the warlords was caused in part by powerful local leaders filling the vacuum left by the last half-century of the declining Qing.
The warlords and warlord factions used private or provincial armies to exert and expand their control. Most warlords and warlord soldiers were motivated by economic gains. Warlords increased taxes, stole land, legalised opium and printed money leading to high inflation.
A few warlords attempted social reforms. In general terms, however, the lives of Chinese peasants was noticeably worse than under the Qing.
A national government operated in Beijing during the Warlord Era and profited from foreign trade, duties and taxes. This government was controlled by warlords and was neither representative or legitimate.
Source: The Warlord period. China in Disintegration. 1977. James E. Sheridan
"The widespread disorder and violence of the war-lord period disrupted foreign trade as well as endangering foreigners. At the same time, the impotence of the central government during the warlord years served as an open invitation to foreigners to fish in China's troubled waters. Foreign influence occurred in several ways and at several levels, but the two most important involved further control over China's economic resources and supplying aid to selected warlords. Japan was by far the worst offender in using warlord disunity to force new concessions from China. The other powers were satisfied to wring the maximum profit from the privileges already permitted under treaties from the Qing era."
To Do: Reviewing the warlord period
Define the warlord period
Why did China break up into regions controlled by warlords?
Include a map of China showing the main warlord provinces
Use examples to describe the experience of the Chinese peasants during the warlord period?
How did the colonial powers benefit from the breakdown in central government?
Use three quotes from historical sources to describe conditions in China during the warlord period.
3. Civil War Part 1. 1927 - 1939
The Chinese Civil War began in 1927 when the Nationalist Party (KMT) under Chiang Kai-shek turned against their former Communist allies (CCP). The conflict paused during WWII to fight Japan, then resumed in 1946, eventually leading to Communist victory in 1949.
Background briefing: The Long March - making of a myth
The Long March was the epic retreat by the three Communist Armies, that took place in 1934 and 1935, during the Chinese Civil War. It was a key moment in the civil war, and also the development of communism in China and the young man who would emerge to lead China for the rest of his life. Mao Zedong.
In early 1934, the communist armies were being crushed by the Nationalists (Kuomintang) under Chiang Kai-shek.
The nationalists had spent the previous year deploying a tactic called the Encirclement Campaigns, in which the larger nationalist armies encircled communist strongholds and then crushed them.
The Communists were desperate, the leaders continued to fight the nationalists in open warfare despite the declining communist strength as they faced defeat and heavy casualties.
Threatened with extermination by the better-led and more numerous nationalists, Mao Zedong recommended taking the remaining troops and moving west to safety.
Starting out - October 1934
From their base in Jiangxi Province, southern China, the communists set out in October of 1934, and according to Mao, marched some 12,500 kilometres. More recent estimates put the distance at a much shorter but still impressive 6,000 km.
Shaanxi - the end of the march
By October of 1935, Mao's First Army was down to 4,000 soldiers. Survivors joined forces with the few remaining troops from the other communist armies.
In Shaanxi the communists recovered and began to rebuild. They eventually defeated the Nationalist forces more than a decade later, in 1949. The retreat was disastrous in human losses and suffering. The Red Armies left Jiangxi with an estimated 100,000 troops and recruited more along the way. A mere 7,000 made it to Shaanxi—fewer than one in 10.
The making of a myth
Chinese Communist mythology celebrated the Long March as a great victory. The Long March solidified Mao's position as the leader of the Communist forces. At the end, the survivors were battle hardened and ready to play an important role in remaking China.
To do: Long march timeline folio
Create a folio that examines the following aspects of the Long March.
An annotated map of the Long March
Why were the communists forced to leave their base in Yunnan?
What was Mao Zedong's role at the beginning of the Long March
Describe three key events of the Long March using an image and a quote from the sources.
Why was Shaanxi the safe haven?
Describe the myth of the Long March in 50 words
5 Fun facts / statistics
4. The Japanese Occupation 1931 - 45
The Japanese occupation of China. 1931 - 1945
In 1931 the Japanese invaded Manchuria.
Over the next 12 years the Japanese conquered the east provinces and most of the significant countries in Asia.
But how did they do it?
We are going to try and understand the reasons for Japan’s early success and ultimate failure based on the strategies of the Japanese in Manchuria.
You are going to create a 5 part guide for budding empire builders.
To do: Guide to invading China
Use maps to describe the strategic importance of Manchuria to the Japanese empire
Use 3 quotes to illustrate the impact of the Japanese occupation on the local population.
Include pictures of the Japanese occupation to make your guide more engaging.
What were Mao and the communists doing at this time?
What were the nationalists doing?
What did the USA do?
Essential elements for your guide
The importance of resources and where to find them
The importance of manufacturing and where to do it
The importance of food and where to get it.
Managing the local population
The Nanking massacre
Destroying the resistance (Nationalists and communists)
In your view, how did the barbarity of the Japanese occupation impact the Chinese people?
4. Civil War Part 2. 1945-49
Civil War 1945 - 49
During the Japanese occupation, China was divided between the Japanese, the Nationalists and the Communists. The Nationalists and Communists fought together to end the Japanese occupation. After the Japanese were defeated in 1945, 10 million Chinese were dead and the country was in chaos after decades of occupation and war. The Nationalists, supported by the USA, saw a chance to destroy the communists in China.
Mao's strategy
Maoist strategy emphasized the importance of securing a base among the peasantry in the countryside at the expense of holding cities, this was his fundamental insight. The nationalists continued to fight for control of the cities while the communists never met them in battle, they used guerrilla tactics to disorientate and confuse the enemy. The Communist forces gradually encircled and crushed the Nationalist forces.
Activity 3: Mao’ strategy - Guerrilla Warfare
In conventional warfare everything is aimed at the two sides using their total forces in direct battle.
In guerrilla warfare, the strategy is the opposite. The strategy is to avoid direct confrontation and attack in small seemingly random ways. This causes confusion and disorientation in the conventional army who are unable to fight the way they are organised to fight.
Mao's philosophy was based on Wei Chi (Go). A game of strategy that emphasises a seemingly random strategy that encircles and destroys the enemy. According to Mao, the communists needed to 'spread out in every direction, so that our opponent cannot fathom our strategy'.
The Nationalists could not understand why the Communists did not fight conventional battles and thought that Mao was a fool and that the army was afraid.
Nationalist collapse 1949
The Nationalists were defeated and retreated to the island of Taiwan. They declared the Republic of China's capital to be Taipei and most western countries recognised them as the government of China. Mao declared the Peoples republic of China. He had two significant challenges.
Secure China's borders
Modernise Chinese society
To do: 150 word challenge
Compare the strategies of the Communists and the Nationalists in the Civil War.
Use examples to explain why the Communists succeeded in defeating the Nationalists in 1949.
“ “The Chinese people’s revolutionary war has now reached a turning point.…The main forces of the People’s Liberation Army have carried the fight into the Kuomintang Area.…This is a turning point in history.”.”