China chapter 2 Flashcards
(26 cards)
What happened on the 16th of October 1934
At night, 80,000 Communists broke out of the Jianxi Soviet and began to march north to find safety.
This became known as the Long March.
What did the CCP initially do upon leaving the Jiangxi mountains
When the communists left they did not know where they were going.
Initially they went in a straight line under the leadership of Otto Braun, and engaged in battles with the GMD forces.
What was decided at the Zunyi conference?
In January 1935 Mao Zedong took control of the Communist Party.
They developed new tactics where the Red Army went in different directions to confuse the GMD forces.
The route meant they had to go across mountains, rivers and deserts.
Long march: May 1935
The marchers crossed the Yangtze River and then the Dadu River where 22 soldiers were said to have swung across the river on chains while the enemy shot at them.
Where did they find refuge after the Long march?
Yanan in October 1935.
Only 10,000 of the original 80,000 marchers had survived.
The Long March became a tale of outstanding bravery and success.
What were the negative outcomes of the Long march?
The Long March was essentially a huge retreat for the CCP and the GMD was recognised as the official government of China.
What were the positive outcomes of the Long march?
- Excellent propaganda for the communist cause.
- Promoted the idea of comradeship and self-sacrifice.
- Encouraged support for the Red Army from the peasants who had been treated well by the soldiers.
- Allowed the CCP to develop their theory of communism at their new base in Yanan, where they would remain for the next 10 years.
What did Japan do in 1931
Japan invaded and took over Manchuria. They then left the ex-emperor Puyi in charge as a puppet ruler.
What happened with Japan following the initial invasion in 1931?
Between 1931 and 1937 the Japanese strengthened their position in China.
From 1937 they began to expand
further into China.
Chiang allowed the Japanese to take the land because he thought the Communists were a bigger threat and that they would never be able to occupy a land as big as China.
What did Chiang do in 1937?
Chiang was forced by the warlords (who wanted him to stand up to the Japanese) to establish a second United Front with the Communists in order to fight against the Japanese.
What were the initial losses in the war with Japan.
- The first 4 years went badly for China and the Japanese captured major cities such as Shanghai, Beijing and Nanjing.
- The GMD was forced to flee to Chongqing.
- The Chinese people suffered extreme violence from the Japanese.
- In the ‘rape of Nanjing’ in December 1937 over 30,000 Chinese were killed and 20,000 women/girls were raped by gangs of soldiers.
What changed China’s fortunes in 1941?
The bombing of Pearl Harbor.
After this, the Allies supplied China with resources to help defeat Japan.
The defeat of Japan came with the dropping of the two atomic bombs.
Why did the Red army (CCP) grow in popularity during the war with Japan?
- Membership increased from 40,000 to 1.2 million between 1937 and 1945 because the CCP won over the peasants by treating them well and protecting them from the Japanese.
- The CCP were also more eager to remove the Japanese
from China and used guerrilla tactics effectively.
Why did the GMD lose support during the war with Japan?
- The GMD lost support because of its violent treatment of peasants and soldiers, and the fact it seemed unwilling to fight the Japanese.
- The GMD also ran China badly – they imposed high taxes and allowed for a black market to develop.
Why did the civil war come about?
At the end of the War with Japan Civil War between the GMD and CCP was hard to avoid.
As the Japanese retreated both sides tried to occupy as much land as they could.
When did the civil war break out?
1926
When and what was the first stage of the civil war?
July 1946 to May 1947
The GMD was initially successful. The CCP lost control of Yanan.
When and what was the second stage of the civil war?
May 1947 to November 1948
The CCP renamed the Red Army the Peoples Liberation Army and switched from guerrilla to conventional tactics.
When and what was the third and last stage of the civil war?
December 1948 to October 1949
The CCP gradually defeated the GMD.
The Battle of Huai-Hai was the turning point in the Civil War. The GMD made a stand at Xuzhou.
The CCP won because they destroyed the surrounding areas so the GMD did not have enough food, Chiang also refused to allow his men to surrender so lost 200,000 men.
When did the GMD surrender?
The 10th of January 1949.
The 1st of October 1949,
Mao declared the establishment of the People’s Republic of China, with himself as leader.
Chiang fled to Taiwan and set up an alternative government there.
What military reasons won the CCP the civil war?
- Mao was a skilled leader who allowed his generals like Lin Biao to run their own armies whereas Chiang was a poor military leader.
- The PLA used a variety of tactics whereas the GMD made tactical errors.
- The PLA was a disciplined army that was motivated by its belief in communism and was well supported by the peasants whereas the GMD was a conscript army that was treated poorly.
What political reasons won the CCP the civil war?
- The CCP leadership was well supported and there was a clear chain of command.
- They also allowed local people to join committees to discuss reforms so created a positive impression.
- They used propaganda and loyal soldiers to indoctrinate the population with their ideals.
What political reasons lost the GMD the civil war?
The leadership of the GMD was corrupt and unskilled, they raised taxes and took bribes.
The GMD had also not fulfilled its promises – it was a
dictatorship rather than a democracy and favored businessmen and landlords rather than peasants and workers.
