Government- Sun Yat-sen, Chiang Kai-Shek and the Guomindang Flashcards
(25 cards)
Describe the early political actions of Sun Yat-sen.
In 1895, Sun Yat-sen led a rebellion in Guangzhou inspired by his nationalist beliefs. After its failure, he was forced into exile and traveled extensively before returning to China after the 1911 revolution, where he became president.
Explain the challenges Sun Yat-sen faced during his presidency.
Sun Yat-sen faced significant challenges, particularly from Yuan Shi-Kai’s military strength, which led him to step down as president and flee to Japan, not returning to China until 1917.
Define the Guomindang and its significance in Chinese politics.
The Guomindang (GMD) was the nationalist party founded by Sun Yat-sen in 1919, which played a crucial role in the political landscape of China, emphasizing the need to remove foreign control and improve the lives of the Chinese people.
How did Sun Yat-sen’s ‘Three Principles of the People’ influence the GMD?
Announced in a speech in 1923, the ‘Three Principles of the People’ emphasized the importance of the people over individual rights and aimed to uplift the Chinese populace, marking a key moment in the GMD’s political development.
Discuss the role of foreign influence in the development of the GMD.
Sun Yat-sen received assistance from advisers of the newly established Bolshevik government in Russia, which helped shape the GMD’s strategies and military organization.
What was the purpose of the Whampoa military academy established by Sun Yat-sen?
The Whampoa military academy was established in 1924 to train soldiers for the GMD, transforming the party into a military organization with the New Republican Army (NRA) as its armed force.
Identify the main goal of the GMD in relation to China’s political landscape.
The main goal of the GMD was to overthrow the warlords in China to gain control and establish a unified government, thereby addressing issues of foreign control and poverty.
Explain the significance of Sun Yat-sen’s return to China in 1917.
Sun Yat-sen’s return to China in 1917 marked a pivotal moment for the GMD, as he established a nationalist government in Guangzhou and began to solidify the party’s political ideology and military strength.
Describe the impact of Sun Yat-sen’s travels on his political ideology.
Sun Yat-sen’s extensive travels in Europe, Japan, the USA, and Canada influenced his nationalist beliefs and shaped his vision for a modern China, leading to the formation of the GMD and its principles.
Describe the role of Mikhail Borodin in the GMD’s development.
Mikhail Borodin helped reorganise the GMD as a mass party with a powerful central leadership and assisted in acquiring arms for their campaign against the Warlords.
Define the Northern Expedition in the context of Chinese history.
The Northern Expedition was a military campaign led by the GMD under Chiang Kai-Shek aimed at unifying China by defeating warlord factions.
Explain the significance of Chiang Kai-Shek’s appointment as commander of the GMD army.
Chiang Kai-Shek’s appointment was crucial as he was ideally placed to lead the GMD’s campaign, known as the Northern Expedition, to overthrow the warlords.
How did the May Fourth Movement influence revolutionary ideas in China?
The May Fourth Movement spread revolutionary ideas, including communism, which gained support due to the successful communist revolution in Russia in 1917.
What was one reason for the growing support of communism in China during the early 20th century?
The successful communist revolution in Russia in 1917 served as a significant inspiration for the rise of communism in China.
Discuss the perception of Chiang Kai-Shek as a leader within the GMD.
Chiang was initially not seen as the obvious leader due to his military background, but his ambition and control of the army were underestimated.
Explain the connection between Marx’s teachings and the rise of communism in China.
Marx taught that history involves the proletariat struggling against higher classes, leading to revolution and eventual equality, which resonated with the Chinese context.
Describe the political and economic conditions in China that paralleled those in Russia during the rise of communism.
Both China and Russia were politically and economically old-fashioned, which contributed to the appeal of revolutionary ideas like communism.
How did control of the army relate to Chiang Kai-Shek’s vision for China?
Chiang believed that controlling the army was essential for gaining control of China, reflecting his military strategy and ambitions.
Describe the founding of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
The CCP was founded in secret in a girls’ school in Shanghai in June 1921, with Chen Duxiu elected as the general secretary and Mao Zedong among the 12 initial members.
Explain the initial size of the CCP and its implications for revolution.
When founded, the CCP had only 50 members, which made it too small to achieve a successful revolution in China.
Define the role of the Bolshevik government in relation to the CCP and GMD.
The Bolshevik government in Russia aimed to encourage the spread of revolution and protect its border with China, believing that cooperation with the GMD was the best way to achieve this.
How did the conditions in China affect the potential for a Marxist revolution?
Conditions in China were not conducive to a Marxist revolution as the majority of the population were peasants, and there were very few workers, contrary to Marx’s theory that revolutions would be led by the proletariat.
Discuss the relationship between the GMD’s principles and communist ideas.
The GMD’s ‘Three Principles of the People’ were rooted in ideas of equality, which aligned closely with communist ideas.
What financial support did the CCP receive from the Soviet government?
The Soviet government provided the CCP with US$5000 a year to fund the party.
