CHINESE COMMUNIST REVOLUTION TIMELINE

Smithtown High School Global History and Geography

CHINESE COMMUNIST REVOLUTION TIMELINE

Open Door Policy - U.S. proposed 1899 _________________ that China opens up their doors for merchants of all nations. This protected China from being colonized but gave increased influence to Western countries in China.

1899 - _______________ Boxer Rebellion - Powerful secret society called The Righteous and Harmonious Fists made up of poor farmers and workers. They resented foreign influence and marched into Beijing to attack the foreigners.
The rebellion failed due to the strength of the European military but ignited a sense of nationalism in China. People wanted change.

1911 - Sun Yixian (Sun Yat-Sen) leads his Nationalist Kuomintang (Guomintang) or ___________ Party and overthrows the Qing Dynasty.

Democracy

Nationalism

Livelihood

Develops ____________________________: Three Principles of the People 1. ____________- overthrow weak government and unite all Chinese under a strong centralized government. 2. ___________- Use constitutional government: equality for all and elected officials. 3. ___________- Give fair and equal ownership of land so all Chinese live well.

1916 - Nationalist Party has trouble controlling warlords and loses power. 1917 - Chinese fight in WWI declaring war on Germany in hopes of impressing the Europeans and regaining economic influence in their country. Instead, the Treaty Of Versailles rewards Japan with Germanys holdings in China. 1919 - World War I ends.

1919 ______________________ May Fourth Movement - Violent student protests take place throughout China due to unfair treatment of Treaty of Versailles and Japans influence in China.

1921 - Communist Party formed - Mao Zedong (Mao Tse-tung) Karl Marx and leads Communist party which is influenced by __________ Vladimir Lenin Their goal was to take over the government and ______________. create a centralized government to regulate the agricultural output, education, and society. Mao believed the peasants were most important and sought to distribute land equally to all.

1922 - Despite differences, Communists and Nationalists unite together to fight warlords and Japanese.

1925 - Sun Yixian dies and Jiang Jieshi (Chiang Kai-Shek) becomes the leader of the Kuomintang, or Nationalist Party.

1927 __________________Shanghai Massacre Jiang Jieshi and the Nationalists kill thousands of Communists. New National Republic of China is formed and officially recognized by Europeans.

1930 - Civil War - Nationalist Party does nothing to reform and better China. No land reforms or open elections took place and peasants remained unhappy. Communists regain strength and begin war against the Nationalists. Manchuria (north 1931 - Japan invades __________ of China)

1934 _______________The Long March Nationalist forces chase Communists over 6,000 miles through China. For one year, the Communists fled always staying one step ahead of the Nationalists. Over 100,000 people began the journey but only about 30,000 survived.

1937 - Japan invades China and forces Nationalists to unite with Communists. Both groups battle Japan throughout WWII (1939-1945) However, the Communists begin to gain power and influence throughout China, especially with the peasants. 1945 - Civil War continues - After WWII ends, the Communists and Nationalists continue civil war for control of China.

1949 - With the wide and mass support of the peasants and workers, Peoples Republic Mao Zedong defeats Jiang Jieshi and creates the ___________________ of China The Nationalists flee mainland China to Taiwan, ________. creating Two Chinas.
Communists create a one-party state led by Mao Zedong Begin Reforms: 1. All resources are directed toward political, social, and economic growth 2. Improved medical supplies and hospitals 3. Schools built 4. Regulation of all media (press, writing, speech, etc.)

QUESTIONS:
1. How and why did Nationalism develop in China in the early 1900s? 2. Why did Sun Yixian receive vast support for overthrowing the Qing Empire which had existed for almost 300 years? 3. How did WWI and WWII affect China? 4. How did Mao Zedong and the Communists win the Civil War? 5. During this 100 year period, which event do you think was the most important in determining Chinas future? Why?