Mao Zedong and the Origins of Communism in China: Lots o’ fun stuff like wars and massacres

Kuomintang

Originally formed by Sun Yat-sen (also called Sun Yixian) to oppose imperial rule in China

Overthrew the last dynasty (Qing) and established the Republic of China

Three principles: Nationalism, Democracy, and Economic Security

Republic was unstable and various warlords seized power

Kuomintang reformed a govt. in the south Civil war with Warlords in the North

Communist Party

Origins go back to angers about imperialism after WWI and dissatisfaction with the Kuomintang

- Communism seemed to offer an answer

- May 4th Movement Formed by Mao and other young intellectuals in

1921

- Initially allied with the Kuomintang

- Grew disillusioned with Kuomintang after death of Sun Yat-sen

Shanghai Massacre 1927 Chiang Kai-shek (Jiang Jieshi) took power in the

Kuomintang after Sun died

- Mistrusted Communists Communists took Shanghai from the warlords Gave it to the Kuomintang Kuomintang killed hundreds, perhaps thousands, of

communists and union members in Shanghai

- attempt to preemptively wipe out the communist party

Even worse massacres followed in Guangzhou and Changsha

Civil War Prior to WWII

Mao Zedong and a few other important communist leaders survived the purges

- Who will support the communists and who the nationalists?

Mao started a guerilla war against Chiang About 100,000 communists vs. 700,000

Kuomintang

The Long March

Actually a series of marches

- Outnumbered communists fled nationalist forces Largest one came after Chiang surrounded Mao's

mountain stronghold

- fled 6-8000 miles over the course of a year

- numbers went from about 100,000 to 10,000

- many stories of heroism in the face of superior odds Mao's leadership let him more firmly establish his

leadership

During WWII

Civil war was suspended when Japan invaded Mao organized a guerilla war against the Japanese

occupiers Chiang had a secure base in the south but did

relatively little

- gathered an army of over 2.5 million that he did not use

- probably saving his strength for the communists

After the War Chiang had larger force but less popular support

- many nationalist soldiers actually deserted to join communists

Communists were experienced in guerilla warfare Chiang eventually fled to Taiwan with his army

- Leads to two Chinese governments, both claiming legitimacy

Communist China expanded into tibet and mongolia Communists claimed a new mandate of heaven Began trying to industrialize China