China After the Revolution The Rise of New Revolutionary Groups
Feb 25, 2016
China After the Revolution
The Rise of New Revolutionary Groups
Areas to considerWhat was the new government
following the fall of the Manchu?Yuan ShikaiThe warlord eraWho were the Guomindang (GMD)?Sun Yatsen and 3 principlesDevelopment of Chinese Communist
Party
Recap and exploreWhat were the characteristics of
Chinese history?Challenges of Chinese history?Interpretations - country divides (China,
Japan, USSR, Atlantic community)
‘A revolution against the world to join the world’
(Abandoned archaic systems - wanted to adapt new W. ideas in order to drive out the foreigners and restore old glories)
Rule of Yuan Shikai - ‘Modernising Conservative’
Yuan Shikai (done the deal) - little GMD could do (power in S. Nanjing - govt. N.)
Republicanism too sophisticated for peasantsYuan acceptable to gentry and merchants -
no social reform or economic reform - confusion and uncertainty
Ruled as military dictator (despite frail parliamentary institutions - closed down with provincial assemblies). Opposition bribed or crushed. ‘Emperor’ but rebellions.
No vision for new system; dissolved GMDDied 1916 - further disintegration
The Warlord EraYuan had faults – so did Republican
contempories – naive and corruptDid attempt resolve problems &
reassert central authority At least held the country togetherDeath ushered in chaotic period ‘the
Era of the Warlords’ 1916-27
The Warlord EraJapan ‘21 demands’ – mood of intense
nationalism ‘4 May movement’ – series of anti-foreigner
demonstrationsMay – month learned about Versailles agreement
(lost former German territories – Shandong province, port of Quingdao) despite support for Allies
1919 – embrace of Marxism following Russian Revolution
1921 – founding of CCP – 1922 united front with GMD = ‘a revolutionary alliance’ – rid China of warlords and foreign imperialists
Nature of Warlord RuleNominal republican governmentLittle real power – split into factions – couldn’t
maintain loyal army so couldn’t impose will on provinces
So provinces under influence of private armies – commanders took civil authority too – answerable to selves
Own laws and taxation systemsCf. Renaissance Italy or War of Roses in
England‘Confusion and fragmentation’
Phases of Warlord RulePre-1920Post-1920First warlords – power by default – in
power at time. Conservative. After 1920 new military commanders
appeared – opportunists seized power
Sun Yatsen
Mao Zedong
Sun Yatsen and the GMD
The Development of the Chinese Communist Party