China: Revolution and revolt
In 1911, China was rebuilding and recouping after the fall of the Qing Dynasty. It was molding into two types of governments, a republic and a dictatorship. Nationalists like Sun Yixian and Jiang Jieshi strived for China to become a republic while Marxists such as Mao Zedong wanted China to become a communist nation. This set the stage for the once vast empire’s split into democracy and communist dictation.
Sun Yixian: "Father of China"
Sun Yixian was a vital political revolutionary leader in China. Sun was born on November 12, 1886 and later died March 12, 1925. Sun was nicknamed the “Father of Modern China” because he was the leader of the Chinese Nationalist party. Sun was educated in both Hawaii and Hong Kong where he inquired an interest in the medicine field. From this interest, in 1892, he decided to pursue a medical career. In the midst of his pursuit, he became anxious about the Qing Dynasty’s lack of industrializing. The Qing Dynasty repeated let other innovative nations humiliate China due to its lack of modernization. From his anxieties about this, Sun became extremely interested in politics. Sun was so motivated by his newfound interest in politics that he wrote a letter to Li Hongzhang, a general and politician in China at the time. He suggested different ways that China could regain its strength and become a
world power once again. Li Hongzhang rejected his letter which only motivated Sun to become more politically educated. Sun then decided to go to abroad and try to organize social reforms in China. He spent time researching and organizing in Hawaii, Canada, England, and Japan. Finally in 1905, all of his hard work had finally paid off when he became the head of a revolutionary group called the Tongmenghui (Alliance Society). He tried to create a series of revolts during this time but all of his efforts failed. In 1911, one of Sun’s rebellions finally thrived. He had successfully overthrown the Provincial government in Wuhan. Sun returned to be selected provisional president of the new government of China. Sun did not want all the power so he turned over his rule as emperor to Yuan Shikai. Sun then became the head of a separated organization in the South of China. Later in 1924, Sun reorganized his Nationalist party. Sun Yixian died in exile, which set the stage for a civil war between the nationalist side of his successor Jiang Jieshi and the Marxist side of Mao Zedong.
A Closer Look at Jiang Jieshi
Jiang Jieshi was the leader of the nationalist government in China from 1928 until 1949. He was the trailblazer of the military aspect of the Revolution in China. In 1918, Jieshi joined Sun Yixian and the revolutionary army. After Sun Yixian’s death in 1925, Jieshi went on an excursion, turning against the leaders and the Beijing government. When Jieshi entered Beijing in 1928 but still was fixing up the nationalist capital at Nanjing. Jieshi was also fighting a civil war in China. Jieshi led the Nationalist army in the was against the Red Army (communists). In 1937, Japan invaded China. Although the Nationalist side and the Red Army hate each other and are fighting, they come together against the Japanese. They fought together to throw Japan finally out of China. Throughout fighting this battle, Jieshi declared loyalty and devotion to Sun Yixian’s philosophies and beliefs. From this, he built his Confucianist New Life Movement in 1934.
Throughout this span of time, the Nationalist party continually lost supporters to the Communists. When Japan launched a full-fledged attack to conquer China in 1937, the Nationalist were able to provide strong resistance which enveloped through World War II, which made a significant impact to the allied forces. On the other hand, Mao Zedong was a Marxist from a young age. He showed his feelings towards war when he states, “An army without culture is a
dull-witted army, and a dull-witted army cannot defeat the enemy.” He worked towards having a communist government in China. Mao and his other Marxist friends followed the ideas of Lenin and were inspired by his success in Russia. They believed that if they followed his ideas, they could successfully install a communist government in China. Although the communist were slowly gaining support, the Nationalist party was getting more power because of their advisors for other nations.
The Long March
Mao Zedong and his followers decided to move north and retreat from the south and set their party up there because the Nationalists were posing as a barrier from the communist succession in 1934. He started with about 100,000 men and after the Long March, which was about 8,000 miles long, there were only 30,000 left. On the Long March, they faced daily attacks. They arrived in the northern city of Shensi in October of 1935. Although both sides were in disagreement, they pulled their forces together against Japan when they attacked in 1937.
May Fourth Movement
All of these different rebellions against the Nationalist party inspired and eventually led to The May Fourth Movement. On May 4th, 1919, around 5,000 college student in Beijing remonstrated against the Versailles Conference. The May Fourth Movement began a nationalistic out pouring of intelligent people against foreign influence, imperialism, and warlords. This crusade resulted in a split of two sides, the leftist and the liberal sides. Although this movement did not have an immediate effect on society, its effect, long term, was fantastic on the people of China. The Chinese saw the courage and intelligence of those who participated in The May Fourth Movement which gave them a great sense of nationalism and patriotism. It also inspired late generations to stand up when they truly believed in something. The most important result of the May Fourth Movement was the new pride in China that it instilled.
Review Questions:
1) Explain why Sun Yixian was nicknamed the “Father of China”.
2) Whatwere the effects of the May Fourth Movement on the people of China?
3) Why did the Long March take place?
4) What two sides were fighting each other in China? Why were they fighting?
5) Explain what united China together again.
Citations:
-"Jiang Jieshi." : J: By Person: Stories: Biographical Dictionary of Chinese Christianity. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Mar. 2013.
-"Long March." World History: The Modern Era. ABC-CLIO, 2013. Web. 9 Mar. 2013.
-"May Fourth movement." World History: The Modern Era. ABC-CLIO, 2013. Web. 9 Mar. 2013.
-"World Biography." Sun Yat-Sen Biography. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Mar. 2013.
Primary Sources:
-"The Long March." The Long March. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Mar. 2013.
-Wikipedia.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Mar. 2013.
Sun Yixian: "Father of China"
Sun Yixian was a vital political revolutionary leader in China. Sun was born on November 12, 1886 and later died March 12, 1925. Sun was nicknamed the “Father of Modern China” because he was the leader of the Chinese Nationalist party. Sun was educated in both Hawaii and Hong Kong where he inquired an interest in the medicine field. From this interest, in 1892, he decided to pursue a medical career. In the midst of his pursuit, he became anxious about the Qing Dynasty’s lack of industrializing. The Qing Dynasty repeated let other innovative nations humiliate China due to its lack of modernization. From his anxieties about this, Sun became extremely interested in politics. Sun was so motivated by his newfound interest in politics that he wrote a letter to Li Hongzhang, a general and politician in China at the time. He suggested different ways that China could regain its strength and become a
world power once again. Li Hongzhang rejected his letter which only motivated Sun to become more politically educated. Sun then decided to go to abroad and try to organize social reforms in China. He spent time researching and organizing in Hawaii, Canada, England, and Japan. Finally in 1905, all of his hard work had finally paid off when he became the head of a revolutionary group called the Tongmenghui (Alliance Society). He tried to create a series of revolts during this time but all of his efforts failed. In 1911, one of Sun’s rebellions finally thrived. He had successfully overthrown the Provincial government in Wuhan. Sun returned to be selected provisional president of the new government of China. Sun did not want all the power so he turned over his rule as emperor to Yuan Shikai. Sun then became the head of a separated organization in the South of China. Later in 1924, Sun reorganized his Nationalist party. Sun Yixian died in exile, which set the stage for a civil war between the nationalist side of his successor Jiang Jieshi and the Marxist side of Mao Zedong.
A Closer Look at Jiang Jieshi
Jiang Jieshi was the leader of the nationalist government in China from 1928 until 1949. He was the trailblazer of the military aspect of the Revolution in China. In 1918, Jieshi joined Sun Yixian and the revolutionary army. After Sun Yixian’s death in 1925, Jieshi went on an excursion, turning against the leaders and the Beijing government. When Jieshi entered Beijing in 1928 but still was fixing up the nationalist capital at Nanjing. Jieshi was also fighting a civil war in China. Jieshi led the Nationalist army in the was against the Red Army (communists). In 1937, Japan invaded China. Although the Nationalist side and the Red Army hate each other and are fighting, they come together against the Japanese. They fought together to throw Japan finally out of China. Throughout fighting this battle, Jieshi declared loyalty and devotion to Sun Yixian’s philosophies and beliefs. From this, he built his Confucianist New Life Movement in 1934.
Throughout this span of time, the Nationalist party continually lost supporters to the Communists. When Japan launched a full-fledged attack to conquer China in 1937, the Nationalist were able to provide strong resistance which enveloped through World War II, which made a significant impact to the allied forces. On the other hand, Mao Zedong was a Marxist from a young age. He showed his feelings towards war when he states, “An army without culture is a
dull-witted army, and a dull-witted army cannot defeat the enemy.” He worked towards having a communist government in China. Mao and his other Marxist friends followed the ideas of Lenin and were inspired by his success in Russia. They believed that if they followed his ideas, they could successfully install a communist government in China. Although the communist were slowly gaining support, the Nationalist party was getting more power because of their advisors for other nations.
The Long March
Mao Zedong and his followers decided to move north and retreat from the south and set their party up there because the Nationalists were posing as a barrier from the communist succession in 1934. He started with about 100,000 men and after the Long March, which was about 8,000 miles long, there were only 30,000 left. On the Long March, they faced daily attacks. They arrived in the northern city of Shensi in October of 1935. Although both sides were in disagreement, they pulled their forces together against Japan when they attacked in 1937.
May Fourth Movement
All of these different rebellions against the Nationalist party inspired and eventually led to The May Fourth Movement. On May 4th, 1919, around 5,000 college student in Beijing remonstrated against the Versailles Conference. The May Fourth Movement began a nationalistic out pouring of intelligent people against foreign influence, imperialism, and warlords. This crusade resulted in a split of two sides, the leftist and the liberal sides. Although this movement did not have an immediate effect on society, its effect, long term, was fantastic on the people of China. The Chinese saw the courage and intelligence of those who participated in The May Fourth Movement which gave them a great sense of nationalism and patriotism. It also inspired late generations to stand up when they truly believed in something. The most important result of the May Fourth Movement was the new pride in China that it instilled.
Review Questions:
1) Explain why Sun Yixian was nicknamed the “Father of China”.
2) Whatwere the effects of the May Fourth Movement on the people of China?
3) Why did the Long March take place?
4) What two sides were fighting each other in China? Why were they fighting?
5) Explain what united China together again.
Citations:
-"Jiang Jieshi." : J: By Person: Stories: Biographical Dictionary of Chinese Christianity. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Mar. 2013.
-"Long March." World History: The Modern Era. ABC-CLIO, 2013. Web. 9 Mar. 2013.
-"May Fourth movement." World History: The Modern Era. ABC-CLIO, 2013. Web. 9 Mar. 2013.
-"World Biography." Sun Yat-Sen Biography. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Mar. 2013.
Primary Sources:
-"The Long March." The Long March. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Mar. 2013.
-Wikipedia.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Mar. 2013.