20th Century Chinese History: A Period of Transition

1. Transition from 19th to 20th Century

• Late 19th Century Context: Foreign dominance of China, corrupt Manchu government.
• Cyclical Nature of Chinese History: Rise and fall of dynasties, collapse of central authority leads to local power rise.

2. Early 20th Century Challenges

• Manchu (Qing) Dynasty Collapse: By 1912, the last emperor was removed.
• New Political Ideas: Emergence of republic ideas and the rise of the Nationalist and Communist parties.

3. Rise of Warlords in Early 20th Century

• Collapse of Central Authority: Local warlords gain power and create substates.
• Call for Change: Consensus that the Qing dynasty must end.

4. Emergence of Political Movements

• Nationalist Party (ROC): Advocated a republic; led by Sun Yat-sen and later Chiang Kai-shek.
• Communist Party: Led by Mao Zedong, inspired by Russian Revolution.

5. Nationalists versus Communists

• Chiang Kai-shek's Leadership: Success in early consolidating power.
• Communist Resilience: Despite setbacks, Mao's leadership survived and reorganized.

6. Japanese Invasion

• Japan Attacks China (1937): Occupied major cities, exploiting China's internal chaos.
• Nationalist Strategy: Chiang Kai-shek chose not to oppose Japan directly, saving resources for future conflicts with Communists.

7. Communist Strategy During WWII

• Guerrilla Warfare: Mao Zedong led initiatives against Japanese forces, gaining public support.
• Popular Support: Communists gained popularity for resisting Japanese occupation.

8. Post-War Realignment

• 1946 United Effort: Temporary Nationalist-Communist alliance to remove Japanese forces.
• Renewed Civil War: Communists gained strength and eventually triumphed by 1949.

9. Establishment of People's Republic of China

• 1949 Victory: Communists, led by Mao, establish control.
• Period of Humiliation Ends: Mao declares a new era of sovereignty.

10. Legacy and Context

• Historical Impact: Transition from foreign-dominated and fragmented state to unified Communist China.
• Global Perception: Shift in global power balance, China's resurgence as a major world player.

11. Future Discussion

• Taiwan and Tibet: The narrative of Chinese history continues with issues regarding these regions.