Rise of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), 1917-1949

Marxism

Karl Marx (1818-83)

Origins of Communism in China

Marxism, pre-1917

Little known in China

Russian Revolution, 1917

Parallels with Chinese experience

Anti-imperialism

Relinquished Russian concessions in Manchuria

New Culture movement

Li Dazhao

Peking University

Marxist Research Society, 1918

Theoretical contributions

Modes of production

Feudalism

Capitalism

Bourgeoisie vs. Proletariat

Capitalist imperialism vs. “proletarian nations”

Communism

Chen Duxiu

Special Issue of New Youth, 1919

Li Dazhao, “My Marxist Views”

Comintern (3rd Communist International)

Formed 1919

Vladimir Lenin (1870-1924)

International strategy

Chinese Communist Party (CCP), July 1921

13 delegates in Shanghai

Mao Zedong (1894-1976)

Maring

200 members in 1922

United Front, 1923

National People's Party [Guomindang (GMD)]

Sun Yat-sen

GMD+CCP

Leninist Party Organization

President (Unelected)

Three Principles of the People

Nationalism, Democracy, Socialism

Whampoa Military Academy

Chiang Kai-shek (Jiang Jieshi)

Zhou Enlai (Political Education)

Chinese Civil War, 1927-49

GMD Northern Expedition, July 1, 1926

Chiang Kai-shek and army arrives Shanghai, March 26, 1927

Suppression of unions and CCP, April 12

CCP Retreat to the Countryside, 1927-1935

Mao Zedong

Changsha uprising, Sept. 1927

Zhu De

Jiangxi Soviet (Base Area), late in 1928

Ruining

Maoism

Adaptation and assimilation of Marxism-Leninism

Secure territorial base

Mass support of peasantry

Land reforms

Self-sufficiency

Rejects Comintern and capitalist imperialism

Red Army guerrilla warfare

“The enemy advances, we retreat; the enemy camps, we harass; the enemy tires, we attack; the enemy retreats, we pursue.”

World War II in Asia, 1931-45

Japanese Occupation

Manchuria, 1931

East China, 1936

2 million soldiers

1.7 million civilians

Second United Front

GMD at Chongqing

Burma Road 1938-1942

CCP at Yan’an

Factors explaining communist victory

CCP success in gaining control of countryside

Anti-Japanese nationalism

Socioeconomic reform

Discipline of army and officials

GMD ineptitude

Corruption
Hyperinflation