Short Term & immediate causes of CCW

Warlord Era (1916-28)

After Yuan's death, China broke into provinces ruled by warlords with private armies, separate taxes, laws, and currencies; deepened national humiliation

May 4th Movement (1919)

Student-led protests in Beijing against warlords, old culture, and Japan; sparked revolutionary ideas and desire for national rebirth inspired by Bolsheviks

Rise of Jiang Jieshi and GMD

Jiang took over GMD, gained Soviet support, and began pushing anti-communist policies

Emergence of CCP

Founded with intellectuals, encouraged by USSR to work with GMD for national unification

First United Front (1922)

GMD and CCP allied to defeat warlords and unify China; captured major cities in Northern Expedition and made Nanjing new capital

GMD anti-communism

Jiang Jieshi removed communists from GMD, showing growing ideological rift despite First United Front

GMD attacks CCP

Cooperation between GMD and CCP broke down over ideology; Jiang expelled communists from GMD, ending alliance → start of civil war