Social studies China flashcards

Spratly Islands

Island Building in the South China Sea

Confucianism

* Follows the teachings of Confucius.
* Explains how to have a harmonious society.
* Stresses hierarchy and obedience. (Everyone should know their place)
* Stresses Education.

Daoism

* Follows the teachings of Lao Zi.
* Daoists believe in a natural way of the world.
* People should live in harmony with nature. (yin/yang)
* “Less is more” -> Live a simple life.
* Symbolism of Water -> “Life is a river. Don’t fight it, Float on”

Legalism

* Teachings of Han FeiZi
* People are bad!
* Need a strong leader and strict laws
* Harsh penalties

Great Wall of China

The Great Wall of China was built as a military defensive line to defend China. The wall also boosted the economy and promoted cultural exchange.

The Mandate of Heaven

It is a divine source of authority from the gods which gives emperors the right to rule.

Imperial Countries in China

* Europeans were more powerful than the Chinese because of the industrial revolution, so they easily took over China. 
* The Qing dynasty was too weak to defend China.
* Economic control quickly led to political control.
* China’s “Century of Humiliation”.

U.S. Open Door Policy / Spheres of Influence

* Spheres of Influence: Areas where imperial powers (Europeans, Japan) had exclusive trading rights throughout China
* Each imperialist country claimed an area
* Economic control leads to political control
* The USA was against this trend; they supported an Open Door Policy
* Open Door Policy: Anyone can trade with China. Rejected the concept of “Spheres of Influence”

Great Leap Forward

* Economic Policy to increase agricultural and industrial production, and quickly “achieve modernization”.
* Backyard Furnaces: Peasants asked to make steel in their backyards.
* Communes: collective farms, owned by all
* Each commune was a combination of smaller farm collectives and consisted of 4,000-5,000 households. 
* Shared everything equally: work, food, money

Cultural Revolution

Attempt to eliminate all signs of Capitalism and Dynastic History, and strengthen Communism

* Wanted to destroy all signs of Chinese history
* Propaganda used to make Mao “god-like”


* Posters
* “Little Red Book”

Targets of Cultural Revolution

* Teachers / Professors
* Temples / Priests
* Landlords
* Rich

“Little Red Book”

* Book of Mao’s thoughts. Treated like a holy book.
* Every child had to memorize.

Responsibility system

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Allows presents to keep land and keep their profits

Crop production increases

Incentive system

The best and most efficient factory managers receive bonuses

Increased industrial production

Foreign capital and tech

Foreign investment is encouraged in China. Foreigners could set up their own businesses in special economic zones

Helps Chinese businesses and industries to modernize.

Entrepreneurship

Some private ownership of businesses

Was allowed to make and keep profits

The amount and quality of goods increase.

Taiwan’s Relationship with China

* The Chinese government has been sending warships, including an aircraft carrier, into the seas around Taiwan.
* China is currently attempting "reunification" by non-military means such as strengthening economic ties.
* During the Chinese civil war, the losing National Party, along with Cheng Kai-shek, escaped to modern-day Taiwan.

Treaty of Nanjing

The Chinese government was forced to sign The Treaty of Nanjing after its defeat in the Opium War.

* British took control of Hong Kong
* British allowed to control ports throughout China
* Other European Countries followed Britain’s lead and forced the Qing rulers to sign unequal treaties that forced China to give up some control over its country.

Tiananmen Square

Tiananmen Square is one of China’s famous landmarks. The citizens of China were protesting in the square for greater freedoms. On 3 to 4 June, troops began to move towards Tiananmen Square, opening fire, and crushing and arresting protesters to regain control of the area.

Chiang Kai-shek

* Chinese politician and revolutionary military leader 
* Lead the Republic of China

Dr. Sun Yat-sen

Known as “Father of the Nation” in the Republic of China

Mao ZeDong

* Why did the peasants support Mao?
* He promised them a better life.
* What promises did he make to them? (__Hint__: Communism)
* Equal Distribution of Wealth
* “Steal from the rich, give to the poor”
* Problem!
* China’s economy was very weak
* Very little production (in both agriculture & Industry)
* Most people extremely poor
* Not enough wealth to “go around”

Deng Xiaoping

* One of the communist leaders of China. 
* He began to allow private companies and foreign investment.
* He was ‘president’ during the Tiananmen Square Massacre.

Pu Yi

Former emperor of the Qing dynasty

Why did issue in Hong Kong happen?

This issue in Hong Kong happened because China decided to extend its influence into Hong Kong before the 50-year agreement that China had made with Britain. (This agreement stated that Hong Kong would be left independent for 50 years before they unite with China.)

Who was responsible for the bad relations between China and Hong Kong?

China was responsible for this issue

Why did Hong Kong protest?

Hong Kong protested against China after China tried to mess with Hong Kong’s election by trying to get a Pro-China person elected. This went against China’s 50-year agreement with Britain so the people of Hong Kong protested. (In general, this was because they didn’t like that China was trying to extend its influence before the 50-year agreement.

2 Similarities between Taiwan and China

* Taiwan and Hong Kong both have China trying to claim or push influence on the countries. China was trying to influence Hong Kong and spread their own communism on them. China was trying to claim Taiwan as part of China.


* Both countries used to belong to China. When the Chinese civil war ended Chinese people left China to go to Taiwan and form their own government. People in Hong Kong established an agreement with Great Britain for them to be independent for the next 50 years.

2 Differences between Taiwan and China

* Hong Kong has to rejoin China again because of the 50 year agreement. On the other hand Taiwan has a chance to remain independent because they have strong allies to back them up but if they fail then China will reclaim them.
* On top of that Taiwan is an actual country while Hong Kong is technically still a part of China hence why they are going to war.