Preparation for the Final - Hist 208 China Lecture Notes

These flashcards cover key concepts, events, and figures from Chinese history during the period of 1900-1976, essential for exam preparation in Hist 208.

Anti-Manchu nationalism

A political movement that sought to remove the Manchu ruling class and promote Han Chinese sovereignty.

Sun Yat-sen

A Chinese revolutionary leader who founded the Nationalist Party and is known for his three principles of the people: Nationalism, Democracy, and People's livelihood.

May Fourth Movement

A cultural and political movement that emerged in China in 1919, promoting nationalism and modernization against traditional Confucian values.

Nationalist Party

A political party in China focused on urban development and aligning with middle and upper-class interests, also known as the Kuomintang (KMT).

Communist Party

A political party in China that focuses on the working class and peasantry, advocating for a classless society and land redistribution.

Northern Expedition

A military campaign led by the Nationalists in 1926 to unify China under Nationalist control.

Long March

A strategic retreat by the Communists in 1934-1936 that became a symbol of their resilience and eventual victory.

Great Leap Forward

An economic and social campaign initiated by Mao Zedong from 1958 to 1962 aimed at rapidly transforming China from an agrarian society to an industrialized one.

Cultural Revolution

A socio-political movement initiated by Mao Zedong in 1966 aimed at preserving communist ideology by purging remnants of capitalist and traditional elements from Chinese society.

Deng Xiaoping

Chinese leader who initiated economic reforms in China from 1976, moving towards a capitalist economic model while maintaining a Communist political framework.

Imperial Expansionism

A policy of extending a country's power and influence through colonization, military force, or other means, notably pursued by Japan in East Asia during the early 20th century.

Korean War

A conflict that lasted from 1950 to 1953, involving North and South Korea, with significant international involvement, particularly from the US and China.

Demilitarized Zone (DMZ)

A buffer zone established between North and South Korea as a result of the armistice in 1953, where military forces are prohibited.

One-child policy

A population control policy introduced in China in 1979 that limited most families to one child, later modified to a two-child policy.

Jiangxi Soviet

A Communist base area in southern China that became an experimental region for Communist policies, particularly in land reform.

Shanghai

A major Chinese city that became the center of Nationalist power and foreign trade during the Nationalist era.

The Qing dynasty fell in 1911 through a violent revolution.

False - It was a mostly non-violent transition.

Sun Yat-sen led revolutionary groups that promoted anti-Manchu nationalism.

True

The “Three Principles of the People” were Nationalism, Democracy, and People’s Livelihood.

True

The May Fourth Movement of 1919 rejected Western influence and focused entirely on traditional Confucian values.

False - It embraced Western political ideas and rejected Confucian tradition.

Sun Yat-sen died before the unification of China in 1928.

True

Chiang Kai-shek betrayed the Communists during the Northern Expedition.

True

Sun Yat-sen died before the unification of China in 1928.

True

Chiang Kai-shek betrayed the Communists during the Northern Expedition.

True

Which of the following was not a cause of the Qing Dynasty’s fall?

Strong central government (the Qing had weak leadership).

Sun Yat-sen’s political philosophy blended ideas from —

Confucian + Western democracy.

The May Fourth Movement was sparked by —

Japan’s seizure of Shandong.

The Northern Expedition aimed to —

Unify China.