8 mark question - explain 2 causes of...

Explain 2 causes of the Boxer Rebellion (2nd nov 1898 - 7th sept 1901)

The first cause of the Boxer Rebellion was during an attempt to modernise China in the policy of 'the Hundred Days of Reform', Experor Guangxu was overthrown by his aunt Empress Dowager Cixi, who seized control of the government and ended the reforms. Cixi opposed the privelages given to the foreigners in China. She even encouraged attacks on foreigners to avoid criticism of imperial rule

The second cause of the Boxer Rebellion was that the Chinese people had a deep hatred towards the foreigners, whom they called 'foreign devils'. This was because they were seen to be changing the usual way of life and attacking traditional religions. Therefore, the boxers killed both foreign and Chinese Christians. Many Chinese people hated foreigners due to their technology such as railways which they thought disturbed dragons and telegraph wires which they believed were poisonous.

Explain two causes of the Qing Reforms (1902-11)

The first cause of the Qing Reforms was that Cixi needed to ensure the survival of her dynasty following the embarrassment and consequences of the Boxer uprising. Since her campaign against foreigners had failed in the uprising, she was obliged to accept their presence in China and to use their knowledge to advance her country. Therefore, the reforms, inspired by the self-strengthening movement, aimed at modernising China through learning and copying the sciences and technology of foreigners and apply it in exploiting China's resources. Cixi beloved that this would re-establish China's power and save the Qing dynasty.

The second cause of the Qing reforms was that little progress had been made in the late 1800s in China. Therefore, Cixi needed to take quick action to improve her dynasty's reputation. Therefore, the reforms called for the abolition of foot binding in 1902, improving women's lives and the establishment of a 'new Army' under Manchu control in 1908. Educational reforms were also introduced, with more opportunities for military service and international scholarships.

Explain two causes of the 1911 Revolution

The first cause of the 1911 revolution was the weak government. After the death of Emperor Guangxu and Express Cixi in November 1908, Emperor Puyi took the throne. He was only 2 years old which life Prince Chun, Gaungxu’s brother, ruling as his regent. Prince Chun was inexperienced in ruling and could not provide a strong government. For example, he raised taxes on tea, wine, salt and land making the dynasty more unpopular. Furthermore, he dismissed general Yuan Shikai as he believed he was becoming too powerful which created a powerful enemy to the regime.

The second cause was the nationalisation of railway lines. This increased Manchu control in the provinces and the owners were angry that they did not receive full compensation for giving up ownership as a lot of money had been invested for railways and so railway protection societies were established. Furthermore, the Qing government paid for the expansion of railways by borrowing money from the Western powers and granting further concessions to foreign companies to build the lines. It looked as if the Qing were partners with the ‘foreign devils’, intensifying the anti-Qing feeling, acting as a catalyst for the revolution.

Explain 2 causes of the era of the warlords

The first cause was that Yuan Shikai took over the government in 1913. He dissolved the National and provincial assemblies and had himself elected as president for 5 years, and also banned the Guomindang (GMD). By 1914 he was the dictator of China. He recognised the provincial governments with each province supported by a military governor who were each given control of their own army. This decentralised power further and gave more power to these local generals (military governors).

The second cause was Yuan Shikai’s death on the 5th of June 1916. He left no military general who could rule China with the same authority so central government collapsed. The local generals appointed by Yuan had enough power to rule their provinces. Therefore, these warlords ran their own legal and financial systems, collected taxes and terrorised the population making them unpopular and so the people began turning to revolutionary ideas.

Explain 2 causes of the May the Fourth Movement 1919

The first cause was the Treaty of Versailles. Pre-war Germany had control of the Shandong province. When China joined WW1 on the side of the allies on the condition that all Germans spheres of influence of China would be returned to China. However, Japan conquered Shandong from Germany and at Versailles, it was decided that the Japanese could keep Shandong. The Chinese felt betrayed causing around 3000 students to gather in protest in Tianmen square

The second cause was the broader cultural movement. There was a general disillusionment with Chinese culture following the failure of the Chinese Republic which created a desire for change across China. People were disappointed with Yuan Shikai, becoming the dictador of China and bringing about no positive change for the Chinese people and then leaving an unstable government behind after his death.

Explain 2 reasons for the breakdown of the United Front

The first reason was the growing problem of the communists. During the United front, the CCP’s popularity had grown significantly due to the influence of Soviet Russia. The CCP led by Mao concentrated on peasants and workers whereas the GMD tended to focus on landlords and warlords, forming alliances and making deals with them. Furthermore, the CCP offered land reform, taking land away from landlords and giving it to peasants. With peasants making up 95% of the population, the CCP quickly increased membership. Between 1926-27, 2 million people had joined CCP organisations which was a great concern to Chiang.

The second reason was the Shanghai massacre. Over 5000 communists were arrested, attacked and killed on the orders of Chiang Kai-shek. He was supported by Shanghai’s industrialists and traders who opposed trade unions and were afraid that they would lose their economic interests if the communists took control. Chiang’s troops began a frenzy of killing, called the ‘white terror’. This formalised the split between the GMD and CCP.

Explain 2 causes of the Soviet Intervention in China

The first cause was that the GMD requested aid from the West when Chiang was at a military disadvantage against the warlords. However, none came except from the Russian Bolsheviks. The GMD were willing to accept Bolshevik aid, despite not being communist, is it would help the promotion of the republic. Therefore, the GMD became a powerful and disciplined party under Russian guidance.

The second cause was that the Bolshevik government in Russia wanted to encourage the spread of revolution and communism as well as protect its border with China. In the 1920s, it was convinced that the best way to achieve this was to work with the GMD. It therefore demanded the GMD to form and alliance with the CCP in return for their help. The Bolsheviks believed that the CCP were not strong enough (as it only had 50 members when it was founded) to complete a revolution on its own and so needed help of the GMD. The Bolsheviks thought that the CCP would gain broader support in joining the GMD and eventually would be able to complete a communist revolution on its own

Explain 2 causes of the Northern Expedition (9th July 1926-29)

The first cause was the rule of the warlords. They were cruel rulers causing great discontent among the population. They made agreements with foreign powers to protect their economic interests in China which was seen as unpopular. None of the warlords were prepared to give up their private armies or submit to an outside authority causing the Northern Expedition as a way to remove them.

The second cause was the 30 May 1925 incident. A British commander shot and killed 12 Chinese people in Shanghai. This inspired the United front to take immediate action against the warlords who allowed such foreign influence. This sparked the Northern Expedition.

Explain 2 causes of the Shanghai Massacres/ Extermination campaigns

The first cause was that the popularity of the CCP had grown. The CCP led by Mao concentrated on peasants and workers whereas the GMD tended to focus on landlords and warlords, forming alliances and making deals with them. Furthermore, the CCP offered land reform, taking land away from landlords and giving it to peasants. With peasants making up 95% of the population, the CCP quickly increased membership. Between 1926-27, 2 million people had joined CCP organisations which was a great concern to Chiang. Chiang therefore saw the communists as a greater threat than the warlords causing him to launch the extermination campaigns.

The second cause was that the GMD wanted to gain the loyalty of the industrialists and foreigners. They opposed trade unions and were worried about losing their economic interests if the communists took control.

Explain 2 causes of the Long March (16 Oct 1934 - Oct 1935)

The first cause was the Shanghai massacres, known as the ‘White terror’. The CCP army was too small to fight the NRA. This meant that the communists took refuge in the Jingang mountains where they organised the Jiangxi Soviet. Here, Mao developed his version of communism that relied on the peasants as the force of revolution.

The second cause was the Jiangxi Soviet lost strength due to the constant attacks by the GMD. Chiang was advised by his German military advisor to surround the Reds, and push the, into a smaller area so they lost all access to resources. The GMS could them use aerial bombing to attack the enclosed communist forces. Therefore, by October 1934, it was clear that the communists would be destroyed if they remained in the Jiangxi Soviet due to Chiang’s approach.

Explain 2 causes of the Sino-Japanese War 1937-45

The first cause was that Japan invaded China. After the invasion of Manchuria on 1931, the Japanese continued to strengthen their position in China. From 1937, they began to expand into new territories. Chiang initially allowed the Japanese to take the land as he was convinced that they could never occupy a country as large as China. However, this approach made him unpopular with the population and could not be continued once the Japanese began a full-scale occupation policy.

The second cause was that the warlords petitioned Chiang to remove the Japanese. Chiang allowed Japanese occupation of Manchuria and northern provinces as he considered the Communists to be a greater threat to China than the Japanese. Since he relied on deals with the warlords to keep control of the country, he could not refuse. Therefore, due to the pressure, Chiang formed an alliance with the communists called the second United front with the goal of removing Japanese influence from China.

Explain 2 causes of the civil war 1946-49

The first cause was the atomic bombs on Japan that ended the Second World War and the Sino-Japanese war. Neither the GMD nor the CCP were ready to take control of China. Chiang had always put the destruction of the Reds as his priority, but he had not achieved this when the war ended meaning civil was was unavoidable.

The second cause was that Chiang was is the stronger position, angering the communists. The GMD was recognised by the Allies as the real government in China, demonstrated by the Americans insisting that the Japanese admit defeat to the GMD, not China or the CCP. Chiang also tried to set up a government which gave almost total control to the GMD meaning the communists left the discussion and both sides could not come to an agreement. This lead to fighting and the civil war.

Explain 2 causes of the Mao's victory in the Civil War (1946-49)

The first cause was the military strengths of the CCP. Mao was a skilled leader who created a detailed plan to win the war with skilled generals who executed it well like Lin Bao. The PLA used a wide range of tactics which were adapted to the situation facing them, including guerrilla and conventional warfare. Furthermore, the PLA was a disciplined army that was motivated by its belief in communism and so when passing through villages, it treated the local population with respect, which in turn secured support and loyalty to communism and the CCP. It also encouraged men to join the Reds and give their supplier to the army

The second cause was the weaknesses of the GMD. Chiang was a poor military leader and could not give authority to those with the necessary military skills. Therefore, the GMD made many tactical errors, resulting in many deaths of NRA soldiers, such as losing half a million men in Manchuria as they did not secure a supply line first. Furthermore, the NRA was a conscript army that was poorly supplied and harshly treated. This meant that there were many deaths and desertions, weakening the army and popularity of the GMD.

Explain 2 causes of the Agrarian Land Reform Law

The first cause of the Agrarian Land Reform Law was because Mao wanted to establish a communist system and modernise China's economy. Therefore, reform was needed in order to centralise and improve food production in the countryside. This would allow surplus workers to take up industrial work in the towns, so they could develop modern industry. However, he needed to ensure there would be enough food both in the countryside and towns.

The second cause of the Agrarian Land Reform was because Mao did not want to make the mistakes made in the Soviet Union during the 1930s when the collectivisation of agriculture had led to peasant resistance and around 5 million died due to famine. Therefore, his laws stated that the property of large landlords would be taken away and given to peasants. Also, property or enemies of the state, like Chiang Kai Shek and foreign nationals would be confiscated. Therefore, up to 1 million landlords were executed and thousands were sent to re-education camps to be re-educated with communist ideology. The law allowing redistribution of wealth to the peasants was extremely popular among the peasant population.

Explain 2 reasons for the 1st Five Year Plan (1952-57)

The first reason was that Mao wanted to develop China’s industry and modernise the country. Therefore, the plan had a heavy focus on the rapid expansion of industry, coal, iron and steel and petroleum. Ambitious targets were set to expand industry. By 1952, land reform had begun to push up agricultural output and to provide food for urban workers so Mao felt confident that he could follow his plans for industry.

The second reason was to move closer to a communist society. It was claimed that the rapid improvement in industrial production showed that the communist system was better than the capitalist system it had replaced. Central planning had been accompanied by the gradual removal of private businesses as businessmen were brought into partnership with the state or taken over completely. Soviet Union also had demonstrated that modernisation could be achieved through a communist system and central planning.

Explain two causes of the 100 Flowers Campaign (1957)

The first cause was because China needed the educated classes for its industrial development. Since the Soviet experts has left in 1960 and the Chinese were not yet sufficiently trained to manage without them, progress in science and technology had slowed. The lack of intellectual freedom was preventing scientific advances, causing the 100 Flowers campaign which encouraged more freedom.

The second cause was because Soviet President Khrushchev had criticised the Cult of Stalin in 1956. Mao felt his style of government and regime was also being criticised given than his policies like the Thought reform, removing any opposition to him and the CCP, was similar to Stalinism. He therefore wanted to avoid such comparisons and criticisms. Furthermore, Mao felt that the 100 flowers campaign would be an opportunity to identify more disloyal CCP members.

Explain 2 causes of Mao's decision to bring an end to the 100 Flowers campaign (1957)

The first cause was because direct criticism of Mao was raised. The criticism initially focused on trivial matters but the volume of criticism grew and Mao was shocked to find that this criticism was not confined to CCP officials, but himself as well. He also decided to step down as head of state as it allowed him to retain control of CCP but also separate him from any failures of the party, like the famine which killed 50 million people.

The second cause was because Mao launched the Anti-Rightists campaign in response to the criticism. This labelled critics as rightists and enforced harsh punishments such sending them to re-education camps for sentences up to 20 years. Around 750,000 (3/4 of a million) party members were victims of this.

Explain 2 causes of the Great Leap Forward (1958-62)

The first cause was collectivisation of agriculture. This would provide sufficient food to feed the expanding workforce and surplus to sell abroad to buy machinery. Therefore, Mao believed this would enable him to increase both agricultural and industrial production at the same time and so China would be able to reduce its dependence on the Soviet Union. He called this ‘walking on two legs’ and he believed that China would soon be able to use her own experts and not the Soviet experts.

The second cause was that Mao wanted to continue the progress China had made in the first Five Year Plan. Mao wanted to make China’s industry a world power with an aim to overtake Britain in less than 15 years. Therefore, large projects such as bridges, canals and dams were constructed and the economic achievements of communism was praised in the Chinese newspapers. The whole population was eager to to help, with workers using manual labour to dig out the soil by hand instead of using mechanical diggers and the 600,000 backyard furnaces set up in family backyards to help increase steel production.

Explain 2 causes of the Great Famine （1958-62）

The first cause of the Great Famine was the lack of incentives. Collectivisation meant that peasants no longer sold stock for profit so there was no incentive to grow more or attain higher yields than the minimum requirements. This meant that food for both the countryside and cities decreased, killing 50 million in the famine. Communist officials also did not dare to speak out about the failure of production of food in fear. Therefore, they lied about the production. To impress Mao so the famine worsened.

Th second cause of the Great Famine was the Four Pests campaign. Mao had launched a campaign to remove pests such as sparrows, flies and mosquitoes that ate the crops and grain. For example, peasants were encouraged to tp make as much noise as possible to drove sparrows and other wild birds off the land. However, without any birds, the insects and caterpillars multiplied and ate even more ropes and grain. Therefore, this policy disturbed ecosystems, so more crops were eaten by wildlife, creating even more shortages of food and worsening the famine.

Explain 2 causes of the Soviet Chinese Treaty of Friendship

The first cause was the victory of the CCP in the Civil war in 1949. The Soviet Union had provided military advisers to the Communist during the struggle against the GMD. The Soviet Union also was the leading communist country in a mainly hostile capitalist world. Therefore, it was natural for the CCP to establish a relationship with the Soviet Union.

The second cause was because Mao needed to draw on the Soviet Union’s knowledge in establishing a communist state. Mao wanted military and economic assistance from the Soviet Union and put this request to its Polituburo on his first visit to Moscow in December 1949. The treaty settled key demands, including a promise of aid in the event of an attack, a loan of $300 million to the China from the USSR and a list of all Soviet agents in China. This gave the funding China needed to begin modernising its economy and gave some guarantees for its safety.

Explain 2 causes of the Cultural Revolution (1966-76)

The first cause cause was due to Mao’s desire for permanent revolution. He was worried that capitalist behaviours and ideas would return as he was convinced this is what happened with Khrushchev in the Soviet Union. Mao had accused Khrushchev of being a revisionist in April 1960 when the Soviet Union began developing friendly relations with the USA. Mao believed that by removing the capitalist influences and promoting the Mao Zedong thought would make the changes made by the CCP in 1949 would become permanent.

The second cause was to remove and purge opposition to Mao.

- Mao wanted to remove government agencies who he thought were bureaucrats, motivated financially and uninterested in revolution, as he was determined to ensure no return to the class system seen under the Qing dynasty.

- he also wanted to remove internal CCP opposition as he believed people were conspiring to remove him from power. Especially Liu Shaoqi and Deng Xiaoping and the cultural Revolution gave him an ideal opportunity to do this.

- he wanted to remove revisionists. He thought they were weakening revolution by promoting non-Marxist features like private trade and businesses. He believed revionsists were found in all areas of art, education and cultur and that they needed to be removed to save the revolution

Explain 2 causes of the Sino-Soviet split

The first cause was because Khrushchev had denounced Stalin in 1956 and criticised the cult of Stalin. Mao felt as though his style of government and regime was also being criticised. Therefore, Mao accused the Soviet Union of being a revisionist country in April 1960, worsening relations significantly. In return, Khrushchev criticised the Great Leap Forward for its failures. Tensions increased on the Sino-Soviet border so much that Mao feared that the Soviet Union may launch an invasion of China.

The second cause was the when Mao publicly denounced Khrushchev of cowardice in the Cuban Missile Crisis 1962.

In return, Khrushchev claimed that Mao’s policies would lead to nuclear war. This formalised the Sino-Soviet split as earlier in 1960, Khrushchev had already recalled Soviet advisers from China. This had affected China’s economy as 200 projects were cancelled and all documents relating to nuclear energy had been destroyed. However by 1964, China tested its own nuclear weapons and its own H-bomb in 1967.

Explain 2 causes of the Gang of Four's unpopularity

The first cause of the Gang of Fours unpopularity was that they undermined Hua Guofeng, who was appointed as premier of the PRC and the vice-chairman of the CCP following Deng's removal. When Mao died in September 1976, the Gang of Four assumed that they would take power. However, Hua had the support of key military officials and more members of the Politburo than the Gang of Four did. Jiang Qing, Maos fourth wife was especially unpopular within the POlitburo, as they objected her behaviour during the Cutural Revolution for she tortured opponents and artists who did not agree with her ideas on culture.

The second cause was that they were put on trial in 1980-81 as they were accused to overthrow the communist state. The crimes that the Gang of Four were accuse of committing included, planning to use the Red Guards to remove Liu Shaoqui and Deng Xiaping in 1966. Furthermore, they were accused of plotting to take control because they feared that Mao would bring Deng back from exile. If he returned, the Gang of Four would lose their power, so they told Mao that Zhou and Deng were planning to take power from Mao.

Explain 2 causes of economic change under Deng Xiaping （from 1978-89）

The first cause for economic change was that he wanted to modernise China. Therefore, he made changes to education, for example, reintroducing university entrance exams and encouraging students to travel to the capitalist west for university education. Furthermore, research programmes and establishments were reinstated after it had been closed during the cultural revolution. This was because modernisation, especially in industry required technical expertise and so the reforms would train millions of technical students who would use their skill to modernise industrial process in China. Students who had studied abroad would bring back their knowledge of Western technology and methods of manufacture.

The second cause was because Deng wanted to open up China to trade with the outside world. Foreign investment was to also increase under Deng’s leadership. Therefore, he adopted an open-door-policy, which encouraged businesses to produce quality goods which could be exported overseas. He also set up Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in coastal cities like Hong Kong and Taiwan where foreign investment was encouraged for both exports and home industries. These policies were a great success, with a 500% increase in export trade by 1990.

Explain 2 causes of the democracy movement

The first cause of the democracy movement was Deng’s opposition to political reform. He maintained 4 principles about the way China would be governed, despite introducing new economic policies and adopting capitalise practices. These were that the CCP would keep a leading role, there would be no free elections, there would be no freedom of speech and that he rejected a multi-party system. Therefore, students and intellectuals in Beijing began expressing anti-government feeling on the wall. Students in particular used it to criticise the party and the lack of democracy.

The second cause of the democracy wall was the arrest of Wei Jinsheng, a former red guard. Wei had pinned to the wall his criticisms of the government’s failure to allow democratic freedoms and accused the party of acting like the Qing dynasty. He was arrested and sentenced to 15 years in prison. Wei Jinsheng inspired activists to call for democracy in China. Many students and intellectuals had experienced Western ideas of Liberal politics when they had travelled abroad to study. Therefore, they wanted not just to end corruption in the CCP but also democracy so the government could represent the people and address their problems.

Explain 2 causes of the Tianmen Square incident (crushed on 4th June 1989)

The first cause of the Tianmen square incident was the death of Hu Yaobang. He was the general secretary of the party, before being sacked for showing sympathy for the students and criticising the slow pace of reform. In sacking him, Deng showed that he sided with the the hard-line conservatives who would not move away from Maoist communism. Following Hu's death in 1989, students gathered in Tianmen square to mourn and they offered a petition to ask for greater freedoms in honour of Yaobangs death.

The second cause of the Tianmen square incident was that Premier Li Peng refused to accept the petition asking for greater freedoms. Therefore, protests grew into sit-ins and by may 1989, 300 students were on hunger strike. Even the transport workers allowed students to travel to Beijing for free on public transport highlighting the seriousness of the demonstration. There were frequent fights with the police and calls from the national newspaper, 'the people's daily', for the government to end the protest.

Explain 2 causes of Deng's decision to use violence to end the protest in Tianmen Square in 1989

The firs cause for Deng's decision to use violence to end the protest in Tianmen square was because President Gorbachev returned to the Soviet Union on 19 May. Whilst Gorbachev was in China, Deng did not act and avoided the protesters and instead, reorganised the schedule for Gorbachev's meeting. This was to ensure that he did not see what was happening in Tianmen square. Therefore, when Gorbachev left, Deng declared Martial law in China.

The second cause was because the non-student population of Beijing began to join the student protest. They shouted 'we want democracy! we want Deng to go!'. These protesters blocked the roads and prevented the troops stationed around Beijing from getting to Tianmen Square. This delayed the attempts of the government to 'restore order'. However, by 2 June, 350,000 PLA troops surrounded Tianmen square and on 3 June, the government announced that the square would be cleared by the following morning.