Explain why the Yan’an Soviet was created in 1936.

The main focus of most responses is likely to be on the Long March, but this can be broken down into a number of related factors:

• The effect of the encirclement campaigns and the fall of the Jiangxi Soviet prompted the Long March and the need to find a safe haven away from the KMT.

• The poverty of the area meant that the peasants would prove to be supportive of CCP policies regarding redistribution of the land of the landlords. Mao’ had established his authority at the Zunyi conference in January 1935. He saw that CCP success would come through support of the peasants.

• After the Long March, the CCP spent several months examining alternative bases in Shaanxi province until deciding upon Yan’an.

• There were geographical advantages in siting the soviet at Yan’an. Its semi-desert terrain and its cave-dwellings allowed for a stronger defensive position to be established by the CCP.

• Since 1931, Yan’an brought the CCP closer to the Japanese and most of the Chinese viewed Japan as a threat to the country. The Yan’an Soviet would allow the CCP to pose as true Chinese patriots and increase popular support.

• The CPC recognized the threat posed by the Japanese invasion and saw the need to establish a strong base in the interior of the country, away from the Japanese-controlled areas. Yan'an, located in northern China, was seen as a suitable location for the CPC to establish a new base of operations.

• Yan'an Soviet allowed Mao Zedong & supporters to consolidate their power and implement their vision for the party and the country.

Objectives of Yan’an Soviet

• The main objective of the Yan'an Soviet was to establish a base for the CPC's revolutionary activities. The CPC saw Yan'an as a place where it could regroup, rebuild, and launch a new phase of the revolution.

• The CPC also aimed to build a socialist society in Yan'an, characterized by social and economic equality, and the elimination of feudal practices and exploitation.

• Another objective of the Yan'an Soviet was to mobilize peasants and workers for the revolution, by providing them with education, healthcare, and other social services. The CPC saw the need to win the support and loyalty of the masses, and the Yan'an Soviet was seen as a means to achieve this goal.

Achievements of Yan’an Soviet

• The Yan'an Soviet played a significant role in the Chinese resistance against Japanese aggression. The CPC forces in Yan'an were able to launch successful military campaigns against the Japanese and the KMT, and they also provided safe haven for other anti-Japanese forces.

• The Yan'an Soviet implemented various land reforms and education programs, aimed at improving the living conditions and social status of peasants and workers. These reforms helped to increase the popularity and support of the CPC among the masses.

• The Yan'an Soviet also contributed to the growth of the CPC's membership, as many young people were inspired by the revolutionary spirit and socialist ideals promoted by the CPC.

Conclusion

• The Yan'an Soviet was a significant development in the history of China and the CPC. It allowed the CPC to establish a strong base of operations, implement its revolutionary agenda, and mobilize the masses for the revolution. The legacy of the Yan'an Soviet can still be observed in the political and social landscape of China, as the CPC continues to promote socialist ideals and revolutionary spirit.

How far was the rise of the warlords in China caused by the actions of Yuan Shi-kai?

Background Info (how did he become president)

On December 29th, 1911, representatives from 17 provinces of southern China elected Sun Yat-sen as the first provisional president of the Republic of China, and Sun was sworn in at Nanjing on January 1st, 1912, proclaiming the establishment of the Republic of China. Angry about this outcome, Yuan ordered his army to attack Wuhan and Nanjing, and the revolutionaries retreated again and again.

Owing to their weak military position, the United League led by Sun Yat-sen had to negotiate with Yuan Shikai, and Sun promised Yuan that he would surrender the position of President of the Republic of China to Yuan if Emperor PuYi abdicated.

Yuan forced PuYi to abdicate on February 12 th, 1912, though Empress Yulong was reluctant to accept this. In the end, she ordered Yuan to form a cabinet for the Republic of China and this represented the formal fall of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912).

Yuan Shi-Kai

• promoted modernization

• played a role in forcing Emperor PuYi's abdication

• called by Prince Chun to defeat the KMT revolution

• became president of the republic of China in 1911

• emerged into a dictator

  • gave each governor control of their own armed forces

  • facilitate the emergence of the warlords over the next decade

• proclaimed himself emperor in 1915 but rapidly reappointed himself President in 1916 instead

• died on 6 June 1916

Issues facing China (Challenges)

Yuan worked to revive Chinese power and do something similar to the Meiji Restoration in Japan.

1. poverty in the countryside

   1. homelessness, land prices dropped, farmers were hit by inflation, and landlords drove up rent.

2. bad city conditions

   1. strikes and riots

3. chronic shortage of money in the Republic

   1. provincial governments got money that should have went to the central government (Beijing)

   2. inefficient collection of tax

4. poor communication

   1. the Beijing government wasn’t able to extend central control over the provinces

5. loyalty of the army

   1. new armies were formed after war with japan

   2. their loyalty was to their commands rather than to the government

Yuan Shi-Kai in Power/Yuan’s Actions (1912-16)

1. Attempted to centralize power in Beijing

   1. He held elections for a national parliament, but loss to the Kuomintang Party.

   2. Yuan did not handle the loss well.

      1. Yuan killed the KMT’s most active campaigner Song Jiaoren

      2. Song Jiaoren: founder member of KMT, responsible for the victory, killed before he could become Prime Minister.

   3. Made enemies with the local gentry and provincial military because he tried to put them under central military command

2. He could not fix the financial problems

   1. got worse, budgets did not work

   2. loans would be a solution, but can affect their independence

3. He could not reunite China

   1. he stirred up intense hostility among patriots and radicals

   2. 7 provinces called independence in 1913 during the ‘second revolution’

      1. ended by loyalists troops, which caused Sun Yat-sen to flee to Japan

      2. Civil unrest continued

         1. ‘the Citizens’ Punitive Army’ carried out a guerilla campaign in central China until 1914

         2. Yuan restored the empire with himself as the Emperor, which led to the formation of the Anti-Monarchy Army in southern china.

         3. Yuan died in 1916 but planned to abdicate because he was sick & lost respect from people who once respected him

4. He dissolved the National Assembly, abolished the provincial assemblies, and disbanded the local militias

Power shifts to the warlords (1916-20)

• After Yuan died power shifted to warlords in different provinces

• Warlords exercised de facto control over their territories

  • Often through the use of force and coercion

• Warlords acted like sovereign monarchs and ruled territories they controlled as if they were their own kingdoms

  • increased taxes, negotiated loans from foreign bankers and waged war or negotiated alliances with other warlords

• All warlords had their own armies

• Whichever warlord temporarily controlled Beijing, controlled the central government

Response

Yuan Shi-kai was responsible because he destroyed the embryonic democratic government by moving the centre of Government to Beijing leaving elected assembly isolated in Nanking. He suppressed the KMT after an attempted ‘second revolution’ in 1913. The KMT was declared an illegal organisation. He attempted to restore imperial government with himself as Emperor, which led to widespread protest and provincial breakaways. He based his control on the strength of the imperial army, not on any democratic mandate. After his death, this force disintegrated and became absorbed into regional warlord forces.

However, it can be argued that he was not responsible, because regionalism and disintegration of central control was already a real problem in the final years of the Qing dynasty. The strong rule of Yuan and the use of the imperial army kept local ‘warlords’ in check; it was his death that led to their seizure of control. The republican government that theoretically returned to power after Yuan’s death had no means of enforcing its authority. Therefore, it was republican weakness that led to the rise of the war lords.

Explain why there was an outbreak of protests in China beginning on 4 May 1919.

The May the Fourth Movement

BEFORE

• In 1914, the German-administered peninsula of Shandong (chinese province), was occupied by Japan.

• During WWI in 1917, China joined the allies, declaring war on Germany, on the condition that Shandong would be returned to China if they won the War.

• Despite victory in 1918, China was forced to sign the Treaty of Versailles in 1919, which was conjoined with Japan’s 21 Demands

  • The 21 demands included the recognition of Japanese control over previously German-administered areas of China, including the Shandong province.

  • The European Powers had already promised this to Japan.

• This enraged the Chinese public who felt betrayed by the Western powers, who had promised the return of the Shandong Peninsula to China in return for their assistance in the War.

  • They believed Western powers were unconcerned by the feelings of China as they gave up parts of China, just like they had carved them up into spheres of influences

Additionally, the Chinese saw the Treaty of Versailles as a symbol of Japanese aggression as they were able to use their power and position to obtain what they wished for.

DURING

• Protests began on May the Fourth, 1919

• Carried out mainly by 3,000 college students in the Beijing region, who hated the Treaty of Versailles

  • It left no improvement in China’s democracy and freedom

• As they marched towards the foreign embassies, they handed out fliers about their cause, criticising the Paris Peace Conferences

• As riots began, at least 32 protestors were arrested by the Police.

• As the news spread, protests formed across the country, including in major cities of Shanghai, Nanking, Tianjin and Guangzhou.

• By June, labour strikes were being organised across China with the aim of urging the Government to take action and pursue better terms.

  • This resulted in a number of shops losing money and closing due to a lack of workers.

  • Additionally, Japanese Residents were attacked, while Japanese goods were boycotted and even destroyed by some protestors.

It was not until the Washington Conference of 1922 when the situation was solved as Japan withdrew its territorial claim.

AFTER/IMPACT ON MODERN CHINA

• The May Fourth Movement marked the introduction of new ideas into Chinese culture and China's road to modernisation.

• Increase in newspapers and pamphlets with the aim of 'mobilising the masses'. Articles were written by intellectuals who returned from Japan to China after years of study. These people encouraged a revolution.

• Self-expression was widely expressed by new writers, including controversial areas, such as sexual freedoms.

Response

Though most responses will probably focus on immediate causes, there is some scope for mentioning longer term issues, so factors that might be discussed include:

• The failure of the democratic government in the wake of the abdication of the Emperor.

• The rise of warlordism and the ineffectiveness of the Beijing government.

• The New Culture Movement: rejection of Confucian ideals as being responsible for Chinese weakness.

• Anger over treatment of China at Versailles.

• Anger over transfer of German ‘sphere of influence’ in Shandong to Japan.