Preview

Why did the Chinese Communist Party Win the Civil War in 1949?

Powerful Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1278 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Why did the Chinese Communist Party Win the Civil War in 1949?
The Chinese Civil War, which lasted from 1927 to 1949, was a civil war in China which the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) overthrew the Guomindang (GMD) . As the CCP had always been inferior to the GMD in many aspects, many were shocked and startled by the Communist 's victory; although numerous factors show that the Communist 's victory was almost inevitable. This essay will examine the factors that lead to the Communists victory, which includes ideology, economic, political, social, military, foreign issues, and personalities of the leaders.

One of the major advantages of the CCP can be seen in their social aspects and the support of peasants, which were the vast majority of people. They owned limited amount of land, had high rents, low productivity, were in dept and many lived on the edge of starvation. In addition, having peasant support for the CCP can supply with food resources. Therefore, Mao understood the first goal he had to achieve was the support from peasants. First, he set up peasant unions of Hunan from 1925-27, then in 1838-45 when Chiang had their attention focused on the Japanese Invasion, Mao and the CCP went to the rural areas, where the peasants were grateful for the way the soldiers behaved and helped the people . Then, the political leaders confiscated land from the landowners and redistributed it to landless people; lastly, they were given rights to vote for village leaders. By doing all this, the once enslaved and exploited people of china gained faith and freedom established the myth that only the 'Red Army ' was the true protector of China. In contrast, the GMD had no strong support from the peasants; and most of them felt no connection to the government. The GMD had no party organization helping the struggling provinces, and after the split of GMD and CCP in 1927, the support of common people was very low .

On the military aspects, the CCP was disadvantaged in the number of arm forces. In 1945, the GMD had 5 million troops, while the



References: hinese Civil War 1946-1949. (2000., December 16). Wars of the World. Retrieved September 26, 2007, from http://www.onwar.com/aced/chrono/c1900s/yr45/fchina1946.htmElegant, R. S. (1972). Mao vs. Chiang: The Battle for China, 1925-1949. New York: A Thistle Book. Lescot, P. (2004). Before Mao (S. Rendall, Trans.). 10 East 53rd Street, NewYour, NY10022, USA: HarperCollins Publishers. (Original work published 1999)Marrin, A. (1989). Mao Tse-Tung and His China. 375 Hudson Street, New York 10014, USA: Puffin Group. Meins, B. (n.d.). Chinese history: The Chinese Civil War of 1927-1950 . In Helium where knowledge grows. Retrieved September 26, 2007, from Helium Web site: http://www.helium.com/tm/346350/chinese-civil-happen-momentShowalter, D. (2005, April). Decisive Encounters: The Chinese Civil War, 1946-1950. Retrieved September 26, 2007, from LookSmart Web site: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3686/is_200504/ai_n14681639Wood, J., & McManus, A. (1998). China Revolutionary Leadership (L. Day, Ed.). 6 Ride Way, Albany, Auckland, NewZealand: Macmillan Publishers. (Original work published 1998)

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    The internal struggles and civil wars that surrounded World War II were far more intense than I previously imagined. I appreciate how the battle of communism versus democracy spread well beyond the Eastern European Theater, where it is more infamously known. Furthermore, Taylor’s insights into Chiang’s thought process surrounding his major decisions shed light on how the nationalist party leader considered all of the options but remained firm in his judgments. The Generalissimo provides a plethora of insights into the life of Chiang Kai-shek while simultaneously explaining the role of outside forces; this dynamic allowed me to acquire a comprehensive understanding of modern Chinese…

    • 1613 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The 19th century of China opened with a broad reform of institutions, particularly in the military system. As a result, the revolution occurs and “followed by the breakup of China as the leaders of autonomous armies fought for power” (Dreyer 1). Kuomintang Party stood against the Communist Party and waged a massive civil war mainly in Northeast part of China, “ending only with the victory of communists on the mainland in 1949” (Dreyer 1). In the middle of the civil war, the aggression of the Japanese dragged China into the tragedy of the Second World War.…

    • 398 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Chinese Communism DBQ

    • 537 Words
    • 1 Page

    Communism in China from 1925 to 1950 was a very interesting period in China, especially…

    • 537 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    China Relations DBQ

    • 809 Words
    • 3 Pages

    As Communist China strived to attract the peasant majority to fight against China it brought quite a lot of tension throughout the state. The attraction began in 1942 with a report from the Communist Central Committee implying that the peasants contribute to the basic strength of the Anti-Japanese War. That they must improve life for the peasants and grant more rights if they even wish to have them voluntarily fight for them.(DOC 5). A…

    • 809 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    This memoir of Ma Bo’s sent shock waves throughout China when it was published and was even first banned by the Communist Government. This passionate story paints a clear picture for what the Great Chinese Cultural Revolution was really like. Many Chinese living today can attest to similar if not identical ordeals as expressed in Ma Bo’s story. The toils of being a young Red Guard in inner China were experienced by many if not millions. The horrors and atrocities were wide spread throughout the country, not just in Inner Mongolia. The experiences illustrated in Blood Red Sunset uniquely belong to Ma Bo’s entire generation of mislead Chinese. As expressed in the books dedication the Cultural Revolution produced victims, people who suffered from unspeakable wrongs, not limited by any criteria but all segments of society. All parts of China were turned completely upside down. Along with the turmoil came more than just suffering, but pure tragedy. Even the strongest unit throughout all of China’s millennia’s of history, the tight knit family unit, was broken. Particularly profound is the exhibited brutality, victimizing, and sheer loss of humanity that the common people of China subjected each other to during this tumultuous period. This sad theme was seen over and over again throughout the memoir. The devastation Mao Zedong’s Cultural Revolution inflicted on China has the country still in recovery today. The oldest still standing civilization in history became lawless and un-secure for an entire decade. This resulted in millions of atrocities and injustices taking place throughout the country. Injustice ran rampant everywhere and humanity itself struggled to survive. It awakened the most malicious side of mankind ever seen on such a large scale. To truly appreciate the Communist China 1966-1976 national aberration known as the Great Cultural revolution it is necessary to read an account of a person who actually lived in…

    • 1499 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Outline of Saboteur

    • 6797 Words
    • 28 Pages

    Mesner, M. Mao 's China and After: A History of the People 's Republic, 3rd ed. Chicago:…

    • 6797 Words
    • 28 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Kim, I. J. 1973. The politics of Chinese communism: Kiangsi under the Soviets. London: University of California Press.…

    • 1673 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    History Final Exam

    • 894 Words
    • 4 Pages

    4. (TCO 3) China's Communists finally won the long civil war under the leadership of (Points : 2)…

    • 894 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Bibliography: Campaigns and Mao Tse-Tung 's Mobile War," Military Affairs 47, no. 3 (Oct, 1983),…

    • 4435 Words
    • 18 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    During the 15th century, the Chinese had one of the most advanced naval fleets known to man. As a result, China was able to establish many trade routes to places such as Africa, India, Singapore, etc… If the Chinese wanted to, they could have sailed all the way to Europe and even as far as North America. However, the Chinese ran into some political problems that prevented explorations in the future. If they had continued their voyages, it would have been possible for them to have discovered the New World before Columbus. Had China discovered America before Columbus, our world would be different from what it is today.…

    • 1290 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Boxer Rebellion

    • 723 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Chan, Diana. The Boxer Rebellion and the Great Game in China. The China Quarterly, 28 Nov. 2003. Web. 23 March 2013.…

    • 723 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    It was better equipped, and the number of regular troops almost tripled the number of CPC’s troops (2.800.000 to 800.000). Furthermore, KMT had and air force experienced in conventional fighting, able to take initiative in the early stages , and experienced in terms of war leaders like Chiang Kai-shek . On the other hand, CPC forces had no aircrafts and soldiers were poorly equipped. However, it is important to mention that CPC forces had a great advantage of guerilla warfare, with over two million militias engaging in an active warfare by the end of 1946 . In terms of morale of the soldiers, CPC had an advantage as a result of pledges of the Communist leader, Mao Zedong, to the peasant and poor people (especially about the private land holding), which he would realize if CPC won the civil war. As time went on, by the end of 1947, with the great help of guerilla warfare tactics, CPC wiped out 1.2 million KMT troops, while their strength grew to about two million men. Eventually, by the June 1949, CPC had around two million active soldiers compared to some 1.5 million KMT…

    • 896 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Service, John S. 1965, 'The enthronement of reaction ', in Pichon Loh (ed.)The Kuomintang Debacle of 1949: Conquest or Collapse?, D.C. Heath & Company,BostonStuart, John L. (1965), 'Popular Discontent and Creeping Paralysis ', in Pichon Loh (ed.)The Kuomintang Debacle of 1949: Conquest or Collapse?, D.C. Heath & Company,BostonTsou, Tang 1965, 'Contradictions between program and practise ', in PichonLoh (ed.) The Kuomintang Debacle of 1949: Conquest or Collapse?, D.C. Heath& Company, BostonWestad, Odd Arne 2003, Decisive Encounters: the Chinese Civil War 1946 -1950, Stanford University Press, California…

    • 2874 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Ap World History Dbq Essay

    • 1857 Words
    • 8 Pages

    Prescribed Subject 2: The emergence and development of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), 1946 to 1964…

    • 1857 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    During the 20th century China underwent a massive transformation. In the early 1900s China was a mass of land lacking any real political cohesion and so was plagued by disputes between the many ruling warlords. However, by the year 2000 China was considered a major contender on the world stage and still is today; it almost seems certain that China will become the most powerful nation on earth in the next 50 years. This major transformation is seen to be a great success of China, considering the relatively short amount of time in which it was accomplished, but the question still remains as to whether entire credit should be given to China itself or instead whether China’s successful development was more due to the forced interference of foreign powers or, to a lesser extent, their influence rather than the inspired originality of Chinese politicians. The main stimulus for development certainly seems to be economic policy (either the respective leaders of China in their adaptation of foreign policy, sometimes brought about through influence, or the forced implementation of policy by foreign powers) with the consequent effect of this being development of the social and political workings of China.…

    • 2307 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Powerful Essays