Essential Questions: What was the nationalist movement in China? Why did communism develop in China?
I. The End of the Qing Dynasty
A. The Boxer Rebellion
1. By the end of the 1800�s foreigners dominated the Chinese economy
a. Traders and missionaries traveled the country at will
2. Fearful of losing China to outsiders, the Chinese emperor encouraged anti-foreigner movements
a. Members of these groups were known as Boxers
b. When they began attacking foreigners throughout China, the uprising became known as the Boxer Rebellion
-The Boxers destroyed churches, railways, mines � anything connected with outsiders
-Foreign soldiers went in to put down the rebellion
B. Overthrow of the Qing Dynasty
1. The Boxer rebellion failed to drive foreigners out
a. It did, however, encourage Nationalist sentiment
-The Nationalist Party or Kuomintang wanted a constitutional government with civil liberties and a
guaranteed bill of rights
-They also wanted to become industrialized and modern
2. Pressured by the Nationalists, Qing rulers attempted reform
a. However, too many Nationalists wanted a complete separation
-In Feb. 1912, the Kuomintang forced the last Qing emperor to leave, and proclaimed China a republic
II. Forming the Chinese Republic
A. A Split in the Kuomintang
1. In 1925, Chiang Kai-shek took over the leadership of the Nationalists
a. He was often opposed by the left wing of the Kuomintang party
-Communists who wanted more power for the peasants
b. Troops loyal to Chiang attacked communist strongholds
c. Chaing and his followers established their own government at Nanjing
III. The Growth of Chinese Communism
A. Mao Zedong
1. Had long argued that the Chinese peasants were the best hope for a Communist revolution in China
a. Mao and his followers instituted land and tax reform
-They divided up the land and had a fair tax system
b. He met with peasants and listened to their problems
c. Mao urged the peasants to support a revolution
-The peasants believed the Communists and joined the cause
-Many joined the Communist army (Red Army)
-With peasant support, the Communists resisted Nationalist attempts to destroy them