Summary

In 1945 the Americans reinstated Chiang Kai-shek as ruler of China, and tried to organise a truce between Chiang Kai-shek and Mao Zedong, but after the surrender of Japan a civil war broke out, which the Communists won after a vicious struggle.

In 1949, Mao Zedong proclaimed the People's Republic of China in Beijing, saying: ‘China has stood up’, and the Communists too steps to establish a Communist regime.

Links:

The following websites will help you complete the task:

The Civil War, 1945-49:

• Map

• Photos

• American documentary

• Frank Smitha

• HA podcast on why Mao achieved a communist revolution in 1949

Proclamation, 1949:
• ChinesePosters.net, including a fascinating history, right at the end, of Dong Xiwen's painting

• Film footage of the proclamation.

The CCP was communist, the GMD was capitalist

In 1945 the Americans reinstated Chiang Kai-shek as ruler of China, but corrupt GMD officials made themselves wealthy by robbing the peasants, and the Secret police hunted down opponents of the government

The Americans organised a meeting of Mao Zedong and Chiang Kai-shek at Chongqing, but – although a truce was signed – neither side was prepared to keep it

After the surrender of Japan in 1945, and the withdrawal of the Japanese Army, both the CCP and the GMD raced to occupy as much of China as possible

The Soviet Army had occupied Manchuria in 1945; as they pulled out, they cooperated with the CCP to help them move in

The CCP captured Manchuria

The CCP surrounded and starved to death the Nationalist army in Hsuchow (160,000 Nationalists died)

The CCP captured Beijing

Chiang Kai-shek took the government gold reserves and what was left of his army and government and retreated to Formosa (Taiwan)

i.e. why the Communists won the Civil War

Chiang Kai-shek believed that the GMD lost because it had become corrupt and inefficient

The Americans gave the GMD $4bn, 1946-48, but withdrew support during the Berlin Blockade

The morale of the Nationalist Army was very poor

Many GMD soldiers defected, taking their equipment with them

i.e. why the GMD lost the Civil War

The People's Liberation Army did not attack GMD strongholds, but wore then down with guerrilla raids

The Communists mobilised huge numbers of peasants – e.g. 5million during the Huaihai campaign

The Soviet government gave supplies, advice and help (especially in Manchuria, where they allowed the CCP to move in as they left)

The PLA was disciplined, battle-hardened and ideologically-motivated

Mao Zedong proclaimed the PRC to a crowd of 300,000 people in Tiananmen Square, Beijing, saying: ‘China has stood up’

At first, as most Communists were peasants, the CCP allowed GMD officials to remain in place

The Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) was called in 1949 to organise a constitution for the new government of China

The CPPCC formed the Common Program, a plan for the gradual change to a communist state, whilst defending China against ‘imperialism, feudalism and capitalism’

In 1950, the PLA moved into re-establish Chinese power in Tibet and Xinjiang, which had become independent during the Sino-Japanese War