Road to the People’s Republic

European Imperialism

1700 20001800 1900

• Late 1700s – Europe refuses to kowtow, or “bow low” to Chinese Emperor• Demanded right to trade at Chinese ports• Opium Wars – British began to sell opium from India to China.• Chinese become addicted• Drained China’s supply of silver, used to pay for drug

• China tries to stop illegal drug trade by passing harsh laws• Smugglers faced death penalty

• 1839 – Chinese destroy shipment of opium• War breaks out• Outdated weapons & warships no math for Britain Page 345

Revolutionary Civil WWI WWII Vietnam

The Unequal Treaties

1700 20001800 1900

• 1842 – Treaty of Nanking ends Opium War• First of “unequal treaties”

• China forced to pay for destroyed opium, give Hong Kong to Britain, and open other ports for British trade• Soon, France, Russia, Germany, and USA forced China to trade with them too

Civil WWI WWII VietnamRevolutionary

Increased Foreign Influence

1700 20001800 1900

• Late 1800s – Western Powers carve up China into spheres of influence• Area in which foreign nation has special economic privileges (i.e. right to build railroads &

factories)• Japan also expands into China• 1895 – Japan defeats China in war

Civil WWI WWII VietnamRevolutionary

Open Door Policy

1700 20001800 1900

• USA feared European nations might set up colonies in China• Calls on nations to support “Open Door Policy” in China• All nations should have equal access to

trade w/ China• Failed

Civil WWI WWII VietnamRevolutionary

Unrest and Revolution

1700 20001800 1900

• Loss of territory to foreigners = sign of weakness• Peasants revolt in Taiping Rebellion• 20 million die over 14 years

• Chinese call for reform• “Learn the superior techniques of

the barbarians to control the barbarians.”

• Wanted Western technology, but Confucian culture

•Boxer Rebellion (1899-1901): Anti-foreign Chinese “Boxers” aimed to expel all foreigners• Killed many Chinese Christians and

foreigners• Result: Westerners organize international army, occupy China

Civil WWI WWII VietnamRevolutionary

Nationalists and Communists

1700 20001800 1900

• Nationalists: Called for nationalism• Making China a unified nation• Ending foreign domination• Supported democracy• Spoke of ensuring a decent living for all Chinese

• Didn’t work.• Chinese felt strong ties to their own family, not the state• China has little experience with democracy• China’s economy was in a depression

Civil WWI WWII VietnamRevolutionary

Enter the Communists

1700 20001800 1900

• 1921 – Nationalists concerned about Chinese Communist Party (CCP)• CCP joined forces w/ Nationalists to expel foreigners & fight warlords• Nationalists turn on the Communists• Expel from Guomindang• Kill thousands of supporters

• Surviving communists flee to southeastern China

Civil WWI WWII VietnamRevolutionary

Mao’s Long March

1700 20001800 1900

• 1920s–1930s: Mao Zedong emerged as leader of Communists• Believed Communists would succeed in China only by winning support of peasants • Nationalists attack Communists• Communists march 6,000 miles from

southeastern China to remote northwestern province Shaanxi

• 90,000 Chinese begin march• Only 7,000 survive

Civil WWI WWII VietnamRevolutionary

Japanese Invade

1700 20001800 1900

• 1931 – Japanese invade China, seize Manchuria• Chinese call on Nationalists & Communists to settle differences, fight common enemy• 1937 – Japanese launch all-out attack on China• Planes Chinese cities• Armies overrun cities

• 1945 – Nationalists and Communists defeat Japan (with much help from Allies)• Mao controls north China, Nationalists control south.• Renew power stuggle

Civil WWI WWII VietnamRevolutionary