Communists, Nationalists, and China's Revolutions: Crash Course World History #37

CrashCourse
4 Oct 201212:10
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRThe video examines the tumultuous 20th century history of China which saw two major revolutions - the 1911 revolution that overthrew the Qing dynasty after over 3,000 years of imperial rule, establishing the Republic of China, and the 1949 Communist revolution led by Mao Zedong that created the People's Republic of China. It discusses key figures like Sun Yat-sen and Chiang Kai-shek, the complex dynamics between the Nationalists and Communists, the impacts of Japanese occupation, Mao's mass campaigns and failures like the Great Leap Forward, and traces how these twin revolutions shaped China's modern identity and trajectory, for better or worse.

Takeaways
  • ๐Ÿ˜€ The 20th century saw two major revolutions in China - the 1911 revolution that overthrew the Qing dynasty, and the 1949 Communist revolution
  • ๐Ÿ˜ฎโ€๐Ÿ’จ The 1911 revolution ended over 3000 years of dynastic rule in China, but the Republic that followed quickly fell apart
  • ๐Ÿ‘ Sun Yat-sen, father of modern China, had the vision but not enough time to lead the new republic
  • ๐Ÿ˜  Infighting between the Nationalists and Communists allowed Japan to occupy parts of China in the 1930s/40s
  • ๐Ÿค The Communists under Mao were better at fighting the Japanese than the Nationalists under Chiang Kai-Shek
  • ๐Ÿ˜ก Land redistribution and reform under the Communists was often violent towards landlords
  • ๐Ÿ˜ง Mao's Great Leap Forward aimed to rapidly industrialize China but led to famine and 20 million deaths
  • ๐Ÿคฌ The Cultural Revolution empowered radical youth to attack tradition - intellectuals in particular suffered
  • ๐Ÿค” China ended dynastic cycles in 1911, so change today traces back to the Republic, not Communism
  • ๐Ÿ˜ฎ The legacy is mixed - China makes cameras and computers but still blocks sites like YouTube
Q & A
  • What were the two major revolutions in 20th century China?

    -The two major revolutions were the 1911 revolution that overthrew the Qing dynasty and established the Republic of China, and the 1949 Communist revolution led by Mao Zedong which established the People's Republic of China.

  • Who was Sun Yat-sen and what role did he play?

    -Sun Yat-sen was a Chinese revolutionary and political leader often referred to as the 'father of modern China'. He played a key role in the 1911 revolution and served briefly as the first president of the Republic of China.

  • What happened after Yuan Shikai died in 1916?

    -After Yuan Shikai died, China's first non-dynastic government completely fell apart. The country fractured into regions controlled by local warlords.

  • What was the Long March and why was it important?

    -The Long March was a 6,000 mile retreat by Communists from the Nationalist army between 1934-1935. It allowed the Communists to survive and rebuild, paving the way for their eventual victory.

  • Why did the Communists defeat the Nationalists in the civil war?

    -The Communists were more disciplined and better at mobilizing grassroots support from peasants. Meanwhile the Nationalists were plagued by corruption, taxes, and failures against the Japanese.

  • What were some key policies and campaigns under Mao's leadership?

    -Key policies and campaigns included land redistribution, industrialization plans, the Hundred Flowers campaign, the Great Leap Forward, and the Cultural Revolution.

  • What damage was caused by the Great Leap Forward?

    -The Great Leap Forward led to declining agricultural production and a massive famine from 1959-1962 resulting in around 20 million deaths.

  • What was the goal of the Cultural Revolution?

    -The Cultural Revolution (1966-1976) aimed to reassert Mao's control and revive revolutionary spirit by empowering student 'Red Guards' to attack old customs, culture, and intellectuals.

  • Did Mao achieve his goal of a lasting socialist revolution?

    -No, many argue that while Mao's image still looms large, China today has departed significantly from his socialist vision and the 1911 revolution was the more lasting change.

  • What is the complicated legacy of China's 20th century revolutions?

    -While the revolutions led to tremendous industrialization and growth, they also caused instability, violence, and authoritarian rule with mixed impacts on people's welfare.

Outlines
00:00
๐ŸŽค Introduction to Chinese History Crash Course

This paragraph introduces the Crash Course World History video and its focus on returning to China. It mentions the host John Green and coins the term 'piece of felt Danica', referring to a cutout of China. The paragraph foreshadows China's two revolutions in the 20th century and states that the 1911 revolution may be more significant historically than the famous 1949 Communist revolution.

05:02
๐Ÿ˜ž China's Humiliating Defeat in Opium Wars Sets Stage for Reform

This paragraph provides background, explaining how China's defeat in the Opium Wars led to foreign domination and calls for reform. It contrasts the self-strengthening movement with the ultimately disastrous anti-Western Boxer Rebellion of 1900, which spurred radicals like Sun Yat Sen to plot the overthrow of the dynasty.

10:02
๐ŸŽ‰ Sun Yat Sen's Inspiring Legacy Despite Limited Rule

This paragraph focuses on Sun Yat Sen, praising his inspiring principles and mixed legacy. It explains how after the Qing emperor abdicated, general Yuan Shikai took power instead of Sun Yat Sen, eventually banning Sun's Guomindang party and ruling as dictator until his death, after which China dissolved into warlordism.

๐Ÿ˜ตโ€๐Ÿ’ซ The Chinese Republic Crumbles into Chaos

This paragraph characterizes 1912-1949 as the 'Chinese Republic' period, although noting the government wasn't very unified or effective. It introduces the Guomindang party and Chinese Communist Party vying for power during the warlord era, later allying briefly in the 1920s before splitting and starting a civil war won by the Communists.

Mindmap
Keywords
๐Ÿ’กQing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty ruled China from 1644 to 1912. Its defeat in the Opium Wars led to foreign domination and spheres of influence, which was humiliating and sparked calls for reform. The 1911 revolution eventually led to the dynasty's downfall.
๐Ÿ’กSun Yat Sen
A Chinese revolutionary and first president of the new Republic of China in 1912. His Three Principles of the People (nationalism, democracy, people's livelihood) laid the foundation for China's nationalism. Though he didn't rule long, he is respected by both Communist and Nationalist parties.
๐Ÿ’กYuan Shikai
Chinese general who became dictator after Sun Yat Sen resigned in 1912. His death in 1916 led to the collapse of the young republic into warring regions ruled by warlords.
๐Ÿ’กGuomindang/Kuomintang (KMT)
The Nationalist Party in China, led by Chiang Kai-Shek. Though they led the republican revolution, they lost the Chinese Civil War to the Communists in 1949 and retreated to Taiwan.
๐Ÿ’กChinese Communist Party (CCP)
The Communist Party ultimately prevailed over the Nationalists in 1949 due to popularity from resisting Japanese occupation. Mao Zedong led the CCP to form the People's Republic of China.
๐Ÿ’กChinese Civil War
The civil war from 1927-1950 between the Nationalists (KMT) and Communists (CCP) for control of China. Key events included the Communists' Long March and later ability to fight the Japanese. The CCP won in 1949.
๐Ÿ’กMao Zedong
Leader of the CCP and first chairman of the People's Republic of China in 1949. Instigated socialist economic reforms and campaigns like the Cultural Revolution to consolidate power under China's dictatorship.
๐Ÿ’กGreat Leap Forward
The disastrous campaign from 1958-1962 by Mao to rapidly industrialize China through agricultural collectivization and backyard steel furnaces, leading to the greatest famine in history.
๐Ÿ’กCultural Revolution
Campaign launched by Mao in 1966 to reassert socialist ideology by empowering student "Red Guards" to attack Chinese traditions and elites. Led to social chaos and destroyed cultural artifacts.
๐Ÿ’ก1911 Revolution
Revolution in 1911 led by Sun Yat Sen that ended over 2000 years of imperial rule in China. Established the Republic of China in 1912 that ultimately failed, but marked a major turning point in Chinese history.
Highlights

China's 1911 revolution was a bigger deal historically than the 1949 communist revolution

The 1911 revolution started accidentally when a bomb exploded early

The Qing emperor abdicated after the 1911 revolution started

Sun Yat Sen's Three Principles are great principles for China

After 1912, China fell apart into regional warlord control

The Communists were better at fighting the Japanese than the Nationalists

The Long March showed the perseverance of the Communists

Mao initiated harsh "rectification" programs to re-educate intellectuals

The Communists won peasant support better than the corrupt Nationalists

Mao declared a "people's democratic dictatorship" - not very democratic

Land redistribution destroyed landlords violently

Early industrial plans worked but at huge human cost

The Great Leap Forward led to 20 million deaths from famine

The Cultural Revolution empowered radical students

China's revolutions brought huge changes but mixed legacy

Transcripts
Rate This

5.0 / 5 (0 votes)

Thanks for rating: