Communists, Nationalists, and China's Revolutions: Crash Course World History #37
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
- 😀 The 20th century saw two major revolutions in China - the 1911 revolution that overthrew the Qing dynasty, and the 1949 Communist revolution
- 😮💨 The 1911 revolution ended over 3000 years of dynastic rule in China, but the Republic that followed quickly fell apart
- 👍 Sun Yat-sen, father of modern China, had the vision but not enough time to lead the new republic
- 😠 Infighting between the Nationalists and Communists allowed Japan to occupy parts of China in the 1930s/40s
- 🤝 The Communists under Mao were better at fighting the Japanese than the Nationalists under Chiang Kai-Shek
- 😡 Land redistribution and reform under the Communists was often violent towards landlords
- 😧 Mao's Great Leap Forward aimed to rapidly industrialize China but led to famine and 20 million deaths
- 🤬 The Cultural Revolution empowered radical youth to attack tradition - intellectuals in particular suffered
- 🤔 China ended dynastic cycles in 1911, so change today traces back to the Republic, not Communism
- 😮 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
🎤 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.
😞 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.
🎉 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.
😵💫 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
💡Qing Dynasty
💡Sun Yat Sen
💡Yuan Shikai
💡Guomindang/Kuomintang (KMT)
💡Chinese Communist Party (CCP)
💡Chinese Civil War
💡Mao Zedong
💡Great Leap Forward
💡Cultural Revolution
💡1911 Revolution
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
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