Modern Chinese History

China’s modern history begins with the fall of the Qing Dynasty – the last imperial government to rule China. China’s early modern history was plagued by foreign interference, disunity and invasion.

After the establishment of the People’s Republic of China, the country underwent huge changes during the 1950s, 60s and 70s. Since 1978 China has been on a path of economic reform and high-speed growth.

Early Republic of China and Warlord Rule

The ailing Qing Empire collapsed in 1911 and the Chinese imperial system was officially abolished. Instead the Republic of China was founded as the central authority in China.

Sun Yatsen was the reformer that had been essential to organizing opposition to the Qing Dynasty. However, he soon found that he was unable to function as president of the Republic of China because he lacked domestic support. Instead he arranged for Yuan Shikai, a general in the Chinese army, to become president.

Yuan Shikai was a corrupt and ineffective leader. He attempted to revert to the imperial system with himself as emperor, though this attempt proved to be unsuccessful. He died in office and future presidents of the Republic of China were unable to exert authority. Independent warlords ruled much of China and the central government was not powerful enough to unify the country.

The May Fourth Movement and the Northern Expedition

During WWI, the Chinese government aided the allies by sending workers and raw materials to Europe to fight the Central Powers. However, instead of giving the German colony in Shandong back to China, the Allies instead gave it to Japan. This caused great a great upheaval and led to the May 4th Movement.

The May Fourth Movement took place on May 4th, 1919 in Beijing. Over 3000 university students came to protest both foreign imperialism in China and the weakness of the Chinese government. This was a turning point for Chinese activists.

In 1921 the Chinese Communist Party was created. The CCP joined forces with the Nationalist Party and worked from a base in Guangzhou to unify China and realize the ideals of the May Fourth Movement.

In 1926 the Nationalists and the Communists launched the Northern Expedition – a campaign to unify China and destroy warlord power. However, once the expedition reached Shanghai, the Nationalist leader Chiang Kai-shek betrayed the Communists and massacred many CCP members.

Civil War in China

The Chinese civil war began after the Nationalists and Communist split in 1927. During the years leading up to WWII, the two sides fought bitterly. The Nationalists had firm control over cities and urban areas, while the Communists organized peasants and conducted guerrilla warfare in the countryside. During this period, many influential members of the CCP – including Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai and Deng Xiaoping – rose to prominence.

Meanwhile, the Nationalists took formal control of the Republic of China. However, the Republic of China government in Nanjing was forced to ally with the Communists when war broke out against the Japanese in 1937.

WWII and Nationalist Defeat

It became clear that the Republic of China under the Nationalists was corrupt and incapable of defending China against the Japanese. Despite huge support from the Allies – mostly the United States – the Nationalists were unable to fend off the Japanese.

The Communists, on the other hand, used the guerrilla tactics they had tested on the Nationalists against the Japanese. This gave them widespread support in China, which later allowed them to defeat the Nationalists in the aftermath of WWII. The Republic of China government fled to the island of Taiwan off the coast of the Chinese mainland.

The People’s Republic of China

The Communist Party took control of mainland China starting in 1949. The 1950s brought various economic and legal changes, including communalization of farms and government support for women’s rights. A comprehensive rural health program was also introduced, giving countryside residents access to basic healthcare.

In 1966, Mao Zedong established the Cultural Revolution. The aim of the Cultural Revolution was to wipe out the old, backwards parts of Chinese culture. Unfortunately this was a time of chaos and destruction in China. Many precious artifacts were destroyed, and many intellectuals were beaten, imprisoned or even killed. In 1976 Mao died and the Cultural Revolution ended, but not without leaving a permanent imprint on China.

In 1978 Deng Xiaoping became the new leader of China. Deng declared a new era of “Reform and Opening Up” during which gradual economic reforms were carried out. The reforms began in the countryside during the 1970s and 1980s and spread to urban areas in the 1990s. Today China’s economy is no longer truly socialist: it is a mixed market and socialist economy.

Deng’s policies were wildly successful. China average a growth rate of more than 8% every year during the Reform and Opening Up period, which still continues today. China continues to liberalize its markets and work towards meaningful reform while working with uniquely Chinese conditions.