A comprehensive presentation about the support for communism in China, suitable for Cambridge History AS exam.

1. CAMBRIDGEAS
HISTORYREVISION
AGEOFDEVELOPMENT
4.3 SUPPORTFOR
COMMUNISM INCHINA

2. ORIGINS
Chen Duxiu founded CCP in 1921; gained support from USSR; lacked its
own army; formed relationship with KMT.
Chen Duxiu (1879 – 1942) was a Chinese revolutionary socialist,
educator, philosopher, and author, who co-founded the Chinese
Communist Party (with Li Dazhao) in 1921, serving from 1921 to 1927
as its first General Secretary. Chen was a leading figure in the anti-
imperialist Xinhai Revolution and the May Fourth Movement for
Science and Democracy. Politically, he advocated the Trotskyist theory
of Marxism.

4. BREAKWITHTHEKMT
Purification Movement: liaison with KMT ended.
The Red Army: Mao developed Workers and Peasants Red Army of
China in mountains of Kiangsi Province.
Mao elected chairman: became chairman of the Soviet Republic of
China; controlled very little of the country; KMT launched attacks
against him 1930–34.

6. THELONGMARCH
Aims: to escape from KMT; find a safer base.
The March: 368 days; 6000 miles; battles with KMT, warlords, Tibetan
tribesmen; one- fifth marchers reached Shensi Province, where Mao
established a safe base.
Impact: support from peasants; propaganda for CCP; popularity of land
reform in areas controlled by CCP; CCP power remained localised.

8. JAPANESEAGGRESSION
Invasion of Manchuria: China unable to defend itself.
KMT response: non-resistance; KMT’s priority was to defeat CCP and
warlords.
CCP response: guerrilla campaign against Japanese invaders; Mao
portrayed CCP as the true party of Chinese nationalism.