Mao; Rise to Power

Remember that this topic should be studied in a comparative framework.

You need to compare authoritarian leaders to each other and an expected norm.
You should study the Oxford IB notes to help you with a framework on this. Once
you have an idea about the nature of Authoritarian and Single Party States you will
be better able to place you research into Mao and Hitler as examples into context.
You should already have two books on China to help you with your research on this
topic.
The following are supplementary notes.
Todays Lesson
AIM To compare the example of Mao to our generalisations of Single-Party States. To gain
narrative knowledge to better enable us to discuss how the political background of China and
Maos personal views and qualities could be connected and how both helped in his rise to
power.
MAIN ACTIVITIES.
1. Read and discuss (allow half an hour)
2. Examine textbook extract on the Nanjing Decade.
3. Discuss and make connections between Chinese crisis points in the early 1900s and in the
1930s
The notes below concentrate on context and Maos views. Could be used for the first
paragraphs of a Rise to Power essay..
SINGLE PARTY STATES ARISE FROM CRISIS
Maos achievement in proclaiming the Peoples Republic of China on 1 st October 1949 was a
result of struggle for power
between the Guomindang (GMD) and the Communist Party of China (CPC),
through Chinas warlord Period (1916-27), through the Nanjing Decade (1928-1937)
and following the Sino-Japanese War, (1937-45) and the Chinese Civil War (1946-49)
Learn this..
Warlord Period
16-27

Nanjing Decade
28-37

Sino-Japanese War
37-45

Chinese Civil War

46-49

Now imagine it the early 1900s.

WHAT WERE THE PRESSURE POINTS?
CONTEXT 1900
Is it a crisis context? One which could be taken advantage of by a leader of the future??
PRESSURE ON CHINA
Externally
1. Expansionist Japanese Foreign Policy.
Following the Meji Restoration of 1868 in Japan, Japan seemed to be the dominant Asian
power. This became more evident after the Sino-Japanese War (1894-95) and the RussoJapanese War (1904-5). Japan also annexed Korea in 1910
Internally
2. Birth of the Nationalist Party Death of Qing Dynasty
Chinese society had a feudal structure ruled by the Qing Qynasty since 1644. The Dowager
Empress at the turn of the century was Cixi (ruled 1867-1908).
Movements for change included Kang Youweis 1898 Hundred Days of Reform.
All movements resisted until 1902 when Cixi appears to have reversed her attitudes but it was
too late.
The Qing Dynasty was ultimately overthrown by the Double Ten Revolution 10, October 1911,
led by Sun Yixians Revolutionary Alliance. Sun promised to change Chinese society by

implementing the Three Peoples Principles (nationalism, democracy and peoples livelihood).
His Alliance became the Guomindang or Nationalist Party in 1912.
3. Internal turmoil as a result of perceived Western exploitation of China.
Western powers were seen as economically imperialist. The US had demanded the right to
trade freely within Chinas borders and wouldnt accept China making preferential agreements
with other powers. Germany acquired railroad and mining rights in Shandong. This led to antiWestern attitudes in the Manchu court and among the peasants and led to turmoil the
German acquisition led to a rebellion in 1900.
4. Anarchy and exploitation.
Sun was overthrown by one of his generals in (Yuan Shikai) 1913 and after Yuans death in 16
China lapsed into a period of anarchy dominated by warlords with no effective central
government.
5. Regionalism
Although there was a de facto government (government in practise but not ratified by law) in
Beijing it had no
form of enforcement. Independent warlords with their own militia undermined any attempt at
centralisation. This situation allowed nations like Japan to reassert their attempts to make
China a Japanese protectorate. Lack of central government led to the problem of regionalism.
***THINK
Why did people turn to Sun as a leader? What did he offer that was more important that a
nationalist ideology? Can you think of possible reasons why his success was short-lived but
Maos wasnt?
***THINK
Why are crisis situations so ripe for taking advantage? Why is political background important
when examining a leaders rise to power? What is a desperate population likely to be willing to
give up in exchange for a good leader or direction? What sort of leader will a desperate
population turn to? What characteristics are they likely to have?
SINGLE PARTY STATE LEADERS MUST SHOW CAPABILITY OF LEADING IN CRISIS
Maos background
Mao was born in 1893 (dont ever start an essay with that statement). His birthplace was a
small farming village called Shaoshan near Changsha, the capital of Hunan province. His
Parents were farmers with a smallholding of about 1.2 hectares.
***THINK
Could Maos humble background have been to his advantage?
Maos influences
a. An aggressive and expansionist Japanese foreign policy focused on acquiring raw materials
for Japans home based industries.
b. A rural elite that ignored the needs of the rural villages and exploited the peasants.
c. The perception that Western powers were attempting to exploit China for their own
political and economic gain.
d. The issue of regionalism.
!!! TASK - Match these to the pressure points above. Just read through them again and make
sure you see the correlation.
***THINK
Nature v Nurture. Did China influence the man, or did the man and his attributes influence
China?

Part 2 Were going to examine context and leaders qualities again weve just brought the
context forward..

WHAT WERE THE PRESSURE POINTS?

CONTEXT 1919
Is it a crisis context? One which could be taken advantage of by a leader of the future??
Source A
When the intellectuals of China understood what was happening at Versailles, they became
very agitated. All over China discussion groups formed, thousands of telegrams were sent, not
only by students and professors, but also by merchants, shopkeepers, businessmen,
associations and guilds, and overseas Chinese communities. So urgently, so seriously, did the
Chinese people consider that Versailles was the testing point, the watershed; that it was
democracy on trial. Were the Great Powers really going to behave as they said they would or
let China down? This was the crisis, the point of no return. Then came the terrible news. All
demands by China for readjustment of unequal treaties .. had been rejected. Shandong
province was allocated to Japan. In short, China as an ally, was treated as an enemy.
From Han Suyin A Mortal Flower 1966.
!!! TASK Read the source above.
As a result of the Treaty of Versailles, what happened to Shandong province?
From earlier notes, which European power do you know held influence in Shandong?
What do you think the Chinese expected in return for entering the war in 1917?
Result of the Treaty = The May 4th Movement
On 4th May 1919 thousands of students marched on Beijing protesting against the treaty and
protesting against the Twenty-One Demands made by Japan that would virtually have given
Japan control over China.
Result of the May 4th Movement = the emergence of the CPC, formally established in 21 in
Shanghai. It numbered 12 delegates including Mao.

Part 3 Mao has risen to Prominence. We have been examining Context and Maos qualities.
We are now going to begin to look at dealing with opposition. Although the Chinese Civil War
occurred between 46 & 49 you would be well advised in the introduction to your essay
to argue that although the war was fought between those dates the actual longterm causes go back to the 20s and the formation of the First United Front. This will
enable you to make a far more detailed analysis of the rise to power of Mao.
THE FORMATION OF THE FIRST UNITED FRONT
Southern Government Sun Yixian had returned to China from exile and established a
government in the south at Guangzhou, led by the GMD.
Northern Government A rival military government had already been established in Beijing in
the north under the warlord Feng Guozhang.
IDEOLOGY SHELVED IN FAVOUR OF PRACTICALITY - Although ideologically there
were clear differences between the CPC and the GMD, a marriage of convenience
was about to take place.
It was evident that the combination of a political party with strong national support
and the backing of a military force would be needed if the warlords were to be
defeated.
THE ARRANGEMENT - The CPC was encouraged to form an alliance with the GMD in order to
reduce foreign influence in China and eliminate warlord power. This first united front was
proclaimed in 1924. Suns aim was to unite with the Christian warlord Feng Yuxiang who now
controlled Beijing and who was supportive of the GMDs policies. The CPC would form a bloc
within the GMD accepting its control and discipline.

THE EFFECTS - The effect on CPC membership was staggering. From 57 members in 1921 it
grew to 980 in 25, and by 1927 had 58,000 members. The GMD had also expanded its
numbers and after the establishment of the Whampoa military academy in 1924 the First
United Front had a military force to support its political aims.
In 1925 Sun Yixin died and was succeeded as leader by Jiang Jieshi.
THE DECISION - The Northern Expedition The decision was made to attempt a unification of
China by a military campaign against the warlords. The Northern Expedition numbering
approximately 100,000 men, started out from Guangzhou in May 1926 with three main
targets, the occupation of Fujian, Jiangxi and Nanjing.
MAOS ROLE Mao became more active within both the GMD and CPC in Shanghai Ultimately
he was given the task of organising peasant forces in the countryside to support the United
Front campaign against the warlords. Mao became more concerned with local Hunan
peasant issues than with national CPC issues. Increasingly he was seen by the
Hunanese as a person who represented them against both the landlords and
warlords.
***THINK How would Maos role in Hunan help in his rise to power?

Next Part 4 Civil War, dealing with opposition both externally and internally. (pages 148+IB
text)
Lesson 2
Part 4 Civil War, dealing with opposition both externally and internally.
Intro.
Mao & Internal opposition Events Japanese attack on Manchuria, the Long March
and the Zunyi Conference.
(youve read about this I hope)
What was the outcome of the Northern Expedition?
Rifts begin to appear in the coalition. Why?
Who is the leader of the GMD after Sun and how does he differ from Sun in his consideration
of the CPC?
What caused the collapse of the First United Front? Event?
Stage is set for Civil War.
Focus back on Mao - - What does the CPC central committee encourage Mao to do?
How does Mao develop his own leadership position?
Focus on bigger picture - - The Japanese attacked Manchuria in September 1931. What are the GMD leaderships
priorities?
What were Maos influences are any of these as obvious in the 30s as they were in the 20s?
During the GMD extermination campaign of 34 what changes in tactics were adopted?
How did these affect the CPC leadership and Maos position within it?
The Long March and the Zunyi Conference.
What were they? What happened at the Zunyi Conference?

Todays Lesson
AIM To compare the example of Mao to our generalisations of Single-Party States. To gain
narrative knowledge on and discuss Maos dealings with opposition before the Sino-Japanese
War of 1937-45.

MAIN ACTIVITIES.
1. Read and discuss Maos consolidation of his position as leader of the Communists (allow at
least 20mins)
2. Examine textbook extracts (pages152+) on Sino-Japanese War and Civil War.
3. Discuss possibility of focusing on Chinese Civil War as a possible essay response to Paper 2
Topic 1.

Consolidation of Leadership position within the party still dealing with internal
opposition.
At Yanan, out of reach of the GMD the communists build up their base and gather support
against the Japanese. Mao begins his revision of Marxist Leninist thought and gradually
emerges as the fully fledged leader of the communists.
He changes the urban-based bourgeoisie-proletarian model of Marxist revolutionary theory
to the rural realities of China.
The cult of Mao is likewise emerging. Evidence in 43 Mao adopts the titles Chairman of the
Communist Party and Chairman of the Politburo. The preamble to the Constitution of the
Communist Party published in 1945 shows how far this had developed,
The Chinese Communist Party takes Mao Zedongs thought the main thought that unites
Marxist-Leninism theory and the practise of the Chinese Revolution as the guide for all its
work and opposes all dogmatic or empiricist deviations (Spence, Mao, 1999)
***THINK How does Mao consolidate his position?
Position of Opposition The Long March had show that Jiangs control was not absolute.
The GMD still refused to fight the Japanese in Manchuria. Jiang ordered his second-incommand to attack the Red Army in Shaanxi. Throughout China demands for a ceasefire
increased. Mao, Zhou Enlai and Zhu De personally appealed to Zhang in their Letter to All
Officers and Men of the Northeastern Army to join with the Communists and fight the
Japanese.
Read the following - Source B by the Historian Brian Mimmack
Zhang agreed and stopped military action against the communists. Jiang went to meet Zhang
in Xian to find out why they were not obeying his orders. In desperation, Zhang placed Jiang
under house arrest, insisting he join with the communists to form a Second United Front in
1937 against the Japanese. In December 1936, Jiang reluctantly agreed and preparations were
started to initiate the Front. On 7 July 1937 Japan attacked China, bringing to an end the
Nanjing Decade, and the Sino-Japanese War broke out. Despite the political failings of the
GMD, China was more united in 1937 than it had been for years. The GMD had control of
approximately 25% of China and 66% of the population. The announcement of the Second
Front had helped to unify the people against a common enemy.
***THINK
How did the internal stability of the CPC and GMD differ?
Why does China seem more united than it had been for years?
What can we learn from this about Maos Rise to Power?