10/21 Learning Objectives: Chinese Civil War

Learning objectives: Conditions (Impact of War)

To what extent did the impact of war lead to the emergence of an

authoritarian state?

Focus: Evaluate historians’ arguments

Bell ringer: Finish your analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the
GMD and CCP during the Chinese Civil War (1946-1949) --every point of
analysis (or box) should have pieces of evidence (battles, decisions, events
of the war, policy decisions)
Historians’ arguments
Source C
An extract from an academic book by the historians,
Odd Arne Westad, Restless Empire (Bodley Head,
2012), p.291.
The Communists won because they made fewer military
mistakes than the government and because Jiang Jieshi –
in his search for a powerful, centralized post-war state –
antagonized too many interest groups in the country.
Historians’ arguments
Source D
An extract from an academic book by the historian,
James Sheridan, China in Disintegration (Free Press,
1977), p.283.
… the central factor was unquestionably the mobilization
of vast numbers of Chinese, primarily peasants, into new
political, social, economic, and military organizations,
infused with a new purpose and a new spirit. This
mobilization largely accounted for the Communist victory
 Tug for Truth!

Task : Evaluate the historian’s arguments. Tug for truth

thinking routine
1. Choose one historian you agree with
most.
2. Use your post-its to write as many pieces
of evidence that support it and refute the
other historian’s argument.
3. You can also challenge the historian’s
arguments altogether by forming your
own opinion & citing evidence.