History of ChinaHistory of China

Imperial to Socialist to . . . . ?Imperial to Socialist to . . . . ?

The Power of Imperial ChinaThe Power of Imperial China

1414thth century century

Largest Empire in the World in 1300Largest Empire in the World in 1300AgricultureAgriculture; rice, later corn, sweet potatoes & peanuts; rice, later corn, sweet potatoes & peanuts

Mining;Mining; salt, silver, tin, iron = $, jobs & products salt, silver, tin, iron = $, jobs & products

IndustryIndustry: silk, cotton, porcelain, black powder: silk, cotton, porcelain, black powder

Marco PoloMarco Polo

Chinese culture was Chinese culture was revered, respected by revered, respected by the west. the west.

Establishes Silk Road Establishes Silk Road giving Europeans access giving Europeans access to prized Chinese goodsto prized Chinese goods

SilkSilk

CottonCotton

PorcelainPorcelain

Black powderBlack powder

IsolationismIsolationism

China becomes China becomes increasingly increasingly isolationist and elitist.isolationist and elitist.China turned its back China turned its back on the worldon the worldChinese culture Chinese culture becomes stagnant & becomes stagnant & conservative. conservative. China fails to keep up China fails to keep up with the west.with the west.

Industrial EraIndustrial Era

China fails to industrialize.China fails to industrialize.

Industrial Britain reigns supreme in the Industrial Britain reigns supreme in the westwest

British build their empire all the way to British build their empire all the way to India. India.

British replace Spanish & Portuguese as British replace Spanish & Portuguese as primary tradersprimary traders

Opium WarsOpium Wars

1800’s: Brits run out 1800’s: Brits run out of silver & replace it of silver & replace it w/trading Opium (from India)w/trading Opium (from India)

Rates of Opium addiction Rates of Opium addiction in China skyrocket; Opium in China skyrocket; Opium use becomes a Chinese use becomes a Chinese epidemic. epidemic.

China bans OpiumChina bans OpiumOpium wars (1848) fought over British right to Opium wars (1848) fought over British right to sell Opium in China. sell Opium in China. British win; lead to British “extraterritorial rights”British win; lead to British “extraterritorial rights”

China is a Paper TigerChina is a Paper Tiger

Chinese defeat in the Chinese defeat in the Opium Wars exposes Opium Wars exposes an outdated militaryan outdated military

China is un-industrialized, China is un-industrialized, fails to keep up with the fails to keep up with the west. west.

Others gain “spheres of Others gain “spheres of influence” in Chinese influence” in Chinese

ports: ports: – USUS– Russia Russia – PortugalPortugal– GermanyGermany

Boxer RebellionBoxer Rebellion1899 Open Door Policy creates resentment for Westerners.1899 Open Door Policy creates resentment for Westerners.““Society for Harmonious Fists” (Boxers) established to combat Society for Harmonious Fists” (Boxers) established to combat Western InfluenceWestern InfluenceStages anti foreign rebellions in Tianjin & Beijing; killed over 200 Stages anti foreign rebellions in Tianjin & Beijing; killed over 200 westerners.westerners.Empress Cixi (SU-shi) voices support for rebellion but fails to act.Empress Cixi (SU-shi) voices support for rebellion but fails to act.Combined western armies crush rebellion.Combined western armies crush rebellion.

Government corruption leads to Government corruption leads to failed reform attempts failed reform attempts

Empress Cixi resists changeEmpress Cixi resists change

One summer while she is away her One summer while she is away her nephew tries to make changes, he’s nephew tries to make changes, he’s thrown out upon her return.thrown out upon her return.

1902: Empress Cixi promises to study 1902: Empress Cixi promises to study western countries, create a fully western countries, create a fully constitutional gov. in 15 years (by 1917).constitutional gov. in 15 years (by 1917).

Revolution! Revolution!

1912 1912 Sun Yixian’sSun Yixian’s Nationalist movement Nationalist movement overthrows Monarchyoverthrows Monarchy

Sun turns control over Sun turns control over to to General Yuan ShikaiGeneral Yuan Shikai

China enters WWI China enters WWI 1916, General Shikai 1916, General Shikai

dies (dies (civil war ensuescivil war ensues))1919 Versailles treaty1919 Versailles treaty1925 1925 Sun Yixian diesSun Yixian dies, succeeded by , succeeded by Chang Kai Chang Kai ShekShek

Nationalists vs. CommunistsNationalists vs. Communistscommunists (who are communists (who are aided by Lenin) are a aided by Lenin) are a significant portion of the significant portion of the Chinese nationalist Chinese nationalist movement.movement.At first, Chiang Kai Shek At first, Chiang Kai Shek promises to give them a promises to give them a voice in the movement. voice in the movement. Shek (supported by Shek (supported by Western capitalists) sees Western capitalists) sees communists as a threat; communists as a threat; tries to eliminate from tries to eliminate from Membership in the Membership in the nationalist movement. nationalist movement.

Civil warCivil war

Chiang Kai Shek’s nationalists vs. Mao Chiang Kai Shek’s nationalists vs. Mao Zedong’s communists (1918-1949)Zedong’s communists (1918-1949)Nationalists are better organized and have Nationalists are better organized and have better financial backing (West), score better financial backing (West), score initial victories.initial victories.

WWII puts fighting on hold.WWII puts fighting on hold.– Japanese “Rape of Nanking”Japanese “Rape of Nanking”

Communists turn the tideCommunists turn the tideMao takes his communists on Mao takes his communists on the “Long March” across China, the “Long March” across China, engaging Chiang’s nationalists engaging Chiang’s nationalists strategically in guerilla warfarestrategically in guerilla warfare

With further aid from Stalin, With further aid from Stalin, Mao’s communists defeat Mao’s communists defeat Chiang’s nationalists.Chiang’s nationalists.

Chiang Kai Shek flees to Chiang Kai Shek flees to Taiwan.Taiwan.

Emergence of Socialist rule: Emergence of Socialist rule: The The People’s Republic of ChinaPeople’s Republic of China

MaoMaoRulesRules

Collectivizes AgricultureCollectivizes Agriculturehttp://web.uncg.edu/dcl/courses/video_archive/jwjones/world/china/ChinaLandReform.rm?clohttp://web.uncg.edu/dcl/courses/video_archive/jwjones/world/china/ChinaLandReform.rm?cloakport=8554,554,7070akport=8554,554,7070

~5 million landlords & “undesirables” were ~5 million landlords & “undesirables” were killed in the collectivization processkilled in the collectivization process

~40% of Chinese land changed hands during ~40% of Chinese land changed hands during the early 1950’s.the early 1950’s.

http://web.uncg.edu/dcl/courses/china/u1/lesson1part3.asp

The The People’s People’s Republic?Republic?

Early economic successes & Soviet Early economic successes & Soviet assistance lead to increases in quality of assistance lead to increases in quality of life (qol)life (qol)

Production is back at pre-war levels.Production is back at pre-war levels.

Mao decides to open the government to Mao decides to open the government to public feedback. public feedback. – 100 flowers campaign backfires.100 flowers campaign backfires.– Mao is scarredMao is scarred

Economic Changes ContinueEconomic Changes Continue

Private businesses & entrepreneurial Private businesses & entrepreneurial activities were gradually eliminated.activities were gradually eliminated.

GREAT LEAP FORWARD (farming)GREAT LEAP FORWARD (farming)– Mao orders all peasants organized in to Mao orders all peasants organized in to

communescommunes– All food was for “the state”All food was for “the state”– Peasants were required to form cottage industries Peasants were required to form cottage industries

smelting iron.smelting iron.– GLF is a miserable failure; results in 40+ million of GLF is a miserable failure; results in 40+ million of

deaths and useless/wasted iron.deaths and useless/wasted iron.

http://web.uncg.edu/dcl/courses/video_archive/jwjones/world/china/ChinaWorkers.rm?cloakport=8554,554,7070

Foreign RelationsForeign Relations

Stalin Snubs Mao Stalin Snubs Mao

Soviets continue to give Chinese military & Soviets continue to give Chinese military & financial aidfinancial aid

Chinese criticize Soviet “softness” with the Chinese criticize Soviet “softness” with the west in 1960’s, sever tieswest in 1960’s, sever ties

Cultural revolutionCultural revolution

Mao wanted to unify China in a communist Mao wanted to unify China in a communist culture culture Elimination of anti-communists “rightists” in Elimination of anti-communists “rightists” in Chinese cultureChinese cultureFocused on youth: Red guardsFocused on youth: Red guardsWitch hunts targeted Witch hunts targeted – IntellectualsIntellectuals– JournalistsJournalists– TeachersTeachers– ArtistsArtists– priests. priests.

President Nixon Visits President Nixon Visits China (’72)China (’72)

Nixon called it: “The week that Nixon called it: “The week that changed the world”changed the world”

11stst American TV images of China American TV images of China in decadesin decades

Nixon quoted from Mao Nixon quoted from Mao "Seize "Seize the hour! Seize the day! . . . . for the hour! Seize the day! . . . . for our two peoples to rise to the our two peoples to rise to the heights of greatness which can heights of greatness which can build a new and better world”build a new and better world”

Sent a clear and dramatic Sent a clear and dramatic message to everyone watching message to everyone watching that a new relationship was being that a new relationship was being forged.forged.

Mao’s Mao’s DemiseDemise

Suffered a serious stroke in 1972Suffered a serious stroke in 1972

Paranoia led to massive purges of party leadership, Paranoia led to massive purges of party leadership, including future party chairman Deng Xiaopingincluding future party chairman Deng Xiaoping

Died in 1976Died in 1976

Deng Xiaoping (’76-’81)Deng Xiaoping (’76-’81)Likeable: Likeable: – moderate; fought against moderate; fought against

radicals in communist partyradicals in communist party– IntelligentIntelligent– PracticalPractical– LikeableLikeable

Tried to help rehabilitate Tried to help rehabilitate victims of the Cultural victims of the Cultural Revolution Revolution

Deng spearheads reformsDeng spearheads reforms

Deng sought (with the support of party Deng sought (with the support of party leadership) to put the 4 Modernizations at leadership) to put the 4 Modernizations at the top of China's agenda:the top of China's agenda:– AgricultureAgriculture– IndustryIndustry– science and technologyscience and technology– defense defense

Deng spearheads reformsDeng spearheads reforms

Ended class labels & discrimination based Ended class labels & discrimination based on classon class

Promotion within the party based more on Promotion within the party based more on rank than loyalty (switch from Mao’s era)rank than loyalty (switch from Mao’s era)

Created a new Created a new state constitutionstate constitution that that emphasized the rule of law under which emphasized the rule of law under which even party leaders are theoretically held even party leaders are theoretically held accountableaccountable

Reforms continue in the 80’sReforms continue in the 80’s

Open Door PolicyOpen Door Policy– Allowed foreign investment in China & foreign Allowed foreign investment in China & foreign

exchangeexchange– U.S. grants China “More favored nation” trade statusU.S. grants China “More favored nation” trade status

Rural ReformRural Reform– DecollectivizationDecollectivization– Allowing rural & urban marketsAllowing rural & urban markets– Creation of new farming businesses (privatizing?)Creation of new farming businesses (privatizing?)

Industrial reformsIndustrial reforms– Relaxing of central government controlsRelaxing of central government controls– Allow businesses to retain profitsAllow businesses to retain profits– Banking reformsBanking reforms

Tiananmen SquareTiananmen SquareApril 22 - 100,000 students gather in the square April 22 - 100,000 students gather in the square to petition the government for change: to petition the government for change: democracydemocracy

Tiananmen squareTiananmen square

June 3 – After weeks June 3 – After weeks of failed negotiations of failed negotiations with students, with students, Chinese army uses Chinese army uses tanks & armored tanks & armored vehicles to re-take vehicles to re-take Tiananmen square by Tiananmen square by force, killing over force, killing over 1,000 students.1,000 students.

BacklashBacklash

International community (& U.S.) International community (& U.S.) expressed concern over Chinese actionsexpressed concern over Chinese actions

China fails to acknowledge any mis-China fails to acknowledge any mis-handling of the protestshandling of the protests

Modern ChinaModern China

1992: China announces a move to a “Socialist 1992: China announces a move to a “Socialist Market economy” (?) abandoning traditional Market economy” (?) abandoning traditional communist goals.communist goals.Opened State controlled businesses (SOE’s) to Opened State controlled businesses (SOE’s) to open to the stock exchange (the state would open to the stock exchange (the state would always retain the majority)always retain the majority)Admitted to the World Trade Organization Admitted to the World Trade Organization (WTO) and agreed to “open telecommunications (WTO) and agreed to “open telecommunications & banking sectors to foreign competition & & banking sectors to foreign competition & investment” investment” ((http://www.coba.unr.edu/faculty/parker/econ305/econ305f04lec5a.pdfhttp://www.coba.unr.edu/faculty/parker/econ305/econ305f04lec5a.pdf))

China has the largest trade surplus with the US China has the largest trade surplus with the US of any country in the world, but also has millions of any country in the world, but also has millions unemployed. unemployed.

Modern ChinaModern China