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Manchu dynasty
In 1644, the Manchus, a semi-nomadic people from northern of the great wall, conquered the crumbling Ming state and established their own Qing or pure dynasty, which lasted 300 years. They established their homogeny over chinese cultural traditions as an important means of demonstrating their legitimacy as confusio-.style rule. -
First Opium Wars
The conflict began, due the application of mercantilistic measures taken by the emperor, in order to stop the western powers take advantage of them. Then, applying a series of rules and guidelines to have control over the trade of demanded goods in China. However, this measures affected the British economy, in an unprecedented way, due 10% of goverment revenue depended on Black tea exports from China, thus causing a military conflict because of the establishment of opium market in China -
Taiping rebellion
The taiping rebellion was a radical, political and religious movement, considered as one of the most important events in modern chinese history. It lasted 14 years and it involved the participation of 17 provinces and it meant the lost of more than 20 million lives, altering the political order of the Qing dynasty. -
Double Tenth-Revolution
In October 1911, the weak Manchu dynasty was overthrown by the Double Tenth-Revolution, which began with the goverment lost control of the military. Most provinces declared themselves independent from the central goverment in Beijing. In november 1911, delegates from the independent provinces gathered in Nianjing to declare the creation of a chinese republic and inviting Dr. Sun Yixian to be the president. -
The mandate of heaven
Yuan Shikai ruled as a military dictator in China. In the 1913 general elections,the Guomindang won the majority of the seats in the National Assembly. Nonetheless, Yuan Shikai wasn't wiiling to share power. In december 1915, Yuan accepted "The mandate of heaven" , which is the right od the emperor to rule all land. However, there were multiple groups who oppose his plans. Therefore, after the presentation of the twenty one demands he dropped his plans. He died shortly after of a stroke. -
Warlord era
After the death of Yuan Shikai, the central goverment in Beijing fell apart. This meant, that China was controlled by generals or military leaders who opposed Yuan rule, establishing their control in whole provinces. There were hundreds of warlords who were only interested in their own interest and wealth, not to help their people. During this time, warlords were constantly fighting for control, thus enlisting peasants into their armies and governing with great severity. -
May Fourth Movement
The May Fourth Movement was an student demonstration against the Versailles treaty setllements, warlords and traditional chinese culture. Inspired by the Bolchevik revolution in Russia, it was dedicated to the transformation and rebirth of China as a proud and independent nation. -
First United Front
GMD and CCP agreed to work alongside for the unification and liberation of China. For that purpose, they formed a "united front" in order to get rid of the warlords and to free China from the influence and interference of western powers. Despite Soviet links, Jiang J as leader of the GMD, expelled communist from ranks of the party and promoted a anti-communist idelology within the members. However, their alliance with the CCP was essential to eliminate their common obstacle to unify China -
Northern Expedition
The GMD and CCP established on the "Northern Expedition" to defeat the Warlords of northern and central China. By 1927, they had captured: Hangzhou, Shangai and Nanjing, Beijing until 1928. The front, within two years, had managed to destroy the power and influence of the warlords. Consequently, the GMD announced the establisment of a legitimate goverment in China, with a new capital and governamental workforce in Nanjing. -
Purification Movement
The GMD carried attacks in multiple cities in the called "Purification Movement", which meant the massacre of thousands of communist, trade unionist and peasant leaders, almost a quarter of a million were killed. Therefore, the CCP decided to leave to the mountains of Jianshi in an attempt of survival, nevertheless, the GMD pursued them to destroy them. Then, the civil war begun.
