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Period: to
Taiping Rebellion
It was a part religious and part political movement that spread throughout southern China. It is considered one of the most important events of the 19th century. -
Humiliation by the European Powers
By Britain in the Opium War and by unequal treaties signed that gave imperialist powers control over Chinese trade, territory and sovereignty. -
Self-Strenghthening Movement
Lasting from 1861 to 1895 it was a response to the increasing Western influence and was an attempt to resist and redress the concessions that China was forced to agree. -
The overthrow of the Qing Dynasty
The ruling dynasty was replaced by a Republic after the Double Tenth Revolution. It began when the government lost control of the government. Since most of the population were in terrible living conditions they did not hesitate in supporting the military. -
Sun Yixian and the GMD
Sun Yixian was the leader of the nationalist party GMD. He wanted to modernize China by adopting Western political and economical methods and wanted to create a unified and democratic China. The GMD had Three Principles: Nationalism, Democracy and Livelihood. -
The Warlord Era
China broke into small states and provinces, each controlled by a military leader or warlord and his private army. These warlord ran their territories independently. None of the warlords wanted to give p their crave of power. It led to an increase in nationalism. -
The May Fourth Movement
It was a mass demostration made by students as an act of rebellion against warlords, traditional Chinese and Japanese culture. It was dedicated to change and bring a rebirth to China as a proud and independent country. It drew inspiration from the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917. -
The First United Front
As the GMD and the Chinese Communist Party or CCP shared some aims they united in the First United Front to eliminate the warlords and their armies. In the end they succeded within two years. -
The GMD attacks the CCP
The growing support of the people towards communism, raising workers in Shangai and Jiang´s anti-communism beliefs led him to expelle all communists from the GMD. -
White Terror
Jiang and the GMD murdered around 5,000 communists in Shangai and approximately a quarter of million people were killed in what is known as the "purification movement". With this Massacre the Civil War began as the CCP escaped to the mountains of Jiangsi and the GMD pursued them.
