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End of Qing Dynasty
a group of revolutionaries in southern China led a successful revolt against the Qing Dynasty, establishing in its place the Republic of China and ending the imperial system. -
President Yuan Shikai
Sun Yat-sen offers Yuan Shikai the presidency in exchange for his military support to secure the abdication of the Qing.
February: Abdication of the Qing; Yuan Shikai is elected president and Beijing becomes the capital of the new republic. -
Governor`s Exchange
Yuan Shikai dissolves the National Assembly and implements a self-appointed cabinet. Provincial governors are replaced with military governors. -
Yuan Shikai's Death
Yuan Shikai abandons plans to revive the monarchy.
June: The death of Yuan Shikai further weakens the national government and increases the power of provincial warlords. -
China's Division
The Warlord Era. China is disunited and divided into fiefdoms, ruled by several powerful warlords who act in their own self interest. There is no effective national government. -
Formation Of Chinesse Communist Party (CCP)
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is formed; 13 delegates attend the party’s first congress in Shanghai.
November: Comintern representatives from Moscow enter China to assist and advise the CCP. -
Reign of Jiang Jieshi
Mao Zedong and Zhu De establish a guerrilla base in the Jingjang Mountains in Jiangxi.
A respected general, Jiang Jieshi led the Republic of China, the nationalists, against the Communist Party of China.
Mao drafts the ‘Eight Points of Attention’, a set of rules for communist soldiers to ensure they deal appropriately with Chinese peasants.
The Nanjing government is proclaimed under Chiang Kai-shek and the Guomindang; it is quickly recognised by foreign powers. -
Shangai's Massacre
Chiang Kai-shek orders a purge of communists with the help of the nationalists, beginning with raids, arrests and executions in Shanghai. Hundreds of CCP members are arrested, executed or missing.
June: The Comintern orders the recall of its advisors, in protest to the massacre of communists in Shanghai.
New National Republic of China is formed. -
Civil War
Nationalists does nothing to reform and improve China. No land reforms or open elections took place and peasants remained unhappy. Communists regain strength and beging war against Nationalists. -
Japan's invation to Manchuria
The Mukden Incident leads to a Japanese military occupation of Manchuria and the installation of a Japanese puppet regime. -
The Retreat- Long March
The Long March was the Communist Party's retreat during the civil war from Chinese Nationalist Army, which lasted for over 370 days. Mao Zedong was a stand out leader during the retreat, which led to many troop's support and approval of a new leader. As Mao's power began to grow, he gained respect among other generals and was eventually elected leader of the Communist National Party, and fought against the Chinese Nationalist Army in a series of civil wars, which led to Mao's vivictory in 1949. -
9th Dec Movement
Mass protests by students asking for the Nationalist government to resist the Japanese attacks. Despite interference from police, the protesters sent demands to the KMT and inspired other students across the country. -
Chiang Kai-shek's kidnapped
The Xian incident: Chiang Kai-shek is kidnapped by Zhang Xueliang and forced or persuaded to an anti-Japanese military alliance with the CCP. -
Japan's invation to China
The Marco Polo Bridge incident sparks a war with Japan and a full-scale invasion of China by Japanese troops. Nationalists and communists joined to fight Japan.
December: The Rape of Nanjing: Japanese forces occupy the Guomindang capitol Nanjing and engage in weeks of systematic violence, rape and murder. -
Battle of Taierzhuang
First Nationalist victory, broke belief that Japanese forces were invincible. Raised morale of soldiers after previous defeats. Lots of weapons were captured from the Japanese, helping the Nationalist war effort. -
World War II
Beginning with the German invasion of Poland; Britain and France declared war on Germany two days later. -
Pearl Harbor
The Japanese attack Pearl Harbour; the United States enters the war against Japan in Asia, focusing American interest more closely on China. -
Japan Surrenders
After WWII ends. Japanese forces in the Pacific and China surrender; the Sino-Japanese War comes to an end. -
Communist's Victory
With the wide and mass support of the peasants and workers, Mao Zedong defeats Jiang Jieshi and creates "The Peoples republic of China." -
Republic of China
Britain, like some countries in Europe formally recognises the People’s Republic of China as a sovereign nation.
