After May 4 1919—new debate about After May 4 1919—new debate about nature and speed of change necessary nature and speed of change necessary for Chinafor China

Gradual Gradual culturalcultural changes will eventually changes will eventually lead to the types of political change we lead to the types of political change we as a generation wantas a generation want

Rapid Rapid politicalpolitical changes are necessary, changes are necessary, they will guide cultural changethey will guide cultural change

Chinese Society in the 1920sChinese Society in the 1920sRural Communities in DeclineRural Communities in Decline

Flood/Drought cycle continues in many Flood/Drought cycle continues in many destitute placesdestitute places

Average landholdings per family 3-5 Average landholdings per family 3-5 acresacres

Most families rent part of their Most families rent part of their landholdings from wealthier, landowning landholdings from wealthier, landowning class—50-70% of harvest goes to rentclass—50-70% of harvest goes to rent

Predatory activity of warlord armies Predatory activity of warlord armies taking their tolltaking their toll

State “involution”State “involution”

Urban China 1920sUrban China 1920s

Coastal cities like Shanghai—the forefront Coastal cities like Shanghai—the forefront of New Culture—centers of student activismof New Culture—centers of student activism

New Consumer culture New Consumer culture Growing middle classGrowing middle class Rising urban labor force—a target for Rising urban labor force—a target for

Nationalism and Communist mobilizationNationalism and Communist mobilization New opportunities for women, but also New opportunities for women, but also

exploitationexploitation May 30May 30thth 1925: Power of popular 1925: Power of popular

nationalismnationalism

Hu Shi Hu Shi (1891-1961) (1891-1961) 胡适胡适 leading voice for a kind leading voice for a kind

of liberal pragmatism of liberal pragmatism evolution not revolution evolution not revolution Opens the debate with Opens the debate with

an article: an article: ““More Study More Study of Problems, Less Talk of Problems, Less Talk of Ismsof Isms””

DonDon’’t cling to t cling to ““ismsisms”” like like Marxism, etc. as all for Marxism, etc. as all for one solutions to Chinaone solutions to China ’’s s problemsproblems

Li Dazhao (Li Ta-chao) (1889-Li Dazhao (Li Ta-chao) (1889-1927) 1927) 李大钊李大钊

First to interpret and First to interpret and spread Marxism in spread Marxism in ChinaChina

Revolution not EvolutionRevolution not Evolution Direct political action Direct political action

nownow Marxism is an all-Marxism is an all-

encompassing solution encompassing solution for China’s problemsfor China’s problems

Influenced by success of Influenced by success of Russian Revolution Russian Revolution 19171917

Chinese Communist Party Chinese Communist Party 共产党共产党Soviet Union as model: Karakhan Soviet Union as model: Karakhan

Declaration 1919Declaration 1919Role of the Comintern and Soviet Role of the Comintern and Soviet

advisorsadvisorsChen Duxiu, Li Dazhao: early leadersChen Duxiu, Li Dazhao: early leaders““bloc within”: Chinese communist party bloc within”: Chinese communist party

unites with Nationalist partyunites with Nationalist party Initially a successful alliance between Initially a successful alliance between

the twothe twoWork-Study in France, Soviet UnionWork-Study in France, Soviet Union

Chinese MarxismChinese Marxism

An exciting, powerful concept in the An exciting, powerful concept in the 1920s, not the failure we think of today1920s, not the failure we think of today

Class struggle and nationalismClass struggle and nationalism: get rid : get rid of oppressive classes= strong nationof oppressive classes= strong nation

SpeedSpeed: no time to play catch up: China : no time to play catch up: China can and must leap into socialismcan and must leap into socialism

Peasants:Peasants: for Li Dazhao and Mao, they for Li Dazhao and Mao, they are the key to revolution, are the key to revolution, but but in the in the revolution of the 1920s, not all revolution of the 1920s, not all Communists share this view.Communists share this view.

The Nationalist Party: The Nationalist Party: GuomindangGuomindang 国民党 国民党

The return of Sun Yat-senThe return of Sun Yat-senSoviet advisors: Mikhail BorodinSoviet advisors: Mikhail Borodin““democratic centralismdemocratic centralism”” and party and party

organizationorganizationSunSun’’s Ideology revisited: the Three s Ideology revisited: the Three

Principles of the PeoplePrinciples of the PeopleFactions: rightist, leftist, Factions: rightist, leftist,

center/militarycenter/military

Mikhail Borodin(Mikhail Borodin(1884-1948) 1884-1948)

Chiang Kai-shek (Jiang Jieshi)Chiang Kai-shek (Jiang Jieshi)蒋介石蒋介石 (1888-1975)(1888-1975)

A military manA military manUnderworld connections in ShanghaiUnderworld connections in ShanghaiHeads the Whampoa military academy Heads the Whampoa military academy

in 1924in 1924A centrist: but distrustful of the left, of A centrist: but distrustful of the left, of

Soviets, and of Chinese communistsSoviets, and of Chinese communistsHeads the National Revolutionary Heads the National Revolutionary

Army of the Nationalist PartyArmy of the Nationalist Party