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