Survey of Chinese History in the Twentieth Century (China Connections)

This book presents a panoramic history of the Chinese nation spanning the twentieth century, with the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation as its central theme. In their unwavering pursuit of national independence, universal emancipation, and a country of power and shared prosperity, the Chinese people undertook an arduous journey that saw China fundamentally transformed by such historic events and experiences as the overthrow of the imperial system in the 1911 Revolution, the founding of the People’s Republic of China..reform and opening up, and the construction of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Massive in scope, meticulously documented, and rigorously written, this volume has few rivals among general histories of China in the twentieth century.. Introduction Contents 1 China’s Arrival in the Twentieth Century An Unprecedented Crisis Following Defeat in the First Sino-Japanese War Intellectual Liberation Ushered in by the Hundred Days’ Reform The Tragic Fate of the Boxer Rebellion 2 The 1911 Revolution that Toppled the Absolute Monarchy Coming of the Revolutionary Storm The Rise of New Social Forces The Beginning of Sun Yat-Sen’s Revolutionary Campaign The Wuchang Uprising and the Founding of the Republic of China The Successes and Failures of the Revolution 3 The Rule of the Beiyang Warlords The General Public Mentality Following Victory in the 1911 Revolution Yuan Shikai’s Arrogation of Power The National Protection Movement Opposing Yuan Shikai’s Self-Proclamation as Emperor The Warlord Era and the Emergence of Internecine Warfare 4 The New Awakening Stirred by the May Fourth Movement The Early New Culture Movement Onslaught of the May Fourth Storm How Marxism Became the New Ideological Mainstream 5 The Birth of the Communist Party of China The Founding of the Communist Party of China The First National Congress of the Communist Party of China Drafting a Program for Democratic Revolution 6 The National Revolution to “Overthrow the Great Powers and Drive Out the Warlords” Social Causes for the Rise of the Great Revolution The Shift Toward Cooperation Between the Communist and Nationalist Parties The New Era Ushered in by the First National Congress of the Nationalist Party The Upsurge in Chiang Kai-Shek’s Anti-Communist Activities The Northern Expedition and the Swift Rise of Worker and Peasant Movements The April 12 Purge and the Failure of the Great Revolution 7 The Early Years of the Nanjing Government The Metamorphosis of the Nationalist Party Widespread Factional Warfare Socioeconomic Conditions A Major Shift in Japan’s Policy of Aggression Against China 8 The Struggles of the Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army Taking Up Arms for Resistance Assessment of the State of the Revolution at the Sixth National Congress of the Communist Party of China From the Struggle in the Jinggang Mountains to the Gutian Congress The “Lisan Agenda” and the Fourth Plenary Session of the Sixth Central Committee of the Communist Party of China The Red Army’s Victories in Three Counter-Encirclement Campaigns 9 The Chinese People Face Their Greatest Peril The Mukden Incident That Shocked China and the World “Domestic Pacification Before Resistance Against Foreign Aggression” and the Two Later Encirclement Campaigns The Red Army’s Long March and the Zunyi Conference Incidents in North China and the Rising Tide of Resistance Against Japan for National Salvation The Second Effort for Cooperation Between the Communist and Nationalist Parties 10 Eruption of the National War of Resistance The Japanese Militarists’ Doctrine of “Taking the Whole of China at One Stroke” and the Lugou Bridge Incident Early Battles on the Front and the Creation of Base Areas Behind Enemy Lines Wuhan During the Early War of Resistance From the Battle of Xuzhou to the Defense of Wuhan 11 Stalemate in the War of Resistance An Evolving Stalemate: The Front and the Battlefields Behind Enemy Lines A Crisis in Communist-Nationalist Cooperation and the Publication of on New Democracy The Evolving International Situation A Deepening Crisis in the Areas Under Nationalist Rule A New Atmosphere in the Communist Party of China’s Democratic Base Areas for Resistance Against Japanese Aggression 12 On the Verge of Victory The Rout in the Battle of Henan-Hunan-Guangxi and the Sea Change in Popular Sentiment on the Home Front The Proposal of a Coalition Government and the Formation of American Anti-Communist Policies in Support of Chiang Kai-shek The Seventh National Congress of the Communist Party of China and the Sixth National Congress of the Nationalist Party Japan’s Unconditional Surrender 13 The Collapse of Peaceful Nation-Building and the Outbreak of Civil War The Chongqing Negotiations and the Double Tenth Agreement The Marshall Mission and the Political Consultative Conference The Outbreak of Total Civil War Foiling of the Nationalist Army’s Shift to Key Offensives Formation of the Second Front 14 Striving for National Victory in the Democratic Revolution The Transformation of the Rural Land System Consolidation and Expansion of the People’s United Democratic Front Complete Financial and Economic Collapse in the Areas Under Nationalist Rule Three Major Strategic Campaigns Pursuing Revolution to the End 15 The Chinese People Stand Up Founding of the People’s Republic of China New China’s First Year Formation of the Early Diplomatic Landscape 16 The War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea Difficult yet Resolute Decisions The Five Phases and the Domestic Campaign to Resist America and Assist Korea Peace Negotiations Amidst Ongoing Fighting and the Signing of the Armistice Agreement 17 Broad Social Reforms and the Recovery of the National Economy Land Reforms and Other Social Reforms The “Three Oppositions” and “Five Oppositions” Campaigns Full Recovery of the National Economy 18 The Establishment of a Basic Socialist System Proposal of the General Line for the Transitional Period Establishment of the People’s Congress System Socialist Industrialization Cooperativization of Agriculture and the Handicraft Industry The Socialist Transformation of Capitalist Industry and Commerce Striving to Create a Peaceful International Environment Historical Significance of the Establishment of a Basic Socialist System 19 Advancing the Construction of Socialism Amidst Setbacks Early Successful Explorations From the Rectification of Work Styles to the Anti-Rightist Campaign The Launch of the Great Leap Forward The Shelling of Kinmen and Suppression of the Xizang Uprising Preliminary Efforts to Rectify the Left and the Reversal at the Lushan Conference The Seven Thousand Cadres Conference and Comprehensive Restructuring Raising the Topic of Class Struggle Once Again The Fracturing of Sino-Soviet Relations The Socialist Education Movement The Success of the Five-Year Restructuring Two Trends of Development in a Decade of Exploration 20 The Cultural Revolution’s Decade of Turmoil Why the Cultural Revolution Took Place The Beginning of the Cultural Revolution and the Total Seizure of Power From the Ninth National Congress to the Tenth National Congress Opening up a New Era for Diplomatic Relations The Intense Struggle Surrounding the Fourth National People’s Congress Deng Xiaoping’s Comprehensive Rectifications Smashing the Gang of Four at One Stroke 21 A Historic Turning Point Two Years of Wavering Progress The Third Plenary Session of the Eleventh Central Committee of the Communist Party of China The Restoration of Order and the Launch of Comprehensive Opening and Reforms 22 Holding Aloft the Banner of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics Major Decisions at the Twelfth National Congress and the Third Plenary Session of the Twelfth Central Committee The Comprehensive Launch of the Opening and Reforms Actively Pursuing the Great Cause of National Reunification 23 Valiantly Forging Ahead Through Hardships Establishment of the Basic Agenda for the Primary Stage of Socialism New Situations and New Problems While Moving Forward The Political Crisis of 1989 Improvement and Rectification Following the Fourth Plenary Session of the Thirteenth Central Committee 24 Establishing a Socialist Market Economy Deng Xiaoping’s Southern Tour and the Fourteenth National Congress of the Communist Party of China Strengthening Macroeconomic Regulation and Control The General Advancement of Reforms and the Success of the Soft Landing The Return of Hong Kong and Macao to the Motherland and the Taiwan Question 25 Welcoming in a New Century The Fifteenth National Congress of the Communist Party of China Addressing Two Significant Challenges Two Weighty Decisions The Final Year of the Twentieth Century This book presents a panoramic history of the Chinese nation spanning the twentieth century, with the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation as its central theme. In their unwavering pursuit of national independence, universal emancipation, and a country of power and shared prosperity, the Chinese people undertook an arduous journey that saw China fundamentally transformed by such historic events and experiences as the overthrow of the imperial system in the 1911 Revolution, the founding of the People’s Republic of China, reform and opening up, and the construction of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Massive in scope, meticulously documented, and rigorously written, this volume has few rivals among general histories of China in the twentieth century.