The Rise of Nationalism in China

• Chinese nationalism

  Fueled by their experience of Western and Japanese imperialism
• The Chinese considered themselves as the most powerful and most important of all empires
• Because of their defeat from the British, western powers took advantage of them
• Taiping Rebellion

  • A secret society established by Hong Xiuguan who claimed to have had religious visions where he himself as a younger brother of Jesus Christ
  • He declared himself ruler of the "Heavenly Kin Great Peace"
  • He launched a rebellion against the Qing dynasty, the Westerners aided the dynasty to safeguard their economic interest in China
• Boxer Rebellion/Righteous Harmonious Fists

  • Formed with the goal of driving out the "foreign devils"
  • They attacked foreign communities
  • The westerners formed a multinational force to crush the rebellion but it fanned the flames of Chinese nationalism even stronger
• Sun Yixian (Sun Yat-sen)


  • Organized a Revolutionary Alliance to institute the much needed reforms in order for China to survive
  • Led the Chinese Revolution which took place which overthrew the Qing (Manchu) Dynasty, ending Imperial China
• Sun Yixian (Sun Yat-sen) Three Principles of the People


  • Nationalism is the principle that foresaw political unification and ending foreign control
  • Democracy is the principle that calls for gradual change to democratic government with full personal liberties and rights for all
  • People's Rights and Livelihood, the principle that would give economic improvements, including reforms, industrialization and economic security for all Chinese
• Yuan Shikai


  • Became the first president of Republic of China
  • Betrayed the principles of the revolution which ignited local revolts in China
• May Fourth Movement


  • An intellectual revolution and sociopolitical reform movement that occurred in China in 1917-21
  • Directed toward national independence, emancipation of the individual, and rebuilding society and culture
  • An anti-imperialist, cultural, and political movement which grew out of student protests in Beijing on 4 May 1919
  • Started in Tiananmen Square
• Mao Zedong


  • Supported the students protest
  • Established the Communist Party in China
  • Gained the support of the peasants
  • Red Army- refers to communist army
• Hammer and Sickle


  • The hammer stands for the industrial working class
  • The sickle represents the agricultural workers, therefore together they represent the unity of the two groups
• Chiang Kai-shek


  • Replaced Sun Yat-sen as the leader of the Kuomintang Party
  • Became the President of the Nationalist Republic of China in 1928
  • Waged a war against the Communists
• Long March (October 16,1934-October 22,1935)


  • A 6,000 mile-long journey led by Mao
  • The Long March was a military retreat undertaken the Red Army of the Communists Party of China, the forerunner of the People's Liberation Army to evade the pursuit of kuomintang army led by Chiang Kai Shiek
• Formosa (Taiwan)


  In 1949, Chiang Kai-shek and the Nationalist fled to the island of Taiwan, leaving the mainland to the communist, who in turn established the People's Republic of China
• The success of communism in China was partly due to the weakness of the Kuomintang Party. It failed to make reforms that would uplift the living conditions of the peasants. The Communist executed an effective land reforms, thereby lifting the morale of the people.