The Chinese Revolutions were organised under the leadership of Dr. Sun Yat Sen in 1911 and in the 1930’s and 1940’s under the leadership of Mao Zedong. The reasons are discussed below.
In the 20th century, China witnessed revolutions against foreign rule and monarchy. The colonial powers of Europe and America adopted policies in China, different from the ones they had implemented in the colonies of other parts of the world. They were opium trade and open door policy. As a result, many parts of China came under tile control of imperial powers. Chinese trade and industries were controlled by foreigners.
Role of Sun Yat Sen:
The Manchu dynasty that ruled China favoured the foreign interference and domination. In 1911, a revolution took place under the leadership of Sun Yat Sen against the Manchu dynasty. This ended monarchy in China. After the revolution, Kuomintang Party established a republican government in Southern China under the leadership of Sun Yat Sen.
He gave importance to ideologies like nationalism, democracy and socialism. He advocated to nullify the unjust treaties signed with the foreign countries and wanted to maintain equality with the western countries. The Kuomintang republic adopted measures for the progress of agriculture and industry.
The Chinese Communist Party was formed during this time. In the beginning, the Kuomintang and the Communists cooperated with each other. But this cooperation was disturbed when Chiang Kaishek became the head of the republic following the death of Sun Yat Sen.
Role of Mao Zedong:
Mao Zedong was the leader of Chinese Communist Party. Chiang Kaishek ascertained military autocracy in China. He gave opportunity for foreign powers including America to freely interfere in China and did not co-operate with the Communists. Coal and industries, banking and foreign trade were all controlled by foreign countries. The Communists protested against the policy of Chiang. They were brutally suppressed.
At that time, Mao Zedong rose to the leadership of the Communist Party. In 1934, under the leadership of Mao Zedong, an adventurous journey started from Kiangsi in South China to Yanan in North Western China. Throughout the journey, they seized out agricultural lands and villages from lords and distributed them among the farmers.
The journey covered around 12000 kms. So it is known as the ‘Long March’. Mao Zedong and the Communist Party became the symbol of the struggle of the Chinese against foreign power. The Red Army under the leadership of Mao Zedong captured Nanking, the capital of Kuomintang government in April 1949. So Chiang-Kaishek had to seek political asylum in Taiwan. China became the People’s Republic of China on 1st October 1949 under the leadership of Mao Zedong.
