History - 4HI1 PearsonEdexcel

China: Conflict, Crisis And Change, 1900-89

Overview

China entered the twentieth century ruled by a dynasty that had lasted more than 250 years and was about to be swept away in six weeks. It ended the period this study covers as a nuclear-armed state opening special economic zones to foreign capital, and it passed through warlordism, foreign invasion, civil war, the largest famine in recorded history and a decade of political violence to get there.

Because this is a breadth study, the marks lie in the pattern rather than the narrative. Which moments were genuine turning points, and which only look like turning points from a distance? Why did a revolution built on the peasantry then impose policies that killed peasants in enormous numbers? And how far did anything fundamental about how China was governed change between 1949 and 1989?

Objectives

  1. The fall of the Qing, Warlordism and chaos, 1900-34: the Boxer Uprising, late Qing reforms, the 1911 Revolution, the Warlords, the May Fourth Movement, Sun Yat-sen, Chiang Kai-shek, the Chinese Communist Party, the United Front, the Northern Expedition, the Shanghai Massacres
  2. The triumph of Mao and the CCP, 1934-49: the Long March, the war with Japan, the role of the CCP, the Civil War, reasons for the success of Mao
  3. Change under Mao, 1949-63: changes in agriculture and industry, the first Five-year Plan, changes in the role of women, Thought Reform, the Hundred Flowers Campaign, the Great Leap Forward, the influence of the Soviet Union
  4. The Cultural Revolution and its impact, 1965-76: Mao's motives, the Red Guards, education and the cult of Mao, the impact of the Cultural Revolution, the Sino-Soviet split
  5. China, 1976-89: the Gang of Four, changes under Deng in education, birth control, agriculture and industry, privatisation and westernisation, the Democracy Wall movement, Tiananmen Square

Lesson Note

Three questions recur across the whole period. Who has the right to rule, and on what basis: the mandate of a dynasty, a republican constitution, a party claiming to speak for the workers and peasants? How should China relate to foreign powers that had humiliated it? And how should a vast, mostly rural society be modernised, from above by the state or from below by the market? Every regime in this period, Qing, Nationalist and Communist, answered those three questions differently, and every one of them was eventually judged on the third.

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Lesson Evaluation

Congratulations on completing the lesson on China: Conflict, Crisis And Change, 1900-89. Now that youve explored the key concepts and ideas, its time to put your knowledge to the test. This section offers a variety of practice questions designed to reinforce your understanding and help you gauge your grasp of the material.

You will encounter a mix of question types, including multiple-choice questions, short answer questions, and essay questions. Each question is thoughtfully crafted to assess different aspects of your knowledge and critical thinking skills.

Use this evaluation section as an opportunity to reinforce your understanding of the topic and to identify any areas where you may need additional study. Don't be discouraged by any challenges you encounter; instead, view them as opportunities for growth and improvement.

  1. Which reform of 1905 removed the traditional route into the Qing civil service? A) The creation of provincial assemblies B) The abolition of the imperial examination system C) The founding of a modern army D) The Boxer Protocol Answer: B
  2. In which year was the Chinese Communist Party founded? A) 1911 B) 1919 C) 1921 D) 1927 Answer: C
  3. What happened at the Zunyi Conference in January 1935? A) The Nationalists and Communists formed the Second United Front B) Mao secured a dominant position in the Communist leadership C) The People's Republic was proclaimed D) The Gang of Four were arrested Answer: B
  4. The Hundred Flowers Campaign of 1956 and 1957 was followed by: A) The First Five-Year Plan B) The Anti-Rightist Campaign, in which many critics were punished C) The founding of special economic zones D) The Long March Answer: B
  5. Which of these was a feature of Deng Xiaoping's reforms after 1978? A) The creation of people's communes B) The household responsibility system in agriculture C) The closure of universities D) The launch of the Cultural Revolution Answer: B

Available on the Green Bridge App

Download the Green Bridge CBT app on your phone or computer to access full lesson notes, practice questions, and more.

Full lesson notes with diagrams
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Available on Android, Windows, macOS, and Linux

Available on the Green Bridge App

Download the Green Bridge CBT app on your phone or computer to access full lesson notes, practice questions, and more.

Full lesson notes with diagrams
AI-powered learning assistant
Study offline, anytime, anywhere
Available on Android, Windows, macOS, and Linux

Practice Mock Questions

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