Rebecca's+response

Assess the reasons for the Communist victory There are a number of reasons accounting for the ultimate victory of the Chinese Communist Party, however, when diluted there are four prominent factors contributing to their success. Mainly, their military strategies and overall policy helped unify the party through the support of their leaders who were fully devoted to the Communist cause. Supplementary, the economic, social and political internal conditions influenced the decisions made and evidently favoured the Communists as opposed to the Nationalists. Foreign intervention and geography also contributed to their victory. The foremost significant reason as to why the Communists achieved victory was due to the support of skilled leaders such as Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai and Zhu Du who allowed for the Communist party to develop effective military strategies and a successful overall policy therefore elevating their chances of victory. The use of Mao’s guerrilla tactics developed in 1929-28 allowed for the Peoples Liberation Army to respond to the situation as they saw it. Hence, the army was able to develop as flexible, highly mobile and independent. Their tactics even extended to their ‘Intelligent Gathering’ through the use of spies, therefore allowing the communists to obtain significant information such as the enemies battle plans helping the communists to reform their own plans in order to make them more efficient and precise. More importantly, the leaders of the CCP were able to win the ‘hearts and minds’ of their army through sharing the hardships of battle evident through their ‘mass line structure’. The Long March, 1934-35, not only unified the communist troops but also educated them as Mao stressed that it was essential that they were to know why they were fighting as they were able //‘to endure the hardships of the bitter struggle without complaint’//. In effect, if the communists had a unified power base with high morale that was willing to fight it would be easier for them to achieve victory. Furthermore, the behaviour of the PLA towards the peasants assisted the party in gaining support from the civilian population, a significant factor needed when hoping to achieve victory. Mao placed emphasis on the “masses“, which accounted for 70% of the population, believing that they //“will rise like a mighty storm…a force so swift and violent that no power however great will be able to hold it back".// Immanuel Hsu exemplifies the result of Mao’s support contending //“The Chinese government became fiercely determined to fight for its survival till the bitter end".// Hence this emphasis showed that everyone in this party was a strong participant and therefore there was a greater chance in achieving victory. Furthermore the Land Reform Law of 1947 also contributed to winning the support of the rural population, significantly through the discipline, courage and responsiveness of the PLA.

The economic, social and political issues circulating both the Nationalists and Communist party also influenced the final outcome of the civil war, evidently favouring the Communists. The inflation and economic collapse that occurred within the Nationalist Party //‘"destroyed the livelihood of hundreds of millions of Chinese and totally discredited the government".// Consequently there was significant loss of civilian support due to the over printing of notes, consequently increasing the prices by 30% during 1945-48. This inflation was not the only reason due to their loss of civilian support as their obnoxious conduct, contempt treatment of people and savings and cash resources being reduced all lead to the population now seeking support for the Communists. Edgar Snow contends on the success of the Communist party throughout China stating //"Without the Communist Party, there would have been no New China"// emphasising the importance and respect for this party//. // Although the Nationalists had a large army, 3:1, the leaders such as Chiang Kai-shek were corrupt and more concerned with their own personal interest than the warfare of the army. Furthermore, their deceptive military strength emphasised their strategy was poor and in consequent their //“spirit was unwilling and their flesh was weak’// as opposed to the efficient guerrilla tactics used by the PLA helping them gain confidence and morale. The Communists also introduced army recruits based on the policy of strategic ability opposed to the Nationalists who recruited people based on status and merit. In consequence they were to have an unskilled and disoriented army causing the party to be corrupt. Foreign intervention also played a role in leading to the victory of the Communists through US involvement through Hurley and Marshal. That is, Hurley’s lack of knowledge of Chinese politics and little understanding of the cause of the conflict resulted in the American’s failing to support the Nationalists and achieving any reconciliation between the two parties. Hence the Nationalists were left to defend themselves without the effect support of the US. Marshal also attempted to negotiate however did not succeed. He did manage to cease fighting in North China, in spite of this, the civil war still continued hence no significant achievement was evident. More importantly, Chiang dismissed his advice of inflation resulting in economic collapse hence contributed to the Communists gaining a significant step towards victory as the Nationalists were losing common support.

Additionally, geography also played a minor role. Through the US failing to airlift a sufficient number of Nationalist troops to Manchuria in 1947. Consequently, Chiang lost half a million troops and therefore the Communists were able to seclude in and capture Manchuria through the use of their guerrilla tactics hence leading to their victory.

Thus in conclusion, there are a variety of reasons as to why the Communists achieved victory. However it is the effective leadership constituting of efficient military strategies and the effective policy of the CCP that allowed for them to override the Nationalists. The internal influences also contributed, helping the Communists through the Nationalists being in corrupt social, economic and political situations. Foreign intervention and geography assisted the Communists setting the stone for their ultimate victory.\

This is a very comprehensive response. I particularly liked the way you were able to express the connection between US involvement and the CCP victory.

really good assessment of the most important factors in ranking their importance. also great use of historical facts and evidence, i particularly liked your use of quotes and reference to hisrotians. And definently a good assessment and analysis of each reason :) YAY!!!