FIONA's+RESPONSE

__ Assess the reasons for the Communist Victory. __ There are a variety of reasons to explain why and how the communist were able to gain victory in China against their opposition the GMD party. The main way in which the communist achieved victory was through the gaining of support from the masses. Also, through the Red Army, popular political and economic policies and the advantages felt after the Japanese war in China. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) was able to do the almost opposite to which the government of that, the GMD did. They gained the peasants, and later in the war the middle classes support, which ultimately gave them the ability to overthrow the GMD, becoming the official government of China. The issue of land distribution was the key aspect that gained initial support. The radical land reform law of October 1947 authorised the confiscation of land and property from landlords, distribution of confiscated land among the peasants and cancellation of all debt. Most of the male peasants also enlisted in the army, which made up almost all of it. Their moral was sustained by a varied daily routine in which through education they became committed communists. This was all as appose to the Nationalist government who instead imposed crushing burdens on their peasants and drove them to rebellion. This is emphasised by the Communist leader Mao who exclaimed “in order to rouse the masses to support us we must improve their own livelihood”. In 1948 Mao also boasted that 1.6 million peasants joined the People’s Liberation Army, which transformed from the Red Army. Political and economic policies that held the main foundation in gaining this support included fulfilling the people’s livelihood principle (one of three principles created by Sun Yatsen). While the GMD had for 16 years failed to implement the people’s livelihood principle, Mao now ordered elections in the Communist base areas. The vote was extended to all people over 16 and Communist Party members were not to exceed a third of those elected. Such policies encouraged massive participation in government at all levels in which the feeling of belonging is reflected in the phrase ‘womenti chengfu’- our government. Another such political influence was the Zhengfeng was a programme of study-group discussion and self-criticism imposing the signification of Maoism. It strengthened Mao’s prestige and ensured a strong commitment from all members. In defeating the GMD, the strong army that the Communist held was essential. The discipline by the soldiers was mainly due to the respect in which they were given. Something that the GMD’s soldiers never felt. This is exemplified when focusing on the CCP’s generals who shared the common hardships of the Jiangxi soviet and the Long March previously. They were also wholeheartedly committed to the Communist cause. The officers of the army also wore no badges or ranking and shared the same food/living conditions. Unlike the GMD’s officers they definitely did not brutally punish the men physically. Intelligence and civilian support within the army was also a major factor for the army’s and therefore the Communists success. Communist spies hampered the Nationalists army and supplied vital information, critical for the effective guerrilla campaign. Also, the civilian support ensured a constant flow of info about Nationalist troop movements. When positional warfare developed the role of civilian in providing supplies for the massive armies was invaluable. After the Japanese surrounded in China, mainly due to the consequences of American actions, the communist were majorly disadvantaged in which, even tho they held a much smaller army, they were able to defeat the GMD within one year. Many opportunities to expand the area under their control arose, as they mainly were stationed in the country area. Also, The Japanese could not guard all the areas which they conquered as they went south. This meant the communists could move in and take control. Another effect from the Japanese war was through the ‘Three All Campaign’- kill all, burn all, destroy all was the Japanese to turn the people against the Communists in areas which supported them. This had the opposite effect. It made peasants hate the Japanese so much that they were more willing than ever to help the communists attack them. This meant choosing to share their support with the communists, rather than the nationalists. Overall, through the major support of the peasants, emphasised by the army and various political and economic policies, as well as the advantages made available from the Japanese surrender, the Communist were able to finally obtain victory. They therefore became the official government of China.