Causes+of+the+Nationalist+Defeat

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The most important cause for the downfall of the Nationalists was the eight year Japanese war, which completely exhausted the government militarily, financially, and spiritually. The price the Nationalists paid to win the Japanese war was also the first installment toward its eventual downfall.======


 * 1. Deceptive Military Strength **
 * nationalist army emerged from the Japanese war better equipped and trained than ever before.
 * with signs of fatigue, they were held together by //nationalism// and //patriotism//, and prospect of an imminet Allied Victory.
 * Japan's surrender gave the troops a sense of relief and feeling of having accomplished the mission.
 * Communists did not bear the full brunt of the war, and as a result had vastly expanded their military forces.
 * Nationalist strategy was poor --> leading to their slaughter and capture.

//"the heart of the army was destroyed and what was left could no longer fight."// //"spirit was unwilling and their flesh was weak."//

** 2. Inflation and Economic Collapse **

 * inflation was already rampant during the Japanese war
 * single most important cause was the flagrant increase in note issues, with the result of prices being increased by 30% per month during 1945-1948.
 * conversion of yuan notes, redeemable in actual silver and coins, further distorted the financial picture and hasten the economic collapse.

//"inflation and financial mismanagement destroyed the livelihood of hundreds of millions of Chinese and totally discredited the government."//

** 3. Loss of Public Confidence and Respect **

 * obnoxious conduct of Nationalist officials who returned to Japanese occupied areas permanently damaged the Nationalists prestige.
 * They returned as conquerors and treated the people with contempt, as if they were traitors, and took advantage of them.
 * When the savings and cash reserves of the people were so suddenly and drastically reduced, the reaction of the people was deep resentment.

People began to //"wonder whether life would have been better under Japanese rule."//

** 4. Failure of American Mediation and Aid **

 * Had aid to China during the first four years been more substantial, it may have //"beefed up"// the Nationalist finances to the point where inflation nipped in the bud earlier, and consequently avoid the ultimate economic collapse.
 * If US had retained original strategy of attacking Japan from the Chinese mainland, American troops would have landed in the coastal provinces of China, seizing territory from the Japanese and turning it over to the Nationalists government, tereby reducing the chances of a Communist occupation.
 * change in Allied strategy called for the invasion of Japan from the Pacific, completely by passing China.
 * If Hurley had played a more active role of mediation, he might have been able to convince Chiang to accept Mao's "transient arrangements" and avert the immediate outbreak of the civil war.
 * If Marshall had been more forceful in pressuring the GMD into honouring the Political Consultative Conference resolutions, hostilities might have been checked.

**5. Retardation of Social and Economic Reforms**
 * neglect of social and economic problems was partially due to circumstances beyond Nationalist control.
 * Nationalists were already challenged by warlords and dissident politicians, and hardly had the time to resolve these problems before it was deluged by Japanese aggression and Communist insurrection.
 * It took all the energy, resources and skills the Nationalists could muster to fight the Japanese and launch five campaigns against the Communists. Consequently there was not much left over to tackle the more basic problems such as economic justice and social reforms.
 * Nationalists lacked the necessary motivation to initiate social and economic reforms
 * They did not understand the peasants and so saw no urgency in solving their problems. They failed to see the revolutionary potential of the peasant masses and consequently never attempted to organise them. Mao took advantage of this neglect.

//"Nationalist officials still lived under the shadow of Confucian distinction between the rulers and the ruled." "The stone that one builder had rejected had became the cornerstone of the other's house."//
 * All quotes from __Immanuel Hsu.__