Externally, China was treated unfairly. The Paris Treaty caused great anger and this was shown in the May 8th Movement in 1919.
There was conflict between the Warlords against the GMD and the CCP, this increasing unrest. The fact that the peasants supported the GMD and CCP gives us the impression that things were especially bad for them.
The conflict in 1927 between the GMD and CCP is another example of unrest. The Shanghai Massacre shows us the extremes they were prepared to go, for power.
In what ways did support for the Chinese Communist Party change in the years from the Northern Expedition (1927) to its victory in the civil war (1949)?
In 1927 the CCP was small. It had little support compared to opposing parties. Its support drastically increased because they had considerable advantages over the GMD, which compensated for the size difference and would eventually lead to victory.
To start off with the CCP had support from the GMD. This increased support for the CCP through the followers of the GMD. This alliance also gave the CCP more power and people began to become more knowledgeable of their aims. Once the CCP became known throughout China, its support increased significantly.
In 1927 the CCP lost support from the GMD after the Shanghai Massacre and re-located to Jiangxi in the countryside. This was seen as a large disadvantage for the CCP because they no-longer had the support of GMD followers.
Within a few years of arriving in Jiangxi the CCP had gained the support of many peasants living under their rules. This was largely because a Land Law divided the cultivated land among farming population, Millions of peasants who had never owner land before now found they were their own masters. Taxes were also reduced. The Red Army also played an important part in winning the support of the peasants because it had rules of discipline which treated the peasants with respect. They were able to spread their aims amongst them easily. Communism appealed to the peasants because it aimed to create a classless society. This increased their support drastically because the peasants made up a large section of the population.
Just as the CCP were managing to increase their power the GMD defeated them in a battle in 1934. The CCP lost all their support and were back to square one. By 1934 they were on the brink of the extinction.
CCP support may have decreased even further in 1934 when the CCP set off on the long march. Many of their supporters may have not wanted to leave their homes for Yanan.
Many of the CCP’s supporters were killed on the long march but this was made up for because while traveling through out China the CCP were able to spread their ideas as there was contact between the Red Armt and the peasants.
The Japan - China war from 1937 – 45 strengthened and increased support for the CCP because they were in contact with the public as they were fighting guerilla warfare. Also, after the Japanese withdrawal, in Southern China, the CCP were able to advance to the areas they had left
After the Japanese, three All Campaign support increased for the CCP because it had the reverse effect and made the peasants hate the Japanese even more and more willing than ever before to help the CCP.
Throughout the war against Japan the Red Army used propaganda to spread Communtis ideas in north China. They operated under strict discipline and never treated peasant badly. In return, the peasants kept the Red Army informed about Japanese activities
Supporters switched sides from the GMD to the CCP after the war because the GMD were blamed for the losses because they were the leading government.
In conclusion it was remarkable that the CCP were able to win control over china in the end as they faced many difficulties and started from nothing. But support from the peasants was the main thing which allowed the CCP to beat the GMD.
