Changes

Although the Nationalist Party, founded by [[Sun Yat-sen]], played a key role in the overthrow of the Qing and gained a majority in the subsequent parliamentary elections, it was pushed aside by the army under Yuan Shikai. After Yuan died in 1916, central government weakened. The Japanese backed the reactionary warlord Zhang Zuolin in Manchuria. The Russians under Stalin backed the Nationalist Party, now based in Guangzhou and advised by Mikhail Borodin. The economy of the Manchuria, overtaxed to support Zhang’s adventurism, collapsed in 1927–28. [[Chiang Kai-shek]] led the Nationalists to a surprisingly easy victory over the far larger, but now bankrupt, forces of the Beiyang warlords. Furious with his failure to stop Chiang’s advance, the Japanese murdered Zhang.

Although the Nationalist Party, founded by [[Sun Yat-sen]], played a key role in the overthrow of the Qing and gained a majority in the subsequent parliamentary elections, it was pushed aside by the army under Yuan Shikai. After Yuan died in 1916, central government weakened. The Japanese backed the reactionary warlord Zhang Zuolin in Manchuria. The Russians under Stalin backed the Nationalist Party, now based in Guangzhou and advised by Mikhail Borodin. The economy of the Manchuria, overtaxed to support Zhang’s adventurism, collapsed in 1927–28. [[Chiang Kai-shek]] led the Nationalists to a surprisingly easy victory over the far larger, but now bankrupt, forces of the Beiyang warlords. Furious with his failure to stop Chiang’s advance, the Japanese murdered Zhang.

Chiang also purged the treacherous Communists and married Song Meiling, a Christian woman who would become greatly admired internationally as China’s first lady. The capital was moved to Nanjing in 1928.

Chiang also purged the treacherous Communists and married Song Meiling, a Christian woman who would become greatly admired internationally as China’s first lady. The capital was moved to Nanjing in 1928. China experienced industrialization and modernization in the period that followed, but there was also conflict between the government in Nanjing, the Communist Party, remnant warlords, and Japan. Nation-building took a backseat to war with Japan in 1937–1945. Japan occupied coastal areas and cut off China's access to seaports, while the Nationalists retreated to Chongqing. The Chinese cause received much sympathetic attention in the U.S. press, and the [[Flying Tigers]], an aviation squadron, was lionized. The Burma Road, and later the Ledo Road, were built to allow US "lend-lease" aid to reach the Chinese army. The Nationalists' Y Force drove back the Japanese in Yunnan during a May–June 1944 offensive, but otherwise military results were disappointing.

 

China experienced industrialization and modernization in this period, but also conflict between the government in Nanjing, the Communist Party, remnant warlords, and Japan. Nation-building took a backseat to war with Japan in 1937–1945. Japan occupied coastal areas and cut off China's access to seaports, while the Nationalists retreated to Chongqing. The Chinese cause received much sympathetic attention in the U.S. press, and the [[Flying Tigers]], an aviation squadron, was lionized. The Burma Road, and later the Ledo Road, were built to allow US "lend-lease" aid to reach the Chinese army. The Nationalists' Y Force drove back the Japanese in Yunnan during a May–June 1944 offensive, but otherwise military results were disappointing.

After Japan surrendered, the Cold War between the U.S. and Soviet Union led to renewed fighting between the Nationalists and the Communists. In 1947, the Constitution of the Republic of China replaced the Organic Law of 1928 as the country's fundamental law. In 1949, the Communists established the People's Republic of China on the mainland, while the Nationalists retreated to [[Taiwan]]. Despite its vastly reduced territory, the Nationalist government on Taiwan continued to be recognized by the United Nations as the government of China until 1972.

After Japan surrendered, the Cold War between the U.S. and Soviet Union led to renewed fighting between the Nationalists and the Communists. In 1947, the Constitution of the Republic of China replaced the Organic Law of 1928 as the country's fundamental law. In 1949, the Communists established the People's Republic of China on the mainland, while the Nationalists retreated to [[Taiwan]]. Despite its vastly reduced territory, the Nationalist government on Taiwan continued to be recognized by the United Nations as the government of China until 1972.