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}}The Nationalist Party was founded in 1912 by [[Song Jiaoren]]. The original party was outlawed and dissolved in 1913. To replace it, [[Sun Yat-sen]] founded the "Chinese Revolutionary Party" in 1914 as a secret society and under stricter discipline. However, various notable KMT members refused to join the new party and continued to identify by the old name. In 1919, the CRP was reorganized as the "Chinese Nationalist Party" and the party's bylaws were made more democratic. The party has continued in this form to the present. After Sun's death in 1925, the party launched the "Northern Expedition," defeated the warlords of the Beiyang clique, and established a central government for China in [[Nanjing]]. From 1927 to 1975, the party was led by [[Chiang Kai-shek]]. When the Nationalists were defeated by the Communists in 1949, the party, together with most government officials, much of the army, anti-communist political activists and many business and cultural leaders evacuated to Taiwan. Until 1971, the UN and most non-communists governments recognized the Nationalist government in Taipei as the legitimate government of China. In 1991, the Nationalists withdrew their claim to territory on the mainland. KMT leader Ma Ying-jeou was elected Taiwanese president in 2008 and reelected in 2012.

}}The Nationalist Party was founded in 1912 by [[Song Jiaoren]]. The original party was outlawed and dissolved in 1913. To replace it, [[Sun Yat-sen]] founded the "Chinese Revolutionary Party" in 1914 as a secret society and under stricter discipline. However, various notable KMT members refused to join the new party and continued to identify by the old name. In 1919, the CRP was reorganized as the "Chinese Nationalist Party" and the party's bylaws were made more democratic. The party has continued in this form to the present. After Sun's death in 1925, the party launched the "Northern Expedition," defeated the warlords of the Beiyang clique, and established a central government for China in [[Nanjing]]. From 1927 to 1975, the party was led by [[Chiang Kai-shek]]. When the Nationalists were defeated by the Communists in 1949, the party, together with most government officials, much of the army, anti-communist political activists and many business and cultural leaders evacuated to Taiwan. Until 1971, the UN and most non-communists governments recognized the Nationalist government in Taipei as the legitimate government of China. In 1991, the Nationalists withdrew their claim to territory on the mainland. KMT leader Ma Ying-jeou was elected Taiwanese president in 2008 and reelected in 2012.

The party is a member of the [[International Democrat Union]] and the [[Centrist Democrat International]].

The party is a member of the [[International Democrat Union]] and the [[Centrist Democrat International]].

==In China==

==In China==

Founded in 1912 by Sun Yat-sen, the KMT rejected the old incompetent and [[Qing dynasty]] and sought to modernize China along Japanese and Western lines. The KMT helped topple the Qing emperor and promoted modernization along Western lines. The party played a significant part in the first Chinese first National Assembly where it was the majority party. However the KMT failed to achieve complete control. The post of president was given to old-guard general [[Yuan Shikai]] (1859-1916) as reward for his decisive support for the revolution. Yuan Shikai was a warlord uninterested in modernization and abused his powers, over-riding the constitution and trying to shut down political opposition. In July 1913, the KMT staged a 'Second Revolution' to depose Yuan. This failed and the following crack down by Yuan led to the dissolution of the KMT and the exile of its leadership, mostly to Japan.  

Founded in 1912 by Sun Yat-sen, the KMT rejected the old incompetent and [[Qing dynasty]] and sought to modernize China along Japanese and Western lines. The KMT helped topple the Qing emperor and promoted modernization along Western lines. The party played a significant part in the first Chinese first National Assembly where it was the majority party. However, the KMT failed to achieve complete control. The post of president was given to old-guard general [[Yuan Shikai]] (1859–1916) as a reward for his decisive support for the revolution. Yuan Shikai was a warlord uninterested in modernization and abused his powers, over-riding the constitution and trying to shut down political opposition. In July 1913, the KMT staged a 'Second Revolution' to depose Yuan. This failed and the following crackdown by Yuan led to the dissolution of the KMT and the exile of its leadership, mostly to Japan.

Yuan Shikai tried and failed to make himself emperor of China. When Yuan Shikai died unexpectedly in 1916, China fractured into many regions controlled by warlords; this warlord era lasted about ten years.

Yuan Shikai tried and failed to make himself emperor of China. When Yuan Shikai died unexpectedly in 1916, China fractured into many regions controlled by warlords; this warlord era lasted about ten years.

==Warlord period: 1916–26==

==Warlord period: 1916–26==

When Yuan died, however, civil war broke out and regional warlords ruled amid chaos. The opium trade returned, irrigation failed, famine killed millions. Central rule was elusive. China sided with the Allies against Germany during [[World War I]], and offered some limited assistance. The goal was hoping to obtain the return of the cities that Germany controlled in China. Instead, the Treaty of Versailles gave that land to Japan. Feeling betrayed, the Chinese angrily demonstrated against that decision with the [[May Fourth Movement]], which the Nationalists supported.  

When Yuan died, however, civil war broke out and regional warlords ruled amid chaos. The opium trade returned, irrigation failed, famine killed millions. Central rule was elusive. China sided with the Allies against Germany during [[World War I]] and offered some limited assistance. The goal was hoping to obtain the return of the cities that Germany controlled in China. Instead, the Treaty of Versailles gave that land to Japan. Feeling betrayed, the Chinese angrily demonstrated against that decision with the [[May Fourth Movement]], which the Nationalists supported.  

In exile, Sun Yat-sen and other former Nationalists founded several revolutionary parties under various names but with little success. These parties were united by Sun in 1919 as the "Chinese Nationalist Party." The word "Chinese" was added to the name of the reorganized party to distinguish it from the original. The new party returned to Guangzhou in China in 1920 where it set up a government but failed to achieve control of all of China. After the death of Yuan Shikai in 1916, China fractured into many regions controlled by warlords.  

In exile, Sun Yat-sen and other former Nationalists founded several revolutionary parties under various names but with little success. These parties were united by Sun in 1919 as the "Chinese Nationalist Party." The word "Chinese" was added to the name of the reorganized party to distinguish it from the original. The new party returned to Guangzhou in China in 1920 where it set up a government but failed to achieve control of all of China. After the death of Yuan Shikai in 1916, China fractured into many regions controlled by warlords.  

==Chiang Kai-shek unites China==

==Chiang Kai-shek unites China==

Chiang Kai-shek (1887-1975) became the KMT strongman and military leader. In 1926 Chiang led a military operation known as the "Northern Expedition" against the warlords that controlled much of the country and defeated them. Next, Chiang tried to destroy the Communists. In Shanghai, the leading city, in 12 April 1927 he purged and often executed the Communists in the KMT.<ref>The event is also known as the Shanghai Massacre of 1927. See Tien-wei Wu, "A Review of the Wuhan Debacle: the Kuomintang-Communist Split of 1927." ''Journal of Asian Studies'' 1969 29(1): 125-143</ref> The Northern Expedition proved successful and the Nationalist government gained control throughout China (except Manchuria) in 1927, with Chiang as leader. The capital of China was moved to [[Nanjing]], a city near Shanghai that previously served as capital for the [[Ming dynasty]] and for Sun Yat-sen in 1912.

Chiang Kai-shek (1887-1975) became the KMT strongman and military leader. In 1926 Chiang led a military operation known as the "Northern Expedition" against the warlords that controlled much of the country and defeated them. Next, Chiang tried to destroy the Communists. In Shanghai, the leading city, on 12 April 1927 he purged and often executed the Communists in the KMT.<ref>The event is also known as the Shanghai Massacre of 1927. See Tien-wei Wu, "A Review of the Wuhan Debacle: the Kuomintang-Communist Split of 1927." ''Journal of Asian Studies'' 1969 29(1): 125-143</ref> The Northern Expedition proved successful and the Nationalist government gained control throughout China (except Manchuria) in 1927, with Chiang as leader. The capital of China was moved to [[Nanjing]], a city near Shanghai that previously served as the capital for the [[Ming dynasty]] and for Sun Yat-sen in 1912.

The party was always concerned with strengthening Chinese identity at the same time it was discarding old traditions in the name of modernity. In 1929, the KMT government suppressed the textbook ''Modern Chinese History,'' widely used in secondary education. The Nationalists were concerned that, by not admitting the existence of the earliest emperors in ancient Chinese history, the book would weaken the foundation of the state. The case of the ''Modern Chinese History'' textbook reflects the symptoms of the period: banning the textbook strengthened the Nationalists' ideological control but also revealed their fear of the New Culture Movement and its more liberal ideological implications.

The party was always concerned with strengthening Chinese identity at the same time it was discarding old traditions in the name of modernity. In 1929, the KMT government suppressed the textbook ''Modern Chinese History,'' widely used in secondary education. The Nationalists were concerned that, by not admitting the existence of the earliest emperors in ancient Chinese history, the book would weaken the foundation of the state. The case of the ''Modern Chinese History'' textbook reflects the symptoms of the period: banning the textbook strengthened the Nationalists' ideological control but also revealed their fear of the New Culture Movement and its more liberal ideological implications.

The KMT tried to destroy the Communist party of [[Mao Zedong]], but was unable to stop the invasion by Japan, which controlled most of the coastline and major cities from 1937 to 1945. Chiang Kai-shek secured massive military and economic aid from the United States, and in 1945 became one of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, with a veto. The KMT governed most of China until it was defeated in civil war by the Communists in 1949.   

The KMT tried to destroy the Communist party of [[Mao Zedong]] but was unable to stop the invasion by Japan, which controlled most of the coastline and major cities from 1937 to 1945. Chiang Kai-shek secured massive military and economic aid from the United States, and in 1945 became one of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, with a veto. The KMT governed most of China until it was defeated in civil war by the Communists in 1949.   

The collapse of the KMT regime can in part be attributed to the government's economic policies, which triggered capital flight among the businessmen who had been the KMT's strongest supporters.  The cotton textile industry was the leading sector of Chinese industry, but in 1948, shortages of raw cotton plunged the industry into dire straits. The KMT government responded with an aggressive control policy that directly procured cotton from producers to ensure a sufficient supply and established a price freeze on cotton thread and textiles. This policy failed because of resistance from cotton textile industrialists, who relocated textile facilities and capital to Hong Kong or Taiwan around the end of 1948 and early 1949 when prices soared and inflation spiraled out of control. Their withdrawal of support was a shattering blow to the morale of the KMT.

The collapse of the KMT regime can in part be attributed to the government's economic policies, which triggered capital flight among the businessmen who had been the KMT's strongest supporters.  The cotton textile industry was the leading sector of Chinese industry, but in 1948, shortages of raw cotton plunged the industry into dire straits. The KMT government responded with an aggressive control policy that directly procured cotton from producers to ensure a sufficient supply and established a price freeze on cotton thread and textiles. This policy failed because of resistance from cotton textile industrialists, who relocated textile facilities and capital to Hong Kong or Taiwan around the end of 1948 and early 1949 when prices soared and inflation spiraled out of control. Their withdrawal of support was a shattering blow to the morale of the KMT.

==Two wars==

==Two wars==

The Nationalist Chinese government led by Chiang Kai-shek received aid from the United States to fight against the Japanese, but in reality they used that money to prepare for civil war against the communists led by [[Mao Zedong]]. After the war, the communists (from the northwest) attempted to conquer the Nationalists (from the southwest). Civil war raged from 1946 to 1949. Due to the embargo by the Democrat president [[Harry S. Truman]] and the infiltration of the Communist members into the Nationalist army and the US governments, Mao stole the nation by October 1949. Mao had tricked the farmers that land will be given to the peasants and de facto separated China into two parts: the Mainland and Taiwan. The mainland has been renamed as the People’s Republic of China. Jiang was forced into retreat with Nationalists to the island of Taiwan, imposing strong anti-Communistic policies, and continued to claim sovereignty over all of China, a stance which the United States supported until [[Richard Nixon]] reversed course under the influence of [[Henry Kissinger|Kissinger]] in 1971.

The Nationalist Chinese government led by Chiang Kai-shek received aid from the United States to fight against the Japanese, but in reality, they used that money to prepare for civil war against the communists led by [[Mao Zedong]]. After the war, the communists (from the northwest) attempted to conquer the Nationalists (from the southwest). Civil war raged from 1946 to 1949. Due to the embargo by the Democrat president [[Harry S. Truman]] and the infiltration of the Communist members into the Nationalist army and the US governments, Mao stole the nation by October 1949. Mao had tricked the farmers that land will be given to the peasants and de facto separated China into two parts: the Mainland and Taiwan. The mainland has been renamed as the People’s Republic of China. Jiang was forced into retreat with Nationalists to the island of Taiwan, imposing strong anti-Communistic policies, and continued to claim sovereignty over all of China, a stance which the United States supported until [[Richard Nixon]] reversed course under the influence of [[Henry Kissinger|Kissinger]] in 1971.

==In Taiwan: 1949–present==

==In Taiwan: 1949–present==

* Boorman, Howard L., ed.  ''Biographical Dictionary of Republican China.'' (Vol. I-IV and Index. 1967-1979).  600 short scholarly biographies [https://books.google.com/books?id=r3AJFusMHJwC&dq=+Biographical+Dictionary+of+Republican+China&pg=PP1&ots=2vo5nw0qS0&sig=fxzwBb475KIbQBr8KGRDrkVSvl8&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=4&ct=result#PPA1,M1 excerpt and text search]

* Boorman, Howard L., ed.  ''Biographical Dictionary of Republican China.'' (Vol. I-IV and Index. 1967-1979).  600 short scholarly biographies [https://books.google.com/books?id=r3AJFusMHJwC&dq=+Biographical+Dictionary+of+Republican+China&pg=PP1&ots=2vo5nw0qS0&sig=fxzwBb475KIbQBr8KGRDrkVSvl8&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=4&ct=result#PPA1,M1 excerpt and text search]

* Botjer, George. ''A Short History of Nationalist China, 1919–1949'' (1979). 312pp

* Botjer, George. ''A Short History of Nationalist China, 1919–1949'' (1979). 312pp

*Carroll, Anne W. "Who Lost China", ;;Faith and Reason'' (Spring 1989)[http://www.ewtn.com/library/HOMELIBR/FR89102.TXT online]   

*Carroll, Anne W. "Who Lost China", ''Faith and Reason'' (Spring 1989)[http://www.ewtn.com/library/HOMELIBR/FR89102.TXT online]   

* Epoch Times. ''On the Unscrupulous Nature of the Chinese Communist Party'', ''The Epoch Times,'' 2005. [http://en.epochtimes.com/news/4-12-30/25242.html online]  

* Epoch Times. ''On the Unscrupulous Nature of the Chinese Communist Party'', ''The Epoch Times,'' 2005. [http://en.epochtimes.com/news/4-12-30/25242.html online]  

* Fairbank, John K., ed. ''The Cambridge History of China, Vol. 12, Republican China 1912-1949. Part 1.'' (1983). 1001 pp.  

* Fairbank, John K., ed. ''The Cambridge History of China, Vol. 12, Republican China 1912-1949. Part 1.'' (1983). 1001 pp.  

* Rigger, Shelley. ''Politics in Taiwan: Voting for Democracy'' (1999) [http://www.questia.com/library/book/politics-in-taiwan-voting-for-democracy-by-shelley-rigger.jsp online edition]  

* Rigger, Shelley. ''Politics in Taiwan: Voting for Democracy'' (1999) [http://www.questia.com/library/book/politics-in-taiwan-voting-for-democracy-by-shelley-rigger.jsp online edition]  

* Sharman, Lyon. ''Sun Yat-Sen His Life and Its Meaning: A Critical Biography''. (1968) [http://www.questia.com/library/book/sun-yat-sen-his-life-and-its-meaning-a-critical-biography-by-lyon-sharman.jsp online from Questia]

* Sharman, Lyon. ''Sun Yat-Sen His Life and Its Meaning: A Critical Biography''. (1968) [http://www.questia.com/library/book/sun-yat-sen-his-life-and-its-meaning-a-critical-biography-by-lyon-sharman.jsp online from Questia]

* Spence, Jonathan D. ''The Search for Modern China'' (1991), 876pp; well written survey from 1644 to 1980s [http://www.amazon.com/Search-Modern-China-Jonathan-Spence/dp/0393307808/ref=pd_sim_b_title_2 excerpt and text search]; [http://www.questia.com/read/98946348 complete edition online at Questia]

* Spence, Jonathan D. ''The Search for Modern China'' (1991), 876pp; well-written survey from 1644 to 1980s [http://www.amazon.com/Search-Modern-China-Jonathan-Spence/dp/0393307808/ref=pd_sim_b_title_2 excerpt and text search]; [http://www.questia.com/read/98946348 complete edition online at Questia]

* Taylor, Jay. ''The Generalissimo: Chiang Kai-Shek and the Struggle for Modern China'' (2009), 722 pp. highly favorable scholarly biography

* Taylor, Jay. ''The Generalissimo: Chiang Kai-Shek and the Struggle for Modern China'' (2009), 722 pp. highly favorable scholarly biography

* Taylor, Jay.  ''The Generalissimo's Son: Chiang Ching-kuo and the Revolutions in China and Taiwan. '' (2000). 496 pp.   

* Taylor, Jay.  ''The Generalissimo's Son: Chiang Ching-kuo and the Revolutions in China and Taiwan. '' (2000). 496 pp.