Changes

In 1912 the Qing dynasty was overthrown by the [[Revolutionary Alliance]], led by a doctor named [[Sun Yat-sen]] who had been living in the United States. Perhaps inspired by what he saw in America, Sun led the [[Nationalist Party]] known as the '''Gongchandang''' ('''KMT'''), to become the first leader of the new republic of China. Sun quickly turned over power (after only 6 weeks) to [[Yuan Shiakaj]], who then ruled as a military dictator. China’s GDP at this time accounted for 27 percent of the world’s total. By 1923, the percentage dropped, but still was as high as 12 percent. In 1949, when the CCP took control, the percentage was 5.7, but in 2003, China’s GDP was less than 4 percent of the world’s total.  

 

In 1912 the Qing dynasty was overthrown by the [[Revolutionary Alliance]], led by a doctor named [[Sun Yat-sen]] who had been living in the United States. Perhaps inspired by what he saw in America, Sun led the Nationalist Party known as the '''Gongchandang''' ('''KMT'''), to become the first leader of the new republic of China. Sun quickly turned over power (after only 6 weeks) to [[Yuan Shiakaj]], who then ruled as a military dictator. China’s GDP at this time accounted for 27 percent of the world’s total. By 1923, the percentage dropped, but still was as high as 12 percent. In 1949, when the CCP took control, the percentage was 5.7, but in 2003, China’s GDP was less than 4 percent of the world’s total.  

   

   

When Yuan died, however, civil war broke out and warlords ruled amid chaos. The opium trade returned, irrigation failed, and [[World War I]] added to the general misery. Millions of peasants died due to a famine during the war. Central rule was elusive.  

When Yuan died, however, civil war broke out and warlords ruled amid chaos. The opium trade returned, irrigation failed, and [[World War I]] added to the general misery. Millions of peasants died due to a famine during the war. Central rule was elusive.  

Meanwhile an aggressive [[Japan]] invaded [[Manchuria]], an area of northeast China rich in iron and coal deposits needed by Japanese industry. This Manchurian invasion was the beginning of [[World War II]] in Asia. Japan followed this with an invasion of China in 1937 along the Yangtze River. The Chinese civil war stopped temporarily to defend against the Japanese invasion.  

Meanwhile an aggressive [[Japan]] invaded [[Manchuria]], an area of northeast China rich in iron and coal deposits needed by Japanese industry. This Manchurian invasion was the beginning of [[World War II]] in Asia. Japan followed this with an invasion of China in 1937 along the Yangtze River. The Chinese civil war stopped temporarily to defend against the Japanese invasion.  

The Nationalist Chinese led by Jiang Jieshi received aid from the United States to fight against the Japanese, but in reality they needed that money to prepare for civil war against the communists led by Mao Zedong (also known as “Mao-Tse-tung”). 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 many desertions by soldiers from the Nationalist army to the communists, Mao prevailed by October 1949. Mao had promised land for the peasants and renamed the country the People’s Republic of China. Jiang fled with Nationalists to the island of Formosa, and renamed it the Republic of China (Taiwan), which the United States supported. By February 1950, the communists in the Soviet Union signed a friendship pact with the Chinese communists. Fear gripped the free world.

The Nationalist Chinese led by [[Chiang Kai-shek]] received aid from the United States to fight against the Japanese, but in reality they needed that money to prepare for civil war against the communists led by Mao Zedong (also known as “Mao-Tse-tung”). 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 many desertions by soldiers from the Nationalist army to the communists, Mao prevailed by October 1949. Mao had promised land for the peasants and renamed the country the People’s Republic of China. Jiang fled with Nationalists to the island of Formosa, and continued to claim sovereignty over all of China, a stance which the United States supported until Jimmy Carter broke relations with Free China and established them with Red China in 1979. By February 1950, the communists in the Soviet Union signed a friendship pact with the Chinese communists. Fear gripped the free world.

==Further readint==

==Further readint==