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The Chinese Communist Revolution

1927–1949AsiaPolitical and social

The long struggle that brought the Communist Party to power and established the People's Republic of China.

Background

After the Nationalist and Communist parties split in 1927, the two fought for control of China, with a pause during the war against Japan. Rural poverty, weak government and the legacy of warlordism favoured those who promised land reform and order.

Course of events

Communist forces survived Nationalist campaigns through the Long March of 1934 and 1935, and Mao Zedong consolidated leadership. The two sides formed a united front against Japan in 1937, and civil war resumed after 1945. Communist armies took the mainland by 1949, and the Nationalists withdrew to Taiwan.

Legacy

The People's Republic was proclaimed on 1 October 1949. The new government carried out land reform and rebuilt state institutions, though later campaigns, including the Great Leap Forward, brought enormous human cost.

Further reading: The Chinese Communist Revolution on Wikipedia. This page is a short summary for general readers; dates and figures can vary between sources.