Causes & Effects of Chinese Civil War

The Chinese Civil War was a big war in China’s history that lasted from 1927 to 1949. It wasn’t just two groups fighting to be in charge, but a fight about different ideas, different parts of China wanting different things, and other countries getting involved too. In this article, we’ll learn more about why the war happened, what happened during it, and how it changed China and the world.

Let’s start.

Chinese Civil War Summary

This table outlines some key events during the Chinese Civil War and its aftermath:

Year	Events
1927	Start of the Chinese Civil War; Nationalists vs. Communists
1931-1935	Period of the First United Front against Japanese invasion
1937-1945	Second Sino-Japanese War; Nationalists and Communists continue internal conflict while fighting Japanese
1945	End of World War II; Resumption of Civil War
1946	Full-scale resumption of the Civil War
1949	Communist victory; Establishment of the People’s Republic of China
1950-1953	Chinese involvement in the Korean War
1976	Death of Mao Zedong, marking the end of an era
1989	Tiananmen Square protests and massacre

Chinese Civil War Battles

This table provides a overview of key battles during the Chinese Civil War, including their dates and brief descriptions.

Battle	Date	Description
Battle of Shanghai	1937	This was one of the largest and bloodiest battles of the Chinese Civil War, marking the beginning of the Second Sino-Japanese War.
Long March	1934-1935	Strategic retreat by the Red Army (Communist forces) covering approximately 6,000 miles to evade encircling Nationalist forces.
Huaihai Campaign	1948-1949	The decisive battle in eastern China, where the People’s Liberation Army encircled and defeated Nationalist forces, weakened their hold on mainland China.
Battle of Pingjin	1949	A series of battles in northern China led to the Communist takeover of Tianjin and Beiping (Beijing), significantly weakening Nationalist forces.
Battle of Huaihai	1948-1949	Major engagement in central China resulted in a decisive Communist victory, further weakening Nationalist control over mainland China.

Origin of the Chinese Civil War

The war between the Communists and the Nationalists in China started in the 1920s, but most of the major battles happened between 1945 and 1949. After Japan lost World War II in 1945, the two sides tried to make peace, but it didn’t work. They disagreed about who should be in charge of China. The Communists won the war and took over mainland China in 1949. The Nationalists escaped to Taiwan and formed a new government there.

Causes of the Chinese Civil War

The biggest war in China’s history, the Chinese Civil War, didn’t start all of a sudden. It happened because of many things that built up over a long time. People were angry, the government was weak, and different groups all wanted to be in charge of China. Let’s explore what led to this war.

1. Decline of the Qing Dynasty and the Rise of Warlordism (19th-Early 20th Century)

After ruling for centuries, China’s once-mighty Qing Dynasty started to fall apart due to domestic uprisings, foreign aggression, and economic downturns. Due to the dynasty’s incapacity to confront these difficulties, an era of anarchy and instability began in 1911 with its fall.

After the fall of the old government in China, there were many areas without a clear leader. Local military leaders, called warlords, took control of these areas like their own personal kingdoms. They kept fighting each other, making things even more chaotic in China. Because of all this fighting, everyone wanted a strong central government to come in, take charge, and finally bring order and progress to the country.

2. The Birth of the Nationalist and Communist Parties

In the wake of the Qing Dynasty’s fall, two major political forces emerged:

• The Kuomintang (KMT): Founded in 1912, the KMT, also known as the Nationalist Party, aimed to unify China under a one-party system with a blend of traditional Confucian values and Western-style modernization. Led by Chiang Kai-shek, the KMT gained significant support from intellectuals, merchants, and landowners.
• The Chinese Communist Party (CCP): Founded in 1921, the CCP drew inspiration from the ideals of Marxism and Leninism. They envisioned a communist society built on land reforms and worker ownership of the means of production. The CCP initially had a smaller base of support, primarily among urban workers and intellectuals influenced by socialist ideology.

3. The First United Front (1924-1927)

Both the KMT and the CCP understood the importance of uniting against foreign imperialism and warlords, despite their divergent ideologies. They established the First United Front in 1924. Their combined power was reinforced by the CCP’s increasing popularity among workers and peasants, and the KMT’s better military organisation which supplied leadership.

Particularly in the Northern Expedition (1926–1927), a military operation intended to overthrow the warlords and unite China under KMT rule, this shaky alliance had some degree of success. But simmering under the surface were tensions between the two sides.

4. The KMT-CCP Split and the Shanghai Massacre (1927)

Chiang Kai-shek regarded the CCP’s attempts to organise labourers and peasants as a danger to his vision for China and was growingly suspicious of the KMT’s developing communist influence. He gave the command for a ruthless extermination of CCP members from the KMT in 1927. The First United Front came to an end with the Shanghai Massacre, which also ushered China into the first stage of the Chinese Civil War (1927–1937).

The CCP withdrew to the countryside, where they started constructing communist enclaves and strengthening their armed force, the Red Army. In the meantime, a burgeoning communist insurrection and persistent obstacles from warlords made it difficult for the KMT to establish control.

5. The Rise of Japanese Imperialism

A far bigger threat—the Imperial Japanese invasion of China on a massive scale in 1937—briefly eclipsed the simmering Chinese Civil War. To concentrate on opposing the Japanese occupation, the KMT and CCP were compelled by this foreign assault to set aside their disagreements and create the Second United Front (1937–1945). Both sides conducted a bloody struggle against Japan during this time, which is known as the National Struggle of Resistance, with precarious coordination.

A complicated tapestry of political instability, ideological conflicts, foreign meddling, and the desire for national unification forms the backdrop of the Chinese Civil War. Comprehending these fundamental elements is imperative to appreciate the scope of this dispute and its enduring influence on China’s course.

Chinese Civil War – Events

The “Chinese Civil War” wasn’t just about land, but also about different ideas. On one side were the Communists, who believed everyone should share things equally. On the other side were the Nationalists, who wanted to keep things mostly the way they were. This summary will explain the different parts of the war, the important moments that decided who won, and how this big fight changed China forever.

Uneasy Alliance and Bitter Split (1924-1927)

After the Qing Dynasty fell in 1911, China descended into an era of warlordism and disintegration. The KMT, led by Chiang Kai-shek, and the CCP, established by Mao Zedong, became the two main political forces. They disagreed on many issues, but in 1924 they banded together temporarily (called the First United Front) to fight foreign influence and warlords. Unfortunately, in 1927, their collaboration fell apart. Fearing the CCP’s increasing power, Chiang Kai-shek carried out a bloody purge that drove the party underground and sparked the first stage of the civil war (1927–1937).

The Second United Front and the War with Japan (1937-1945)

Japan’s full-scale invasion of China in 1937 resulted in the KMT and CCP agreeing to a short-term truce. To concentrate on opposing the shared adversary, they established the Second United Front. There was a shaky cooperation throughout this time, known as the National War of Resistance, characterised by mistrust and periodic conflicts. Both sides were weakened by the bloody war against Japan, but the KMT was especially badly hit as they experienced economic hardship and corruption.

Renewed Conflict and Communist Ascendancy (1945-1949)

China was left in ruins after Japan was defeated in World War II. In 1946, the KMT and CCP’s precarious ceasefire broke down, and the full-fledged civil war broke out again. Held back by the same problems that had previously encouraged support for communism, the KMT found it difficult to hold onto power. Conversely, the CCP had made the most of the years spent against Japan. They developed their guerrilla warfare techniques, had a solid rural base, and carried out land reforms that won them a sizable amount of support from the peasantry.

The Huaihai Campaign (1948–49) and the Pingjin Campaign (1948–49) were two significant Communist successes that swung the balance in their favour. Beijing’s conquest in January 1949 was a watershed moment.

Birth of a New China and a Divided Nation (1949-Present)

In 1949, after a long war, Mao Zedong announced the founding of a new government in China called the People’s Republic of China (PRC). The other side, the KMT, lost the war and went to an island called Taiwan, where they set up their own government called the Republic of China (ROC). It’s estimated that between 8 and 20 million people died in the war. Under Mao’s leadership, China started following a new system called socialism, which brought big changes to the country’s society, economy, and politics.

China’s current state and its relationship with Taiwan are still shaped by the aftermath of the civil war. The unresolved tension between the PRC and ROC serves as a reminder of the war’s lasting effects, and the Taiwan Strait is still a potential flashpoint.

Effects of Chinese Civil War

The Chinese Civil War, primarily fought between the Nationalist Kuomintang (KMT) forces led by Chiang Kai-shek and the Communist Party of China (CPC) led by Mao Zedong, had profound effects on China and its place in the world. The main phase of the conflict occurred in two periods: from 1927 to 1937 and then from 1946 to 1950, with a hiatus during the Second Sino-Japanese War. Here are some of the major effects of the Chinese Civil War:

1. Establishment of the People’s Republic of China (PRC)

• The war concluded with the victory of the CPC and the proclamation of the People’s Republic of China by Mao Zedong on October 1, 1949. This marked the beginning of communist rule in China, drastically altering its political, economic, and social systems.

2. Nationalist Government’s Retreat to Taiwan

• Following their defeat, Chiang Kai-shek and the remnants of the KMT retreated to Taiwan in 1949. Here, they established a government in exile, which claimed to be the legitimate government of all China. This led to the ongoing Taiwan Strait tensions and the complex relationship between Taiwan and the PRC.

3. Social and Economic Reforms

• The victory of the CPC initiated sweeping land reforms aimed at redistributing land from the feudal landlords to the peasantry. This was part of broader social reforms that sought to eradicate opium addiction, reduce illiteracy, and improve women’s rights.

4. Cultural Revolution and Political Campaigns

• The aftermath of the civil war saw the launch of numerous political campaigns under Mao’s leadership, including the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution. These campaigns aimed at further consolidating communist ideology but often led to economic disaster and widespread human suffering.

5. Isolation and Later Opening Up

• Initially, the PRC was internationally isolated, with few countries recognizing the new regime. Over time, especially after the Sino-Soviet split and the establishment of diplomatic relations with the United States in the 1970s, China began to open up to the world.

6. Impact on Sino-Soviet Relations

• The civil war and its outcome played a significant role in shaping the relationship between China and the Soviet Union. Initially allies, with the Soviet Union providing support to the CPC, tensions eventually led to the Sino-Soviet split, significantly impacting Cold War dynamics.

7. Influence on Global Communist Movements

• The success of the CPC inspired communist movements and guerilla activities in various parts of Asia, Africa, and Latin America during the Cold War.

8. Economic Transformation

• After the initial years of economic hardships and the impact of political campaigns, China, under the leadership of Deng Xiaoping and subsequent leaders, embarked on a path of economic reforms and opening-up from the late 1970s onwards, leading to unprecedented economic growth and development.

9. Internal Migration and Urbanization

• Economic policies post-civil war encouraged internal migration, especially rural to urban, leading to significant urbanization and changes in the demographic landscape of China.

The Chinese Civil War not only reshaped China internally but also significantly impacted international politics, contributing to the geopolitical landscape of the 20th century and beyond.

Best Chinese Civil War Books

Here’s a list of some top books on the Chinese Civil War:

Title	Author	Description
“China’s War with Japan, 1937-1945: The Struggle for Survival”	Rana Mitter	Offers a comprehensive account of the Second Sino-Japanese War, intertwined with the Chinese Civil War. Examines the social, political, and military aspects of the conflict.
“The Tragedy of Liberation: A History of the Chinese Revolution 1945-1957”	Frank Dikotter	Provides a detailed analysis of the Chinese Civil War and the subsequent Communist revolution. Explores its causes, key battles, and consequences for Chinese society.
“Red Star Over China”	Edgar Snow	Offers firsthand accounts of the Communist revolution in China, providing insights into the ideology and strategies of the Communist forces during the civil war.
“The Long March”	Sun Shuyun	Portrays the Long March, a pivotal event in the Chinese Civil War, reconstructing the experiences of the Red Army and exploring its significance in Chinese history.
“The Battle for China’s Past: Mao and the Cultural Revolution”	Mobo Gao	Examines the legacy of Mao Zedong and the impact of the Cultural Revolution on China’s political and social landscape, shedding light on the aftermath of the civil war.
“China: A New History”	John King Fairbank	Provides a balanced and insightful analysis of the Chinese Civil War within the broader context of China’s long and complex history.

FAQs on the Chinese Civil War

What was the Chinese Civil War?

The Kuomintang, or KMT, led Nationalist government and the Communist Party of China (CPC) fought a protracted war for control of mainland China, which is known as the Chinese Civil War. It took place between 1927 and 1949 and was won by the Communists, who then went on to form the People’s Republic of China.

How many people died in Chinese Civil War?

Estimates of the number of people who died in the Chinese Civil War range from 8 million to 20 million. It’s important to remember that these are estimates, because it’s difficult to know the exact number of people who died in such a large and complex conflict.

What were the Main Causes of the Chinese Civil War?

Political, economic, and social issues such as the Communist and Nationalists’ power struggle, land reforms, corruption in the Nationalist administration, and outside influences like the Japanese invasion and occupation during World War II were the main causes of the Chinese Civil War.

What role did External Factors Play in the Chinese Civil War?

The Second Sino-Japanese War (1937–1945) in particular had a major impact on the direction of the Chinese Civil War. While they briefly banded together to oppose Japanese aggression, the Nationalists and Communists’ alliance was brittle and frequently weakened by internal strife.

What was the outcome of the Chinese Civil War?

The Communist forces led by Mao Zedong emerged victorious in the Chinese Civil War. The Communists founded the People’s Republic of China on the mainland in 1949, while the Nationalists, commanded by Chiang Kai-shek, withdrew to Taiwan.