IB: Chinese Communist Party Victory in Chinese Civil War
IB Extended Essay: Why was the Chinese Communist Party able to achieve victory over the Kuomintang in the Chinese Civil War?
Word Count: 4067
Abstract
The Chinese Civil War, which took place from the end of World War II up to October 1, 1949, directly led to the creation of the People’s Republic of China, the world’s most populous communist nation. The purpose of this essay is to explain why the Chinese Communist Party was able to achieve victory over the Kuomintang in the Chinese Civil War. In this paper, the role of international powers, namely the Soviet Union and the United States, Kuomintang policy, and Chinese Communist Party policy and will be explored.
The essay begins by giving a brief background of the conditions of the Chinese Civil War. Historical ranges of view are then discussed. The role of the Soviet Union in the earlier years of the Chinese Communist Party is discussed and how the Soviet policy towards China began to change. It also explores the American attitude towards the Soviet Union and China and how it is related to the beginnings of the Cold War. Marshall’s mission to China in 1946 and 1947 is discussed. A section on the military and economic policies of the Kuomintang during the war follows. Finally, the military, economic, and political policies of the Chinese Communist Party are discussed. A brief section on the course of the war follows.
The essay concludes that in spite of alienation by the Soviet Union and opposition from the U.S. due to growing fears of Soviet expansion, the Chinese Communist Party was able to achieve victory over the Kuomintang partly because of the Kuomintang’s apparent weaknesses, but primarily because of the superior military strategy employed by the Communists and the economic and political reforms carried out by the party.
Table of Contents
Chapter I. Introduction
Chapter II. The Soviet Attitude Towards the Chinese Civil War
1. History of Soviets with Chinese Communist Party
2. Soviet Policy in Manchuria after W.W.II
Chapter III. The American Attitude Towards the Chinese Civil War
1. Marshall’s mission to China
2. American aid to the Kuomintang during the war
Chapter IV. The Kuomintang and the Civil War
1. Occupation of former Japanese territories
2. Peace talks of 1945 and 1946
3. Economic Problems
4. Military Policy
Chapter V. The Chinese Communist Party and the Civil War
1. Military Policy...