IGNOU HISTORY NOTES : History Of China and Japan (1840-1949) - Formation of The Communist Party of China (CPC)

IGNOU HISTORY Study Notes for IAS, UPSC Exams

History Of China and Japan (1840-1949)

Formation of The Communist Party of China (CPC)

Structure

3 1.0 Objectives
3 1.1 introduction
3'1.2 The Birth of Marxism in China
31.2.1 The lnternat~onal Context
31.2.2 The Polrtrcal Climate
31.2.3 The Socral and Polrtlcal Mrl~eu
31.3 The Communist Party : 1921
31.4 Their Early Ideas
3 1.5 Their Early Activities
31.6 Let Us Sum Up
3 1.7 Key Words
31.8 Answers to Check Your Progress Exercises

31.0 OBJECTIVES

This Unit deals with the emergence of the Communist Party in China (CPC). After
reading this Unit you will be able to:

know abodt the early ideas of the CPC,
familiarise yourself with the early activities of the CPC, and
comprehend the political and social milieu under which the CPC functioned.

31.1 INTRODUCTION

The Chinese Revolution, like the Indian National Movement for independence. was
a long fought struggle in which thousands laid down their lives. The twin aims of the
Revolution (achieved in 1849) were :
i) To free their country from imperialist control, and
ii) The emancipation of the Chinese people from their own ruling classes.
The successful accomplishment of the Revolution led to the crumbling of the entire
old world and the bullding of a new economic, social and political order an order
which was considered more just and in the interests of the people. Though the fight
against old ideas had to continue even later in the post-revolutionary China, the
Revolution did brrng about a transformation in the mental make up of the Chinese
people.
In this varied transformation the Chinese Communist Party played a very significant
leading role. It has to be noted here that in just 28 years after the formation of CPC
in 1921, the communists made their revolution and had formed the government. The
most well-known of its leaders were Mao Tse Tung. Chu Teh, Chen Tu-Hsiu. Liu
Shao Chi. Chouen lai and Hsrang Ching-yi-one of the first female marxists in
China. But apart from them there were thousands of other active party members
who formed the backbone of the Party structure and came from among the workers
and peasants of China. It is important to comprehend the ideas and the role of the
Communist Party of China in the revolutionary movement.