Sun Yat-sen’s “Three Principles of the People”

Ideas created by Sun Yat-sen to guide China’s future government: nationalism (remove foreign control), democracy (people should have a voice in government), and people’s livelihood (improve living conditions and reduce poverty).

The Kuomintang (KMT / GMD)

A Chinese Nationalist political party that tried to create a democratic China and fought against the Communists.

The Long March

A 1934–1935 retreat by Communist forces to escape the Nationalists; the 6,000-mile journey helped Mao Zedong become leader of the Chinese Communist Party.

Great Leap Forward

A 1958–1962 economic plan to rapidly industrialize China by forcing people to work in farms and factories; it failed and caused a massive famine.

Communes

Large government-run farms where people lived and worked together, sharing food, housing, and resources.

Red Guard

Groups of young people who supported Mao during the Cultural Revolution and attacked people and traditions seen as anti-communist.

Taiwan

An island where the Nationalists fled after losing the Chinese Civil War and created a separate government from mainland China.

Cultural Revolution

A 1966–1976 movement led by Mao to remove old traditions and strengthen communism; schools closed, intellectuals were punished, and chaos spread across China.

“Four Olds”

Ideas Mao wanted to destroy during the Cultural Revolution: old customs, old culture, old habits, and old ideas.

4 Modernizations

Economic reforms under Deng Xiaoping to improve agriculture, industry, science and technology, and defense, allowing some capitalism and opening China to global trade.

Tiananmen Square Massacre

A 1989 protest in Beijing where students demanded democracy; the government sent in troops and violently ended the protests.

China’s Family Planning Programs

Government policies to control population growth, including the One-Child Policy that limited most families to one child.

Sun Yat-sen

Sun Yat-sen is known as the “Father of Modern China.” He helped end over 2,000 years of imperial rule.

Major things he did

• Led the 1911 Revolution that overthrew China’s last emperor (Qing Dynasty).
• Created the Three Principles of the People (Nationalism, Democracy, People’s Livelihood).
• Founded the Nationalist Party (Kuomintang).
• Wanted China to become a modern, democratic country.

Why he matters:
He laid the foundation for modern China and influenced both Nationalists and Communists.

Chiang Kai-shek (also called Jiang Jieshi)

Why he is important:
He became leader of the Nationalists after Sun Yat-sen and fought to unite China.

Major things he did

• Led the Kuomintang (Nationalist Party).
• Tried to unite China and defeat warlords.
• Fought the Chinese Communists in a long civil war.
• Allied with the U.S. during World War II to fight Japan.
• Lost the Chinese Civil War to Mao’s Communists in 1949.
• Fled to Taiwan, where he set up a separate government.

Why he matters:
His defeat caused China to split into Communist China and Taiwan, which still affects global politics today.

Mao Zedong

Why he is important:
Founder of the People’s Republic of China (Communist China).

Major things he did

• Led the Communist Party to victory in the Chinese Civil War (1949).
• Made China a communist country.

Key policies

1. The Long March (1934–35) Helped him become Communist leader.
2. Great Leap Forward (1958–1962) Tried to rapidly industrialize China. Forced people into communes. Caused a massive famine that killed millions.
3. Cultural Revolution (1966–1976) Tried to remove old traditions and enemies of communism. Used Red Guards to punish people. Caused chaos, violence, and economic damage.

Why he matters:
He transformed China politically and socially, but many of his policies caused great suffering.

Deng Xiaoping

Why he is important:
He changed China’s economy and helped make it a global economic power.

Major things he did

• Took power after Mao’s death.
• Started the Four Modernizations: (Agriculture, Industry, Science & Technology, Military)
• Allowed limited capitalism and private businesses.
• Opened China to foreign trade and investment.
• Improved living standards and economic growth.

Major event

• Tiananmen Square (1989): Protesters demanded democracy. Deng ordered the military to stop protests by force.

Why he matters:
He transformed China into a modern economic powerhouse, but kept strict political control.