The Communist Party rose to prominence in China because of Mao’s appealing adaptation of Communism that caught the peasant’s attention.

Mao Zedong [LONG TERM, Politics/Economics]

Period: Dec 26, 1893 to Sep 9, 1976

Mao's life and work was a long term cause because he was the one who initially adapted Western's idea of Communism to fit the needs of the Chinese peasants. From Karl Marx's original theory of base and superstructure, Mao set up a new party in China that would rapidly gain support over the years. His promises that the land would be evenly distributed, and everyone would have enough resources were incredibly attractive to a peasant class that had been put down for so long under feudalism.

The Shanghai Purge [LONG TERM-Politics/Economics]

Apr 12, 1927

This event is long term because it really marked the beginning of the CCP as its own, momentum-gaining movement. Before, the CCP were allied with the Guomindang, therefore limiting its abilities to affect any great change. But when the Guomindang drove them out, it gave the CCP an excuse to branch off and make their own during the Long March. They finally had the chance to let "peasants rise like a fierce wind" (Mao, Report on Hunan).

Founding of the Jiangxi Soviet [LONG TERM, Politics/Economics]

Jan 1, 1931

This event was long term because it was the first time that Communists had a chance ot set out and spread communism to the lower classes. Since it was the Communists' first opportunity to set up their own "state", the headquarters located in Rujin, without any connection to the Guomidang, they could make their own promises to the peasants, which were attractive to them. The Jiangxi's connection to the Soviet Union also help them gain support and ideas for military tactics

The New Life Movement [SHORT TERM-Imperialism]

Feb 1, 1934

This event is short term because it wasn't something that the CCP did to gain support, but it was what the Nationalists did that lost them support. After China was weakened by western influence and the warlord era, the Guomindang attempted to create a new order. But When Kai-Shek wrote, "there are too many consumers", it sounded like and indictment of the peasants, which drove more of them to supporting the CCP.

The Long March [LONG TERM-Politics/Economics]

Period: Oct 1, 1934 to Oct 1, 1935

This event is long term because through the CCP's recruiting tactics, they instilled in the peasants a sense of class unity, which lasted for a long time.The CCP used this event as an opportunity to connect and spread their ideals with the peasants at the rallies.As Wang describes in "Drain the Pond", there were such scarcities in resources that she still craves salt .The CCP gained momentum because they shared this difficult experience with the peasants.

The Nanjing Massacre [LONG TERM, Imperialism]

Dec 13, 1937

This event is long term beacuse this act of violence gave the peasants a reason to join their cause. The Chinese's geurilla warfare and Japan's post-Shiminoseki superiority complex caused them to act out violently against the Chinese, but it gave the lower class an immediate need for Communism. They saw how Japan's Imperialistic ways led to destruction, so they sought comfort in the idea of Communism, a party that claimed that they would never do something of that nature.

Publication of "The Economy of New Democracy", Mao [SHORT TERM-Politics/Economics]

Jan 1, 1940

This document had short-term effects because its presentation of Communism was moderate, and not completely true, but was promising to the peasants. Mao quotes Sun Yat-Sen's notion of "land to the tiller", which was appealing to the lower class that worked the land. Mao's recruiting strategy was promising tangible results for their work. He ends with highlighting the idea of Base and Superstructure, a fundamental point of Communism that gained them influence.

Pearl Harbor [SHORT TERM, Nationalism]

Dec 7, 1941

This event was short term because it quickly gave the Americans a reason to fund China's "War of Resistance Against Japan". Through this support, they were able to further spread their ideals within China, by unifying with the Guomindang who were in Chongqing, and being able to partially control a larger audience. The peasants rallied together in support of the Communists against Japan. Aid in defeating a common enemy helped the CCP gain support.