Condition of China in 1936

Origins of the Civil War, 1936-1946

Chiang Kai-shek

Kuomintang or the Chinese Nationalist Party

By 1946, a full-scale Chinese Civil War had erupted between Chiang Kai-shek's nationalist government, Kuomintang (KMT), and Mao Tse-Tung's Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

Mao Tse-tung

Chinese Communist Party

In December 1936, the communists settled in the district of Yan'An in Shaanxi. They remained there from 1937 until 1945, covering the period of the Sino-Japanese War.

Mao Tse-tung addressing the CCP

Mao Tse-tung and his Chinese Communist Party (CCP) cadres dwelled in small caves as the region was very poor. It is believed that the poverty in the province increased the radicalisation of the peasants. Furthermore, the villagers followed the CCP system of cultivation and land distribution.

While living in Yan'An, Mao was able to develop his revolutionary ideology as expressed in his writings. Once in power, these would take on the form of the mass line and people's dictatorship.

Moreover, during this period, support for the Red Army increased, specifically from the peasants who were not satisfied with Chiang Kai-shek's administration.

Mao Tse-tung's Red Army