READING: WAR & REVOLUTION IN CHINA-4

Generalissimo Jiang had the right idea, if you want to rule the nation, first give them an identity that will unite them into one. The use of nationalism was a new concept that was being used in the west and he took that idea and reshaped china. Jiang used nationalism to fuel the revolution that eventual overthrew the Manchus. Having pride in one's nation is a powerful force that all political and military leaders strive to control.

“A leader is as strong as his followers are” goes the saying and this certainly seems to be the case in Mao. A leader who knew how to cease the moment and surrounded himself with leaders such as Liu Shaoqui who became a key member to organize the Communist Party. Liu’s ideology and vision made it possible to build the Communist Party and made it possible to build the China we know.

I like the way Prof. Clay presented it in class, making me believe that I can attempt to teach such a complicated period of Asia’s history to my students.