The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) began as a small organization of intellectuals and revolutionaries determined to overthrow the oppressive Qing Dynasty and establish a new government based on Marxist-Leninist ideology. The CCP initially formed in 1921 as a result of Marxism’s growing influence and the intellectual foundation provided by the May Fourth Movement of 1919. After a period of revolutionary activity and collaboration with the nationalist Kuomintang (KMT), the CCP eventually secured control of China in 1949, establishing the People’s Republic of China (PRC).
The process of the Communist Party’s rise to power began with the establishment of the KMT-CCP alliance in 1924, which was part of the larger Chinese “united front” against the warlords that had taken control of most of the country. This alliance allowed the KMT and CCP to join forces and share resources in an attempt to defeat their common enemies. As the KMT and CCP worked together, they also set up base areas in several southwestern provinces, where the communists built up their own power base, organized peasant support, and trained their own military units.
At first, the KMT had the upper hand in the alliance, and the CCP was forced to act mainly as a subordinate ally. It wasn’t until 1926 that the CCP began to gain more power in the alliance, particularly after Chiang Kai-shek took over the KMT and became its leader. Chiang saw the communist base areas as a threat to KMT rule, and began to take steps to eliminate them, launching a military campaign known as the “Northern Expedition” in 1926. However, the communists were able to use these military campaigns to their advantage, allowing them to spread their influence to new areas and organize peasant support.
The communists also benefited from the disruption caused by the Japanese invasion in 1937, which weakened the KMT’s hold on power. During this time, the CCP was able to increase its military strength and expand its base areas in the countryside. The party also used the war effort to cultivate support among the people, providing aid and protection during a time of great suffering. This helped the CCP win even more support and increased its standing among the general population.
In 1945, the Japanese were defeated, and a civil war between the KMT and the CCP ensued. The CCP was able to utilize its strong base areas and peasant support to its advantage, allowing it to emerge victorious and establish the People’s Republic of China in 1949. During the civil war, the communists had been able to gain access to Soviet military and economic aid, giving them a crucial edge over their rivals.
The Chinese Communist Party’s ability to establish itself as the ruling party of China was due to its adept maneuvering between different alliances and use of tactics aimed at gaining popular support. The CCP used its alliance with the KMT to consolidate its power, while taking advantage of the chaos of war and Japanese occupation to gain strength and resources. By the end of the 1940s, the CCP had emerged as the leading political force in China and established itself as the nation’s ruling party.