Communist victory: reasons for Communist success; the state of China in the aftermath of war; regional and economic issues; industry and agriculture
By 1949, Mao's Communist forces had defeated Jiang Jieshi's Nationalist government. A ruined economy, rampant inflation, and peasant support for the Communists all explain why the Nationalists collapsed.
Real World
By late 1948, Nationalist China's currency had collapsed so catastrophically that workers in Shanghai were paid in wheelbarrows of cash — a single US dollar bought 23 million Chinese yuan, making normal commerce impossible and turning urban populations against the GMD.
Exam Focus
For 'explain why' questions, always link each factor back to Communist victory — don't just describe Nationalist weaknesses in isolation.
Essay Framework
Use PEEL to structure every paragraph. Tap each step for guidance and an example.
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