KatiePL

 To what extent did Chiang Kaishek implement the policy of People's Livelihood as outlined by Sun Yatsen in the period 1928 to 1937?

In examining Chiang Kaishek's rule from 1928-37 it is recognisable that Chiang initially made an adequate attempt at implementing Sun Yatsen's principle of Peoples Livelihood, with expansion and development of transport and communication, finances, industrial production, education and agricultural productivity. However with his increased interest in fascist governments these developments became more about political and military gain as opposed to benefits for the chinese citizens and as a result he couldn't sustain many of the industries he sought to modernise. Chiangs other major downfall was the lack of acknowledgement he gave to the peasantry who occupied over 70% of Chinas population. **excellent start - this is very well balanced and shows you know how to categorise the competing tensions.**

Chiang’s government implemented Sun Yatsen’s principle of Peoples Livelihood in the development of China’s infrastructure as a means of modernization. The Guangzhou – Hankou railway was completed in 1936 and in 1937 the rail network had expanded from 8000 – 13 000 km in the last 9 years. Under the actions of the bureau of roads, sealed highways had increased by over 110 000 km from 1927 – 1936. Both the railways and the highways were designed for military use and as such, did little to help the economy as Sun Yatsen’s principles had aimed to do. Planes were implemented to fly regular routes, 6000 more post offices were opened and 95 000km of telegraph lines were erected in 1936. Whilst in some respects these were helpful to the people of China, the government’s main concern was military advancement and efficiency. **good details**

The nationalization of currency in 1935 with a standard silver dollar and a paper currency (fa-pi) was a further attempt at benefiting Chinese citizens along with the introduction of four major banks each with its own specific responsibility. (Central Bank: currency stability; Bank of China: foreign exchange; Farmers Bank: land mortgages; and Bank of Communication: domestic industry). Financial problems quickly arose for the government, with no income tax they made up the shortfall by selling government bonds, which expended funds that could otherwise have been economically productive. In 1931, 87% of China’s budget was spent on the army and military expenses were quickly increasing. This displays Chiang Kaishek’s move away from Sun Yatsen’s ideology and his neglect of the poor who suffered greatly for the military expense.

Education was placed in a position of importance by Chiang Kaishek’s government and whilst a sincere effort was made to improve education in china in order to improve Peoples Livelihood it was unevenly distributed across the population. Initial attempts at national unity through education saw the implementation of a national language and the establishment of an educational administration to control curriculum and standards. Although school enrolments rose from 13 000 000 to 23 000 000 from 1935-37, these numbers were centered in large cities and urban centers, neglecting the enormous percentage of people that lived in the country. The main issue with this was stated in C.H Becker’s ‘ the reorganization of education in china’, “such an educational system is highly injurious to the masses and dangerous because a carefully educated social elite, not closely connected with the general needs, may become transformed into an unproductive clique enclosed within the narrow bounds of its own interests.” The lack of equality of education demonstrates Chiang Kaishek’s failure to implement Sun Yatsen’s principle of Peoples Livelihood as it did not provide equal opportunity across China’s population and neglected the poor and severely uneducated.

Agricultural productivity was shown to have been focused on by the government in an attempt to improve farming in china. They sponsored research into new seed varieties, pesticides and fertilizers; silk, cotton and tea production was improved due to strategic marketing. Efforts such as these were hindered by lack of money with only 4% of expenditure from 1934 – 36 being invested in agriculture. The great depression was an exterior factor that also contributed to the economic income made by farm products.

The pursuit to win the support of the peasantry and its subsequent failure was a major factor in Chiang Kaishek’s inability to implement Sun Yatsen‘s principle. After a stream of natural disasters such as floods and famine during1929 – 31, living conditions were severely worsened for the peasantry and 25 million out of 350 million peasants were malnutritioned and starving. Chiang Kaishek’s government did little to aid the suffering masses and it can be inferred that support for Chiang Kaishek by the peasantry was greatly lessened as a result. The poor also had to contend with 44 harsh, largely unfair taxes that were put in place by the warlords in the 1930’s this made them unable to save any money to help them though future difficulties. These problems were affirmed when the nationalist government failed to make any attempt to redistribute land amongst the peasants, which was an important factor in Sun Yatsen‘s principle of peoples livelihood. Feeble attempts were made at equalizing land ownership throughout the 1930s but no attempt was made to enforce any laws that were passed. By 1937 the majority of the peasantry remained in severe poverty and oppression. It became evident that Chiang Kaishek and the Nationalist government had neglected to implement Sun Yatsen‘s principle of Peoples Livelihood amongst the majority of the population.

Due to Chiang Kaishek’s overall failure to provide stable reforms and economic changes as well as his neglect of the peasantry it becomes apparent that, although an initial attempt was made, there was by and large a failure to implement Sun Yatsen‘s principle of Peoples Livelihood.

this is excellent, Katie. I am very impressed with your ability to organise the details logically and clearly. Your conclusion needs to restart all of the above mentioned facts so as to reassert your thesis.  