MelissaPL


 * //To what extent did Chiang Kai-shek implement the principle of People's Livelihood in the period 1928-1937?//**

When one declares the years subsequent to the death of Sun Yatsen in March 1925 as a period of time in which Chiang Yatsen fulfilled his legacy, many would be quick to find ample reasons to oppose. __**This is a poetic start. Perhaps it would be better worded as; Chiang Kaishek did not fulfill the promise of Sun Yatsen's vision. Just a thought. Maybe yours is better.**__

Moreover, when it is stated that Chiang Kai-shek attempted to implement the principle of the People’s Livelihood, it is probable that an even greater number of people would disagree, despite his trivial effort. It is wholly recognised that Chiang Kai-shek made an inadequate attempt to implement this principle, sacrificing Sun Yatsen’s principle that “the revolutionary government must accept responsibility for providing food, clothing, shelter and transport” so he could establish a more “efficient” government for China. The succeeding response is one that seeks to explore the trivial attempt made by Chiang Kai-shek to implement his brother-in-law’s legacy during the period 1928–1937. It will further reveal how he aimed to provide China with a more proficient government, achieved through the modernisation of transport and communication systems, the improvement of education, the development of banks and the rationalization of finances. Nevertheless, it will ultimately show how he failed, due to a minor attempt to win over China’s 350 million peasants and evidently his desire for autocratic power.
 * __I get what you are trying to say and it is good. It is a little lost in the language which needs to be simplified and clearer in its intention.__**

On first glance, the Nationalist Government’s initial actions were deemed “impressive”. An attempt was made to expand China’s infrastructure as they modernised. In 1936 the Guangzhou-Hankou railway was completed, later increasing its tracks from 8000 to 13 000 kilometres. In 1921, 1000 kilometres of highway significantly expanded to 115 703 kilometres over the next 15 years. However upon closer study, it is revealed that the development of these forms of transport was “designed for military use and did little to stimulate the economy.” In regards to communication, post offices increased from 10 000 to 14 000 in 1936, along with the 95 000 kilometre increase of telegraph lines. But all in all, this small attempt was too proved to be an action that bettered the military, seeking to improve their means of communication, rather than the population of China. Therefore, it is evident that Chiang Kai-shek made a limited attempt to implement the principle of the People’s Livelihood, as the actions of the Government sought to assist the growing military, rather than help and win over the entity of China’s population. **__good level of detail__**

Education was viewed as a “means of achieving national unity and developing the skills needed for modernisation.” An attempt was made to improve the aspect of education by the creation of a compulsory national language and the establishment of an administration to handle aspects of control. An improvement was noted between 1935 and 1937 when school enrolments grew from 13 million to 23 million. Even so, inequality was still present, as educational opportunities were considered uneven. This was due to only 32 of the 103 tertiary institutions being placed in less urban areas, with places such as Shanxi only holding approximately 4 places for every 10 000 people. The total secondary population was believed to be merely 545 207 people out of China’s 450 million. Therefore, although Chiang Kai-shek once again attempted to improve the people’s livelihood, statistics prove that this was only a limited attempt, due to a large amount of unequal opportunities due to geographic location.

In order to improve and stabilise China’s economy, Chiang Kai-shek replaced the traditional silver tael with the standard silver dollar in 1933. Chiang attempted to act under the guidance of Sun Yatsen when he established four major banks in 1935 to issue this new currency. They were Central Bank, Bank of China, Farmers Bank and Bank of Communication. This action revealed a minor attempt to implement the desires of his brother-in-law, however this was overlooked as the government began to face its demise with significant financial difficulties. With no income tax, the government made up a “short fall” in which they sold government bonds. Furthermore, when military expenses increased in 1931, a large amount of money was printed, resulting in inflation. Therefore, peasants were made to pay increasing taxes that ended up “in the pockets of the rich when they collected interest on their bonds.” Therefore, this inequality proves that although this minor attempt was made to develop the economy, the desires of Sun Yatsen’s and his principle were carried out to a limited extent.

Lastly, a significant factor contributing to the failure of implementing the principle was the trivial attempt to win over the 350 million peasants of China. There were a number of national disasters that occurred that worsened the living environment of the peasantry, such as large and destructive floods in 1931, and a famine in a number of the northern and north-west provinces. Even so, by late 1931, it was believed a massive 25 million people were malnutritioned. It was noted however that the government did little to help or improve the situation, with Lois W. Snow stating that the most shocking aspect was witnessing “rich men… and landlords with armed guards to defend them while they profiteered enormously.” Therefore, this sense of inequality, furthermore noted with the gluttonous warlords who forced taxes upon the peasants, reveals an unjust life as a result of the Nationalist government’s failure to wholly implement the principle of the People’s Livelihood to the greatest extent possible.

In conclusion, it is recognised that Chiang Kai-shek made an attempt to implement a small degree of Sun Yatsen’s principle of the People’s Livelihood. However, it is fundamentally noted that each of these attempts at improvement were only deemed impressive until closer analysis, in which its flaws are revealed through statistical information. Although there was improvement and development made by Chiang Kai-shek within the areas of transport, communication, education, banks and finances; an utmost desire for a revolution, effective government and autocratic rule sacrificed Sun Yatsen’s ultimate ambitions in which he endeavoured to implement the principle of the People’s Livelihood to the greatest extent achievable.

__**Your essay is clearly laid out. You have a very high standard of detail and cause and effect. I would see how this improves with another edit which I think will help you to straighten out some of the sentences.**__ This is a great start and you are definitely on the right track.