MariahPL

It is evident that one of the three principles //in which Sun Yat-Sen implemented **CHIANG** f//or the Nationalist government was the __Principle of People’s livelihood__. In developing this Sun was clear that the revolutionary government was obliged to recognize and accept responsibility for the provision of clothing, shelter, food and transport. The agricultural problems were assumed to be unraveled by a land equalization scheme; the government was to return the land to the poor, by purchasing it from the wealthy, with the use of land tax. These were primarily the conditions, and what was believed to soon be achieved. Between 1928 and 1937 Chiang’s government appeared to be accomplishing a fair amount and overcoming many obstacles. Transport and Communication were broadened and modernized; education was becoming **extremely** progressive, new banks were instituted and finances were efficient**//. this is good!//**
 * The principle of people’s livelihood (Equality) **
 * Question: To what extent did Chiang Kai-shek implement the Principles of People’s livelihood in the period 1928-1937? **

The new revolutionary government implemented a huge quantity of time and resources in the development of transportation and communication to service a modernizing state. For example: · The Guangzhou-Hankou railway was established and completed in 1936 and within 1928 and 1937 the railway network expanded from 8000 to 13 000 kilometres of track. · 1000 Kilometres of sealed highway in 1921 had risen to 115 703 kilometres by 1936. As productive, and positive as these infrastructural developments appeared to be, it was evident that both forms of transport had minor impact on stimulating the economy, and where intentionally put into service for military use only. · China National Aviation Corporation was established. · Postal officers were increased, and 95 000 kilometres of telegraph lines had been supplemented. Industrial development was also expanding, it grew at a rate of 6 per cent yearly. Modern industry was focused in the coastal cities. It was financed primarily by foreign capital, indicating that exports where advantaging only foreign capitalists and were contributing very little to the domestic economy of China.


 * You need to avoid the dot points.**

By 1933 Chinese currency was silver dollar. However, in 1935 Silver was abandoned and a paper currency was distributed by the four main banks. Through the direction of Chiang’s brother-in-law, four major banks were running; __1. Central bank, 2. Bank of China, 3. Farmers Bank and 4. Bank of communication__, each responsible for separate operations. The government was soon after faced with major financial issues. With no income, the government was dependant on customs and tax, and constantly failing to balance a budget. The budget was un-fairly exhausted, in 1931 87 per cent of China’s financial budget was purely spent on the Army. Soon after, the government was to print more money, resulting in inflation which inevitably affected the poor. The Nationalist Government saw education as an opportunity to promote national unity and form the proficiency needed for modernisation. The National language was now obligatory and a strategy was established in order for the government to control curriculum and standards. Within 1935 and 1937 school enrolments rose from 13 million to 23 million. Evidently, Education was un-fairly distributed. Of the 103 schooling institutes available, 32 were in Beijing and Shanghai while all the others were subject in urban centres. Nevertheless, it is evident that the increase in schooling was an achievement for the nationalist government, however, there was still a total secondary enrolment of 545 207 in a huge population of 450 million. **//excellent summary - well done//**

During the ten year of Nationalist party ruling, Chiang was dealing with the problems of 350 million peasants. Peasant’s occupied a vast majority of China’s rural land, due to there levels of illiteracy most were farmers. The overall state of peasantry in China was worsened by a tragic series of national disasters occurring in the late twenties and early thirties. In 1931 floods caused major devastation in five of China’s central provinces. During 1929 and 1931 famine hit nine of China’s northern and north-western provinces, and by 1931 25 million people were experiencing the excruciating pain of malnutrition. Along with suffering famine, the poor were expected to contend with greedy warlords who initiated a massive amount of taxes. For example: in the Gansu province in the 1930’s Fourty-four taxes were levied.

It is evident that the Government did make a serious effort in trying to increase Chinese Agricultural productivity (Farms). The use of disease-resistant plants and better marketing techniques, assisted in the improvement of silk, cotton and tea production. The formation of irrigation systems were implemented and attempts made to control the tragic flooding on the Yangzi, Huang and Huai Rivers. These attempts to improve China’s agricultural productivity were soon over, due to a deficiency of funds. Climatic and world economic conditions and hardships made the Governments job much more difficult. The Great Depression (1929-32) led to declining prices for farm equipment. An essential factor of Sun’s principle of people’s livelihood was that the Nationalist government was to ensure they made an attempt to redistribute land amongst the peasant, Chiang’s government failed to do so. However, the government was assumed to be heading in this direction when, in 1930, legislation was passed limiting rents for land to 37.5 per cent of the main crop. Nonetheless, no serious attempt was ever made to put this law into practice and within the 10 years of Nationalist ruling, rents from 50 to 60 per cent of total crop were frequent throughout China. Consequently, by 1937 the vast majority of China’s peasantry was left locked in poverty and ignorance. In malice of its overwhelming promises, the Revolutionary government had totally abandoned China’s peasants. Thus, indicating that throughout these ten years of government Chiang Kai-Shek failed to achieve the support of China’s peasantry which was indeed the majority of China’s population. It is indeed evident that Chiang Kai-Shek failed to implement Sun’s Principle of Livelihood to a great extent. There were attempts made through transport and communication, finance, industry, Education, to reduce peasantry, agricultural productivity and land-reform. However a lack of resources, finances, planning and support resulted in failure. The Nationalist government was unable to achieve Sun’s policies. Some believe it was due to the fact that Chiang became over interested and all for Fascism. A distinctive feature of the Fascist government was their efficiency. If Chiang had the ability to provide China with an efficient government, then conceivably the sacrifice of democracy was advisable and worthwhile, a total contradiction of what Nationalism aims to achieve, and what Sun had intended on achieving through a Nationalist China.


 * //This is an impressive effort. Your writing style is very clear and at times sophisticated in its delivery. You need to avoid dot points. Like many students at this stage your conclusion is your intro. We can discuss.//**

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 * By: Mariah Younan =)