AP World History: Modern - Communist Revolutions & Land Reforms 🌍

Hey there, future AP World History champ! Let's dive into the world of communist revolutions and land reforms. This guide is designed to make sure you're not just memorizing facts, but truly understanding the big picture. Let's get started!

🇨🇳 The Chinese Revolution: From Dynasties to Communism

The Fall of Dynasties and Rise of Instability

• The Chinese Revolution of 1900 marked the end of the age-old dynasty system. 💥
• A republic led by Sun Yat-Sen emerged, but quickly collapsed due to warlord conflicts. ⚔️

The Kuomintang vs. the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)

• The Kuomintang (Nationalists) took power, establishing their government.

• They soon found themselves in a power struggle with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

• The May Fourth Movement (1919) was a key turning point. It was a student-led protest against foreign influence and traditional Chinese values. 💡

  • This movement fueled the growth of communist ideas and the CCP.

The Japanese Invasion and the Rise of the CCP

• The Japanese invasion of Manchuria in 1931 was a game-changer. 🇯🇵
• The Kuomintang focused on fighting the CCP, while the CCP fought the Japanese with the People's Liberation Army. ⚔️
• This earned the CCP widespread public support.
• The CCP promoted education, better status for women, and peasant rebellion. These efforts helped them gain support from commoners.
• In 1949, the Chinese Communist Revolution ended with the CCP establishing the People’s Republic of China. 🎉

The Great Leap Forward

• After gaining control, the CCP launched the Great Leap Forward (1958-1962) under Mao Zedong. 🚀
• Goal: Rapidly transform China into an industrialized society through communes.
• Result: Disaster. Poor planning, natural disasters, and mismanagement led to widespread famine and millions of deaths. 💀
• The failure of the Great Leap Forward led to a significant shift in Chinese economic policies.

🌍 Communism's Spread Beyond China

Vietnam 🇻🇳

• The Vietnamese Communist Party, led by Ho Chi Minh, was central to the independence movement against French colonial rule. ✊
• After WWII, Ho Chi Minh declared the independence of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.
• The Vietnamese communists fought against French colonial forces, leading to the Battle of Dien Bien Phu (1954). 💥
• The Geneva Accords partitioned Vietnam into a Communist North and an anti-Communist South.

Ethiopia 🇪🇹

• Mengistu Haile Mariam converted Ethiopia into a communist regime. 🚩
• He nationalized industries and collectivized agriculture.
• His rule was marked by human rights abuses, political executions, and forced relocations. 💔
• His government fought a costly war with Eritrea and faced a major famine, leading to his ousting in 1991.
  

Land Reform in Kerala, India 🇮🇳

• The state of Kerala elected a government that legitimized peasants’ right to cultivate land. 🌱
• They set a limit on land ownership.
• Other Indian states enacted similar reforms, abolishing the Zamindari system (feudal landholding) and ending intermediary tax collectors. 🧑‍🌾

Iran 🇮🇷

• The White Revolution (1963) was a series of modernization reforms. ⚙️
• It included land redistribution, increased federal funding, and encouragement of industrial growth and education.

Reform in Latin America 🌎

• A trend of peasants taking over dispossessed states to cultivate. 🧑‍🌾
• A push toward modernization.
• Examples: Brazil added taxes on large land tracts; Chile encouraged peasant farming on large plantations.

Pay close attention to the causes and effects of communist movements in different regions. The AP exam loves to compare and contrast these!

🕹️ Review Game: Chronological Order

Put the following events of Chinese History in chronological order:

1. CCP gains power and influence, largely for attacking the Japanese
2. Republic collapses due to warlord conflicts
3. Establishment of the People’s Republic of China
4. May Fourth Movement; ideas of communism began to expand
5. Nationalists take power and establish the Kuomintang
6. Chinese Revolution puts into place a republic led by Sun Yat-sen
7. Chinese Communist Revolution
8. Japanese invasion of Manchuria

Answers

1. Chinese Revolution puts into place a republic led by Sun Yat-sen
2. Republic collapses due to warlord conflicts
3. Nationalists take power and establish the Kuomintang
4. Japanese invasion of Manchuria
5. May Fourth Movement; ideas of communism began to expand
6. CCP gains power and influence, largely for attacking the Japanese
7. Chinese Communist Revolution
8. Establishment of the People’s Republic of China

🎯 Final Exam Focus

Key Topics

• Chinese Revolution: Causes, key players, and long-term effects.
• Spread of Communism: Vietnam, Ethiopia, and other regions. Compare and contrast their experiences.
• Land Reforms: Impact in different regions (Kerala, Latin America, Iran).
• The Great Leap Forward: Understand its goals and devastating consequences.

Common Question Types

• Multiple Choice: Expect questions on specific events, leaders, and policies.
• Short Answer: Be prepared to explain the causes and effects of communist movements and land reforms.
• Free Response: Analyze the impact of communism and land reform on different societies. Compare and contrast different regions.

Last-Minute Tips

• Time Management: Don’t spend too long on any one question. Move on and come back if you have time.
• Common Pitfalls: Avoid vague statements. Be specific and use historical evidence.
• Strategies: For FRQs, start with a clear thesis statement. Organize your essay logically.

📝 Practice Questions

Practice Question

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Which of the following best describes the primary goal of the Great Leap Forward in China? (A) To establish a democratic government (B) To rapidly industrialize and collectivize agriculture (C) To improve relations with Western powers (D) To dismantle the communist party

2. The May Fourth Movement in China was primarily a response to: (A) The rise of the Kuomintang (B) The end of the Chinese Civil War (C) Foreign influence and traditional Chinese values (D) The success of the Great Leap Forward

3. Which of the following leaders is associated with the communist movement in Vietnam? (A) Sun Yat-sen (B) Mao Zedong (C) Ho Chi Minh (D) Mengistu Haile Mariam

Short Answer Question

Briefly explain ONE way in which the Chinese Communist Revolution and the Vietnamese communist movement were similar and ONE way in which they were different.

Free Response Question

Analyze the social and economic effects of land reform in TWO of the following regions: China, India, Latin America. (7 points)

• Thesis (1 point): Presents a historically defensible thesis or claim.
• Evidence (2 points): Provides specific examples of land reform in two regions.
• Analysis (2 points): Analyzes the social effects of land reform in those regions.
• Analysis (2 points): Analyzes the economic effects of land reform in those regions.

You've got this! Remember, understanding the connections between events is key. Good luck on your AP exam! 🍀