Timeline
For a long time after the fall of the Qing Dynasty, the Communists had barely a foothold in China. This was particularly true after the Shanghai Massacre, but after World War II, when the Nationalists were their weakest, the Communists began having a comeback.
1912- Nationalists overthrow the Qing Dynasty.
1921- Communist Party of China comes into being.
1923- The Communists and the Nationalists form an alliance.
1925- Sun Yat-sen dies, and command of the Nationalist forces falls to Chiang Kai-shek.
1927- April 12, Nationalist forces storm Shanghai, destroying the Communist base, and massacring all known Communists found in the city.
1931- Nationalist forces enter Shanghai once more and destroy the Communist base there.
1934- The Long March Begins. Communists under the leadership of Mao Zedong employ guerrilla tactics to slow the Nationalist troops while they retreat. The New Life Movement Begins.
1937- Japanese forces enter Nanjing, and murder half of the occupants in the city over a period of six weeks. This is known as the Rape of Nanjing.
1939- World War II begins.
1945- World War II ends, and the Chinese Civil War begins.
1947- Cold War begins.
1949- Nationalist forces are defeated and forced to flee to Taiwan, and Mao Zedong formalizes the formation of the People's Republic of China.
1950- China sends troops to aid North Korea in the Korean War.
1955- Communists launch a land reform program
1957- The 100 flowers period begins.
1958- The Great Leap Forward begins.
1959- The 100 flowers period ends.
1965- The Cultural Revolution begins.
1966- The Red Guards take over the local governments of China. The Little Red Book is published.
1971- The People's Republic of China takes Taiwan's seat in the United Nations
1972- Richard Nixon visits China, and diplomatic relations are reformed with the U.S.
1976- Mao Zedong dies at 82 years of age. Deng Xiaoping becomes the head of the Communist Party.
1980- A movement for the institution of a democracy is made.
1989- Protests in Tienanmen Square.
1994- China is criticized for breaches of human rights, and loses the bid to host the Olympic Games of 2000.
1996 to Present day- Relations between China and Taiwan become more and more unstable.
1997- Britain cedes Hong Kong to China.
2002- China joins World Trade Organization.
1912- Nationalists overthrow the Qing Dynasty.
1921- Communist Party of China comes into being.
1923- The Communists and the Nationalists form an alliance.
1925- Sun Yat-sen dies, and command of the Nationalist forces falls to Chiang Kai-shek.
1927- April 12, Nationalist forces storm Shanghai, destroying the Communist base, and massacring all known Communists found in the city.
1931- Nationalist forces enter Shanghai once more and destroy the Communist base there.
1934- The Long March Begins. Communists under the leadership of Mao Zedong employ guerrilla tactics to slow the Nationalist troops while they retreat. The New Life Movement Begins.
1937- Japanese forces enter Nanjing, and murder half of the occupants in the city over a period of six weeks. This is known as the Rape of Nanjing.
1939- World War II begins.
1945- World War II ends, and the Chinese Civil War begins.
1947- Cold War begins.
1949- Nationalist forces are defeated and forced to flee to Taiwan, and Mao Zedong formalizes the formation of the People's Republic of China.
1950- China sends troops to aid North Korea in the Korean War.
1955- Communists launch a land reform program
1957- The 100 flowers period begins.
1958- The Great Leap Forward begins.
1959- The 100 flowers period ends.
1965- The Cultural Revolution begins.
1966- The Red Guards take over the local governments of China. The Little Red Book is published.
1971- The People's Republic of China takes Taiwan's seat in the United Nations
1972- Richard Nixon visits China, and diplomatic relations are reformed with the U.S.
1976- Mao Zedong dies at 82 years of age. Deng Xiaoping becomes the head of the Communist Party.
1980- A movement for the institution of a democracy is made.
1989- Protests in Tienanmen Square.
1994- China is criticized for breaches of human rights, and loses the bid to host the Olympic Games of 2000.
1996 to Present day- Relations between China and Taiwan become more and more unstable.
1997- Britain cedes Hong Kong to China.
2002- China joins World Trade Organization.