When Sun died of cancer in 1925: due to the lack of government organization the land became over run by warlords. These warlords operated on independent regimes. This sporadic leadership continued to add to the preexisting suffering the country had endured. Igniting the initial flame of the conflict. Thus the formation of the First United Front, even though different in all aspects the Nationalists and Communists banded together to rid China of these warlords- also known as the Northern Expedition.
What first only started as an attempt to end regionalism (first united front) had now irrupted into a vicious competition for control. Thus prompted the defined emergence of two historically significant groups: the Kuomintang, also known as the Nationalists, lead by the aggressive Chiang Kai-Shek and the Chinese Communist Party, led by Mao Zedong. Immediately following the first united front the Nationalists shifts a full assault on to the CCP for the ability to rule China in their image. Even though the aggressors of the war were the Nationalists, what caused their defeat? This essay will demonstrate how a complete ideologically divided country will unify beneath one guiding force- Mao Zedong. Also identifying to what extent was Mao's leadership directly correlated to the victory of the Chinese Communist party. .
Initial Communist Survival.
The first united front, once a glimmer of hope in China was now slowly dissipating within contrasting ideologies, and is historically labeled as a "friendship of convenience"." The success of the Northern expedition was not only due to Nationalist ambitions, but for the Communist consideration of the peasants, this gave their efforts local support. But despite the combined success, aggression arose. The Nationalists were angered at the high popularity the CCP was gaining, and made the decision to no longer cooperate with the Communists. The Nationalists launched a multitude of smaller attacks on the CCP, but peaked in Shanghai as the "White Terror"" on April, 12th, 1927.