What if the Long March Failed? - AP World Project - Lachlan Halton
Storyboard Text
- Slide: 1
- After 4 previous failures to encircle and trap the Communist insurgency, Chiang Kai-Shek led his forces personally in a final attempt to crush the Communists. Managing to completely surround the Communist forces in late 1934, cutting them off from resupply, and inflicting terrible casualties on them with his superiorly armed force. Facing eventual destruction the Communist leadership decided to make a desperate break out attempt in October of 1934, and reach the safety of the province of Shaanxi in the North.
- Slide: 2
- Oh no! The Nationalists have killed Mao Zedong at the crossing of the Xiang River!
- The Nationalists possessed a large arsenal of comparatively modern weaponry compared to the Communists, fielding better artillery as well as an air force, which gave the Nationalists the ability to bomb and shell virtually the entire Communist position during their crossing of the river.
- Slide: 3
- Although at this point in history Mao Zedong was not the leader of China's Communists, being neither the political nor military head. He was still an important member of the party, whose critical reforms to the Communist saved the movement from destruction. Without Mao, the party would continue under the leadership of Zhou Enlaiand Zhu De, whose focus on fighting the Nationalists conventionally, and neglect of fostering revolution among the Chinese peasantry had led to the Communists poor situation. And so left under their leadership, the Communist Party would be essentially destroyed on the Long March. Leaving only a number of small scattered Communist movements.
Over 30 Million Storyboards Created