Chinese Revolution – From Sun Yat-sen to Mao Zedong

This six-week course will begin with the Chinese Revolution of 1911 as directed by Sun Yat-sen. It will cover the Revolution’s key stages and events, including the May Fourth principles and the Whampoa Academy. We will also review and discuss the influence of the Soviet Union and its impact on the split between the Nationalists and the Chinese Communist Party.

This course will also examine the differences between Mao Zedong and Chiang Kai-shek, the impact of Japan on China, and the American effort to support China during WWII. It will end with a specific discussion of the Civil War, including the attempt by George Marshall to bring the Communists and Nationalists together. In preparation for the course, members will receive a 38-page paper analyzing these events and six outlines, one for each class.

Class Recordings: (Click on the links below to watch the recordings.)

Session 1 - October 6

Session 2 - October 13

Session 3 - October 20

Session 4 - October 27

Session 5 - November 3

Session 6 - November 10

Group Leader: LAWRENCE CLIFFORD
Venue: online
Meets on: Wednesdays 1:00 to 3:00 pm
Starting: 10/6/2021
Sessions: 6
Class Size: 50
Teaching Style: Lecture with questions
Weekly Preparation: 1 hour

Lawrence Clifford is a former officer in the United States Air Force, having served for 22 years. He earned his doctorate in clinical and educational psychology from Indiana University and in Soviet Military History from Boston College. Dr. Clifford taught military history and the Vietnam War for over a decade. While in the US Air Force, he served for five years in Vietnam and Southeast Asia, three years in the Mideast, and a similar period of time in Africa and Central America. He is fluent in French, Russian, Spanish, and Arabic.