A Centenary of Events of the Communist Party of China (July 1921 - June 2021)

Party History and Literature Research Institute of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China

After 1840, due to the invasion of Western powers and the corruption of feudal rule, China gradually became a semi-colonial and semi-feudal society. Achieving the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation has become the greatest dream of the whole nation; striving for national independence, the liberation of the people, and the realization of national prosperity and people's happiness have become the historical tasks of the Chinese people. Many patriotic pioneers who devoted themselves to the cause of national progress, went forward and continued to explore. The Taiping Rebellion Movement, the Westernization Movement, the Eighteenth Reform Movement, and the Boxer Movement failed again and again. In October 1911, the Revolution of 1911 led by Sun Yat-sen overthrew the rule of the Qing Dynasty and established the Republic of China. The semi-colonial and semi-feudal social nature of old China has not changed the tragic fate of the Chinese people, nor has it accomplished the historical task of realizing national independence and people's liberation. China expects new social forces to open up a new way to save the nation and the people. The New Culture Movement that emerged in 1915 set off a trend of ideological emancipation in Chinese society. The October Revolution in Russia in 1917 gave great inspiration to the oppressed nations of the East. A group of advanced elements in China began to choose Marxism. At the same time, the Chinese working class has grown rapidly with the development of the national capitalist economy. The rise of a new people's revolution is inevitable.

On May 4, 1919, due to China's diplomatic failure at the Paris Peace Conference, more than 3,000 students from Beijing gathered in front of Tiananmen Square and demonstrated, setting off a patriotic revolutionary movement (the May Fourth Movement) that completely opposed imperialism and feudalism. Since June 5, Shanghai workers went on strike to support students, and then the strikes, class strikes, and market strikes quickly expanded to more than 20 provinces and more than 100 cities. The Chinese working class began to take on the political stage with an independent attitude. Due to the pressure of the people, the Chinese representative did not attend the signing ceremony of the Paris Peace Treaty on June 28. After the May 4th Movement, a large number of articles and books on the dissemination of Marxism appeared. Li Dazhao, Chen Duxiu, Li Da, Li Hanjun, Mao Zedong, He Shuheng, Dong Biwu, Chen Tanqiu, Deng Zhongxia, He Mengxiong, Gao Junyu, Wang Jinmei, Deng Enming and other advanced elements with preliminary communist ideology began to promote Marxism among the workers. The May Fourth Movement was an epoch-making event in the history of modern Chinese revolution, marking the great beginning of the new democratic revolution. The May 4th Movement, with its revolutionary character of completely anti-imperialist and anti-feudalism, progressiveness of pursuing the truth of saving the country and strengthening the country, and extensive active participation of people of all ethnic groups and all walks of life, promoted the progress of Chinese society, promoted the wide spread of Marxism in China, and promoted Marxism. The combination of ideology and the Chinese workers' movement has prepared ideological and cadres for the establishment of the Communist Party of China, and is of milestone significance in the historical process of the Chinese nation's pursuit of national independence and development and progress since modern times. The May Fourth Movement gave birth to the great May Fourth spirit with patriotism, progress, democracy and science as its main contents, and its core is the spirit of patriotism.

In March 1920, Li Dazhao organized and established the Marx Theory Research Association at Peking University. In May, Chen Duxiu initiated and organized the Marxism Research Society in Shanghai. The research associations in Shanghai and Beijing gradually established contacts with advanced elements in Hubei, Hunan, Zhejiang, Shandong, Guangdong, Tianjin and other places and overseas, which further promoted the spread of Marxism. In August, Chen Duxiu and others established an early Communist Party organization in Shanghai. This is actually the initiating organization of the Communist Party of China, and it is the liaison center for communists from all over the world to carry out party building activities. In the same month, the full Chinese translation of "The Communist Manifesto" translated by Chen Wangdao was published. In October, Li Dazhao and others established an early Communist Party organization in Beijing. By the spring of 1921, early Communist Party organizations had been established in Wuhan, Changsha, Jinan, Guangzhou and other places, as well as among Chinese living in Japan and France.

1921

July 23 The First National Congress of the Communist Party of China opened at No. 106 Wangzhi Road (now No. 76 Xingye Road) in the French Concession, Shanghai. The last day of the meeting was transferred to a cruise ship on Nanhu Lake, Jiaxing, Zhejiang. Representatives attending the conference include: Li Da and Li Hanjun from Shanghai, Zhang Guotao and Liu Renjing from Beijing, Mao Zedong and He Shuheng from Changsha, Dong Biwu and Chen Tanqiu from Wuhan, Wang Jinmei and Deng Enming from Jinan, Chen Gongbo from Guangzhou, Zhou Fohai from Japan; Bao Huiseng Dispatched by Chen Duxiu, he attended the conference. They represent more than 50 party members across the country. Comintern representatives Marin and Nikolsky attended the conference. Chen Duxiu and Li Dazhao did not attend the conference due to their busy schedules. The congress determined the party's name as "Chinese Communist Party" and adopted the first program and resolution of the Chinese Communist Party. The General Assembly elected the Central Bureau, and Chen Duxiu was the Secretary of the Central Bureau. The National Congress of the Communist Party of China officially announced the establishment of the Communist Party of China. The founding of the Communist Party of China is an inevitable outcome of the development of modern Chinese history, an inevitable outcome of the Chinese people's tenacious pursuit in the struggle for national salvation and survival, and an inevitable outcome of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. As the most advanced class in China, the party of the working class, the Communist Party of China not only represents the interests of the working class, but also the interests of the entire Chinese people and the Chinese nation. It has adhered to Marxism as a guideline for action from the very beginning, and has always regarded seeking happiness for the Chinese people and seeking rejuvenation for the Chinese nation as its original intention and mission. The founding of the Communist Party of China is a groundbreaking event in the history of the development of the Chinese nation, with great and far-reaching significance. The founding of the Communist Party of China fully demonstrated the pioneering spirit of pioneering and pioneering, the spirit of firm ideals, indomitable struggle, and the dedication of the party for the public and the loyalty to the people. This is the source of the Chinese revolutionary spirit, the foundation of the spirit, and the foundation of the spirit. In June 1941, the Central Committee's Instructions on Commemorating the 20th Anniversary of the Birth of the Communist Party of China and the Fourth Anniversary of the Anti-Japanese War designated July 1 as the anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China.

On August 11, the Secretary Department of the China Labor Combination was established in Shanghai. It was the first public body for the Chinese Communist Party to lead the workers' movement.

On September 27, under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, the farmers' meeting of Yaqian Village in Xiaoshan, Zhejiang was held, and the first new-type farmers' organization in China was announced. In July 1922, Peng Pai established the first secret peasant association in Haifeng, Guangdong. By May 1923, many peasant associations had been established in Haifeng, Lufeng, and Huiyang counties, with more than 200,000 members.

1922

January: Hong Kong seafarers go on strike. From this as the starting point, in February 1923, the workers' strike of the Beijing-Hanzhou Railway was the end point, and the labor movement led by the Communist Party of China set off its first climax. During this period, there were more than 100 strikes, large or small, with over 300,000 participants.

May 5-10 The first National Congress of the China Socialist Youth League was held in Guangzhou, and the China Socialist Youth League was established.

On June 15, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China issued the "The Communist Party of China's Proposition on the Current Situation", pointing out that the key to solving the current situation is to use revolutionary means to overthrow imperialism and feudal warlords and establish democratic politics. This is the first time that the Communist Party of China has disclosed its political views to all sectors of society.

July 16-23 The Second National Congress of the Communist Party of China was held in Shanghai. 12 representatives attended the conference, representing 195 party members across the country. For the first time, the Congress put forward a clear anti-imperialist and anti-feudal democratic revolutionary program, distinguishing between the highest program and the lowest program. The congress passed the first party constitution and passed a resolution to decide that the Communist Party of China should join the Comintern. The General Assembly elected the Central Executive Committee, and the Central Executive Committee elected Chen Duxiu as its chairman.

On September 13, the weekly newspaper "Guide", an organ of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, was launched. During the founding of the party and the period of the great revolution, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China also established such publications as "New Youth", "Frontier", "Chinese Communist Party News" and so on.

From September 14th to 18th, the Anyuan Road and Mine workers, under the leadership of Mao Zedong, Li Lisan, Liu Shaoqi and other organizations, held a strike struggle and won. The Anyuan Road and Mines Workers' Club established before the strike was consolidated and developed.

1923

From February 4th to 9th, under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, more than 20,000 workers of the Beijing-Hanzhou Railway held a general strike, which became the peak of the first climax of the labor movement. On the 7th, the reactionary warlords carried out a bloody crackdown, resulting in the February 7 massacre.

June 12-20 The Third National Congress of the Communist Party of China was held in Guangzhou. More than 30 delegates attended the conference, representing 420 party members across the country. The congress decided that members of the Communist Party should join the Kuomintang in their personal capacity in order to realize the cooperation between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party. The congress stipulated that when Communists join the Kuomintang, the party must maintain its independence politically, ideologically and organizationally. The General Assembly elected the Central Executive Committee, and the Central Executive Committee elected to form the Central Bureau, with Chen Duxiu as the chairman. After the conference, the pace of cooperation between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party has been greatly accelerated. Organizations at all levels of the Communist Party mobilized party members and revolutionary youth to join the Kuomintang, and actively promoted the national revolutionary movement across the country.

1924

From January 20th to 30th, under the auspices of Sun Yat-sen, the Chinese Kuomintang held its first national congress in Guangzhou. The manifesto with the main content of anti-imperialist and anti-feudalism drafted by the Communists, in fact established the alliance with Russia and the Communist Party. , The three major revolutionary policies to assist the peasants and workers. The General Assembly elected the Central Executive Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang, and 10 members of the Communist Party, including Li Dazhao, Tan Pingshan, and Mao Zedong, were elected as executive members or alternate executive members of the Central Committee. The convening of the conference marked the first official formation of the Kuomintang-Communist cooperation.

May In order to create the backbone of the revolutionary armed forces, the Kuomintang Army Military Academy (Whampoa Military Academy) co-founded by the Kuomintang and the Communist Party opened. On June 16, the military academy held an opening ceremony. Sun Yat-sen served as the prime minister of the military academy, Chiang Kai-shek served as the president, and Liao Zhongkai served as the party representative. The Communist Party of China has sent many party members, youth league members and revolutionary youths from all over the country to study in the military academies. In November, Zhou Enlai became the director of the Political Department of the Military Academy, improving the political work system. The Guangdong District Committee of the Communist Party of China, chaired by Zhou Enlai, selected some Party and League members from the first phase of the military academy as the backbone, and reorganized the iron-clad convoy of the General Marshal's Base Camp into a revolutionary armed force actually under the command of the Communist Party.

On July 3, the peasant movement workshop jointly organized by the Kuomintang and the Communist Party officially opened in Guangzhou. By September 1926, under the auspices of Communists Peng Pai and Mao Zedong, the Guangzhou Peasant Movement Workshop was held for six consecutive sessions, training more than 700 peasant movement backbones.

1925

January 11-22 The Fourth National Congress of the Communist Party of China was held in Shanghai. 20 representatives attended the conference, representing 994 party members across the country. The congress raised the question of the leadership of the proletariat in the democratic revolution and the alliance of workers and peasants, and made more complete regulations on the content of the democratic revolution. This is a major progress made by the Communist Party of China in its understanding of the issue of the Chinese revolution on the basis of summarizing the practical experience since the founding of the party, especially the one-year cooperation between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party. The congress decided to strengthen the organizational construction of the party nationwide, and stipulated that the branch should be the basic organization of the party. The General Assembly elected the Central Executive Committee, the Central Executive Committee elected to form the Central Bureau, and Chen Duxiu was the general secretary.

May 1-7 The Second National Labor Conference was held in Guangzhou, and the All-China Federation of Trade Unions was established.

On May 30, the May 30th Movement against imperialist atrocities led by the Communist Party of China broke out in Shanghai and quickly swept across the country. About 17 million people of all strata directly participated in the struggle, marking the arrival of the upsurge of the Great Revolution. From June to October 1926, a provincial-Hong Kong strike broke out in Guangzhou and Hong Kong. This is the longest political strike in the history of the Chinese labor movement.

On July 1, the National Government of the Republic of China was established in Guangzhou. Its affiliated units were subsequently reorganized into the six armies of the National Revolutionary Army. Zhou Enlai and other Communist Party members served as deputy party representatives and director of the Political Department in the First, Second, Third, Fourth, and Sixth Army respectively.

In October, the enlarged meeting of the Central Executive Committee was held in Beijing. The meeting issued a notice to farmers, proposing that the fundamental way to relieve farmers' hardships is to implement "farm ownership of arable land". The meeting emphasized the importance of work in the northern region and decided to strengthen the leadership of the northern revolution. After the meeting, the Executive Committee of the Northern Region of the Communist Party of China was established, with Li Dazhao as the secretary.

On December 1, Mao Zedong published "Analysis of All Classes in Chinese Society".

1926

March 20 Chiang Kai-shek's construction of the Zhongshan warship. Since then, restrictions on the activities of the Communist Party have been tightened. In May, at the Second Plenary Session of the Second Central Committee of the Kuomintang, the "Organization of Party Affairs Case" was proposed to exclude the Communists from the Kuomintang leadership, thus gradually controlling the power of the Kuomintang, the Kuomintang government and the National Revolutionary Army.

On July 9, the National Revolutionary Army swore in Guangzhou for the Northern Expedition. By November, the forces of the warlords Wu Peifu and Sun Chuanfang were basically eliminated. During the Northern Expedition, the Ye Ting Independent Regiment, with members of the Communist Party and the Communist Youth League as the backbone, repeatedly defeated strong enemies. With the victory of the Northern Expedition, the workers' and peasants' movements in Hunan, Hubei and Jiangxi provinces led by the Communist Party flourished.

On August 4, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China issued a circular on resolutely cleaning up corrupt elements. This is the first document in the party's history to punish corruption.

From October to March of the following year, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the Shanghai District Committee organized Shanghai workers to hold three armed uprisings in a row. On March 21, 1927, the third armed uprising was victorious under the direct leadership of the special committee composed of Chen Duxiu, Luo Yinong, Zhao Shiyan, Zhou Enlai, etc. (Zhou Enlai was the commander-in-chief of the uprising). On the 22nd, the Provisional Municipal Government of Shanghai Special City was established.

1927

In March, Mao Zedong published the "Report on the Investigation of the Peasant Movement in Hunan".

On April 6, Li Dazhao was arrested by the Fengtian warlords in Beijing. On the 28th, he died heroically.

April 12 Chiang Kai-shek launched the April 12 counter-revolutionary coup in Shanghai. This was the turning point of the revolution from its climax to its failure. Before and after, Sichuan, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, Fujian, Guangxi, Guangdong and other provinces successively hunted and killed Communist Party members and revolutionary masses in the name of "cleaning up the party". Yang Angong, Chen Yannian, Zhao Shiyan, Xiao Chunv, Xiong Xiong and other communists were killed.

April 27-May 9 The Fifth National Congress of the Communist Party of China was held in Wuhan. 82 representatives attended the conference, representing 57,967 party members across the country. The congress elected the Central Committee and the first central disciplinary inspection and supervision institution in the history of the party, the Central Supervisory Commission. According to the requirements of the meeting, after the meeting, the Political Bureau of the Central Committee passed a resolution to amend the party constitution, and formally proposed the organizational principles of democratic centralism within the party.

On May 10, the First Plenary Session of the Fifth Central Committee of the Communist Party of China elected the Political Bureau of the Central Committee and the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee, and Chen Duxiu was the general secretary of the Central Committee.

On July 15, Wang Jingwei held an enlarged meeting of the Standing Committee of the Kuomintang Central Committee. In the name of "dividing the Communist Party", he formally broke with the Communist Party and carried out mass arrests and massacres of Communist Party members and revolutionary masses. The cooperation between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party was completely broken, and the great revolution launched by the cooperation between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party failed. According to incomplete statistics, from March 1927 to the first half of 1928, more than 310,000 Communist Party members and revolutionary masses were killed.