Republic of China (1912–1949) Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Republic of China

中華民國
Zhonghua Minguo

1912–1949

Top: Flag
(1912–1928)
Bottom: Flag
(1928–1949)

Top: Emblem
(1913–1928)
Bottom: Emblem
(1928–1949)

Anthem:

《五族共和歌》
"Song of Five Races Under One Union"
(1912–1913)

《卿雲歌》
"Song to the Auspicious Cloud"
(1913–1915)

《中華雄立宇宙間》
"China Heroically Stands in the Universe"
(1915–1921)

《卿雲歌》
"Song to the Auspicious Cloud"
(modified version)
(1921–1928)

《中華民國國歌》
"National Anthem of the Republic of China"

(1937–1949)

Flag anthem:
《中華民國國旗歌》
"National Flag Anthem of the Republic of China"
(1937–1949)

Location and maximum extent of the territory claimed by the Republic of China (1945).

Capital

Beijing (1912–1928)
Nanjing (1927–1949)
Chongqing (1937–1946)

Largest city

Shanghai

Official languages

Standard Chinese

Recognised national languages

Tibetan
Chagatai/Uighur
Manchu
Mongolian
and other languages

Official script

Traditional Chinese
Manchu alphabet
Mongolian script
Tibetan alphabet
Uyghur alphabets
Formosan pinyin (from 1945)

Religion

see Religion in China

Government

Federal semi-presidential republic under Beiyang rule (1912–1928)
One-party state under a military dictatorship (1928–1946)
Unitary parliamentary constitutional republic (1946–1949)

President

• 1912

Sun Yat-sen (first, provisional)

• 1949–1950

Li Zongren (last in Chinese mainland, acting)

Premier

• 1912

Tang Shaoyi (first)

• 1949

He Yingqin (last in Chinese mainland)

Legislature

Parliament

• Upper house

National Assembly

• Lower house

Legislative Yuan

History

• Xinhai Revolution

10 October 1911–12 February 1912

• Republic of China proclaimed

1 January 1912

• Beiyang government in Peking

1912–1928

• Northern Expedition

1926–1928

• Nationalist government in Nanking

1927–1949

• Chinese Civil War

1927–1936,
1946–1950

• Second Sino-Japanese War

7 July 1937–2 September 1945

• People's Republic of China proclaimed

1 October 1949

• Government moved to Taipei

7 December 1949

Area

1912

11,077,380 km² (4,277,000 sq mi)

1946

9,676,204 km² (3,736,003 sq mi)

Population

• 1912

432,375,000

• 1920

472,000,000

• 1930

489,000,000

• 1946

535,418,000

• 1949

541,670,000

Currency

Chinese yuan

Time zone

UTC+5:30 to +8:30 (Kunlun to Changpai Standard Times)

Driving side

right

ISO 3166 code

Preceded by

Succeeded by

Qing dynasty

People's Republic of China
Mongolian People's Republic

Today part of

Populations from http://www.populstat.info/Asia/chinac.htm

The Republic of China (ROC) was a country that existed in East Asia between 1912 and 1949. It was the government of mainland China before the current People's Republic of China (PRC). The ROC was formed in January 1912 after the Xinhai Revolution, which ended the last imperial family of China, the Qing dynasty.

The first president of the Republic of China was Sun Yat-sen. His political party, the Kuomintang (KMT), won the first parliamentary election in December 1912. However, Sun soon gave up his position to Yuan Shikai, who was the leader of the powerful Beiyang Army. This army also controlled the Beiyang government.

Early Years of the Republic (1912-1928)
- Yuan Shikai's Rule
- The Warlord Era
Nationalist Government and Civil War (1928-1949)
Images for kids
See also

Early Years of the Republic (1912-1928)

Yuan Shikai's Rule

Between late 1915 and early 1916, Yuan Shikai tried to make himself the Emperor of China. But many people did not like this idea. This led to a conflict called the National Protection War, where different groups fought against his plan. Yuan Shikai soon gave up the idea of being emperor.

After Yuan Shikai died in 1916, the Beiyang government became weaker. There was even a short time when the Qing dynasty tried to return to power.

The Warlord Era

After Yuan's death, different groups within the Beiyang Army started to claim independence. These groups were led by powerful military commanders known as "warlords." They fought each other for control over different parts of China. This period, from 1916 to 1928, is known as the Warlord Era.

In 1921, the KMT, led by Sun Yat-sen, set up a different government in Canton. They were supported by the Communist Party of China (CPC), a new political group.

During this time, northern China faced many problems. People were heavily taxed, and the constant fighting among warlords harmed the economy between 1927 and 1928.

Nationalist Government and Civil War (1928-1949)

Rise of Chiang Kai-shek

After Sun Yat-sen passed away, General Jiang Jieshi became the new leader of the KMT. In 1926, Jiang started a military campaign called the Northern Expedition. His goal was to defeat the warlords and unite China under the KMT government. By 1928, he successfully overthrew the Beiyang government.

In April 1927, Jiang Jieshi established a new nationalist government in Nanjing. Around this time, there were serious clashes between the KMT and the Communists in Shanghai. This led the CPC to start an armed rebellion, marking the beginning of the Chinese Civil War.

Challenges and Conflicts

Even though China began to modernize and develop its industries, it faced many challenges. There were ongoing conflicts between the Nationalist government in Nanjing, the CPC, the remaining warlords, and the Empire of Japan.

Eventually, the Chinese people united to fight a common enemy: the Japanese. In 1937, the Imperial Japanese Army invaded China, starting the Second Sino-Japanese War. This war was a major part of World War II.

In 1945, Japan surrendered, bringing an end to World War II and the Sino-Japanese War.

End of the Republic of China on Mainland

After Japan's surrender, the Chinese Civil War between the KMT and the CPC restarted in 1946. The fighting was intense.

By 1949, the Communist Party of China had defeated the KMT. On October 1, 1949, the CPC officially announced the creation of the People's Republic of China (PRC) on the mainland.

Jiang Jieshi and the KMT government then moved to the island of Taiwan.

Images for kids

Sun Yat-sen, the founding father of the Republic of China.
Yuan Shikai (left) and Sun Yat-sen (right) with flags representing the early republic
Major Chinese warlord coalitions during the "Nanjing Decade".
Cooperation with Germany
Chinese Nationalist Army soldiers during the 1938 Yellow River flood
Beiyang Army troops on parade
The NRA during World War II
Boat traffic and development along Suzhou Creek, Shanghai, 1920
A 10 Custom Gold Units bill, 1930