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BEFORE YOU WATCH: Chinese Communist Revolution

In the first half of the twentieth century, the great power of China lay wounded. Its peasants were impoverished, its armies humiliated, and its lands increasingly captured by enemies. After World War II, however, one of the greatest revolutions of world history brought the Communist Party to power in China. The result would be both hardship and glory, but certainly it laid the groundwork for a resurgent China. In this video, we look at the Chinese Communist Revolution as a transformational event in both Chinese history and the global history of revolutions, with the help of Dr. Prasenjit Duara. Like what you see? This video is part of a comprehensive social studies curriculum from OER Project, a family of free, online social studies courses. OER Project aims to empower teachers by offering free and fully supported social studies courses for middle- and high-school students. Your account is the key to accessing our standards-aligned courses that are designed with built-in supports like leveled readings, audio recordings of texts, video transcripts, and more. Register today at oerproject.com! Website: https://www.oerproject.com/World-History Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OERProject Twitter: https://twitter.com/oerproject

Use the “Three Close Reads” approach as you watch the video below (next in the lineup!). If you want to learn more about this strategy, click here.

First read: preview and skimming for gist

Before you watch, you should skim the transcript first. The skim should be very quick and give you the gist (general idea) of what the video is about. You should be looking at the title, thumbnails, pictures, and first few seconds of the video for the gist.

Second read: key ideas and understanding content

Now that you’ve skimmed the video transcript and taken a quick peek at the video, you should preview the questions you will be answering. These questions will help you get a better understanding of the concepts and arguments that are presented in the video. Keep in mind that when you watch the video, it is a good idea to write down any vocab you read or hear that is unfamiliar to you.

By the end of the second close read, you should be able to answer the following questions:

According to Francesca, what is the difference between liberal and social revolutions?
What were the two parties that, during the 1920s and 1930s, sought to lead China, and what were their goals?
According to Dr. Prasenjit Duara, what were the internal and external inspirations for the Chinese Communist Revolution?
According to Dr. Duara, how did the Chinese Communist Party’s response to the Japanese occupation help them to win the revolution?
According to Dr. Duara, can we call the Chinese Communist Revolution part of an anticolonial struggle? Why or why not?
What were the successes and failures of the revolution, according to Dr. Duara?

Third read: evaluating and corroborating

Finally, here are some questions that will help you focus on why this video matters and how it connects to other content you’ve studied.

At the end of the third read, you should be able to respond to these questions:

Consider the Chinese Communist Revolution alongside the earlier revolutions you’ve encountered. Which would you label social revolutions? Which were liberal political revolutions? Which were both?
How does the Chinese Communist Revolution show the ways in which the Cold War and decolonization were intertwined?

Now that you know what to look for, it’s time to watch! Remember to return to these questions once you’ve finished watching.

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World History Project - 1750 to the Present

Course: World History Project - 1750 to the Present > Unit 8

First read: preview and skimming for gist

Second read: key ideas and understanding content

Third read: evaluating and corroborating

Want to join the conversation?