Chronology of the History of the People's Republic of China (Volume for 1949)

Author: Tian Jujian
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-06-01
Features: The "Chronology of the History of the People's Republic of China" Volume for 1949 (published by Contemporary China Publishing House in September 2004) is one of the key research projects launched by Contemporary China in 2002. It is organized chronologically from the founding of the republic in 1949, providing a detailed and comprehensive reflection of important historical events in various fields since the establishment of the country, including politics, economy, culture, science and technology, education, health, ethnicity, religion, society, population, meteorology, disasters, ecology, resources, territory, regional divisions, military, national defense, foreign affairs, external relations, and international reactions. Therefore, it serves as both a chronological history of the republic and a reference tool for researching and writing the history of the republic. This multi-volume history is guided by Marxist historical materialism. It not only makes full use of historical newspaper materials, publicly published archives, documents, as well as collected works, chronologies, diaries, letters, telegrams, and memoirs of leaders of the Party and state and relevant individuals, but also incorporates the latest research findings and newly discovered or verified historical materials in the field of national history. For events with multiple interpretations, it conducts research, discrimination, and verification to ensure authenticity and reliability. This volume is the opening work of this large-scale chronological history. To help readers understand the origins of the republic, a preface is specially included before the 1st Plenary Session of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) on September 21, 1949,. This preface adopts a tabular format to briefly record the major events of the 28 years from July 23, 1921, when the Communist Party of China (CPC) was founded, to September 20, 1949, when the 1st Plenary Session of the CPPCC was held. It chronicles the CPC's leadership in leading the people in the New Democratic Revolution to establish the People's Republic of China. The preface weaves together several historical events under the theme of "One Main Thread and Three Platforms." The "One Main Thread" refers to the CPC's pivotal role in establishing the new China, while the "Three Platforms" represent the CPC's leadership in establishing governance in revolutionary bases and liberated areas during the periods of the Land Revolution, the War of Resistance Against Japan, and the War of Liberation. From September 21 to December 31, 1949, the main text is presented in an outline format, recording the major events of the first three months after the founding of the new China. It particularly highlights the convening of the CPPCC, the proclamation of the founding of the People's Republic of China, the reactions of many countries, parties, and media around the world to the new China, the establishment, improvement, and operation of the institutions of the Central People's Government, the military control commissions taking over newly liberated cities, the convening of local people's representative conferences and the establishment of local people's governments, and important efforts such as repairing railways, restoring production, stabilizing prices, preventing epidemics, changing customs, and disaster relief.