The Nationalists failed to secure their hold over China.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (Oct/Nov 2021). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. [1-4] e.g. 'Chiang Kai-shek persecuted the Communists.'
2. [1-4] 'Chiang Kai-shek launched the Five Extermination Campaigns against them.'
3. [1-4] 'Chiang wanted to destroy the Jiangxi Soviet.'
4. [1-4] 'The first four campaigns against them failed.'
5. [1-4] 'Chiang blockaded the Communist settlement in the Fifth Campaign.'
6. [1-4] 'The Communists managed to escape in October 1933 and started the Long March.'
7. [2-3] 'The Communists went on the attack against the Japanese.'
8. [2-3] 'They appeared to be very patriotic.'
9. [2-3] 'They helped the resistance forces plan their attacks.'
10. [2-3] 'In areas of rural China which they controlled, they reduced rents and increased taxes on the rich.'
11. [2-3] 'As the Japanese were driven out, the peasants supported the Communists.'
12. [4-5] e.g. 'The Communists were popular with the peasants because they took the fight to the Japanese by using guerrilla tactics. They organised local Chinese resistance forces in areas occupied by the Japanese in an attempt to sabotage the enemy war effort. They destroyed railways, ambushed troops and disrupted Japanese supply lines. This was in contrast to the defensive approach by the Nationalists.'
13. [2-3] 'Mao had the support of the peasants.'
14. [2-3] 'Mao's Red Army treated the peasants fairly.'
15. [2-3] 'Mao made effective strategic decisions.'
16. [2-3] 'Mao used guerrilla warfare early in the Civil War.'
17. [2-3] 'The leadership of the Kuomintang forces was corrupt and inefficient.'
18. [2-3] 'Chiang increasingly behaved like a dictator.'
19. [2-3] 'The Nationalist government had failed to deliver on its promises.'
20. [4-6] e.g. 'Mao's leadership was more important than the Nationalists' weaknesses because he was seen by the peasants as a liberator because of his guerrilla tactics against the Japanese. The peasants recognised that Mao was fighting to defend China's national interests. Mao made sure that his troops were disciplined and treated the peasants fairly. This secured support for the Communists and enhanced their chances of victory.'
21. [4-6] OR e.g. 'The Nationalists became unpopular, and this helped the Communists to victory. Chiang's regime was corrupt and inefficient. Local officials abused their powers and made themselves rich by taking bribes and extorting money from the local people.'