Unrest in China
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The New life movement
Set up by Chiang Kai-shek and wife in 1934
Chiang's government was especially corrupt
Japan had taken over Machuria and renamed it Manchukuo
Communist party was active in the countryside
Was a time of confusion and worry
Much fighting had occurred prior
People of that day were "spiritless" as Chiang puts it
China needed something to help them
Goal was to promote traditional Confucian ethics
-Integrity
-Propriety
-Rightousness
Tried to get rid of material greed of Western capitalist values
Tried to boost morale in China
Chiang Speech, 1934
The link above is to a primary document and quotes from Chiang Kai-shek's speech over the New Life Movement.
Talks about the four virtues that the country was trying to strive for
Virtues must be applied to every day life
Those who break rules are bound to fail
"...hoped that beggary and robbery will be eliminated..."
More productive people will result
Poor economy- due to the fact that their are two few producers and too many consumers
Its goal was that "
social disorder and individual weakness will be
remedied and that people will become more military‑minded"