What is Long March and its History

The long march took place in China between the 15th and 16th centuries which is also referred to as the "Long March (in Chinese)". In this article, we will learn about what the long march was about and how it is used. Let us begin at the beginning, why did people move in such a massive way?

The reason why people migrated on such a large scale is because of war and other reasons like famine and drought. Many times, famines, and droughts are a result of wars, and not just for several months. Therefore, after people realize that they cannot depend on their country to feed and provide them with a decent level of shelter, they started leaving their home country in search of a better life. I would say that migration is an inevitable part of human history.

But how did people migrate from one country to another during the early years of civilization? However, in order to gain new knowledge about past cultures, people moved from one place to another. People migrate from their homes to live elsewhere. Even though some cities were built, many people migrated to rural areas; others left big villages for more urban settlements. Those who lived in remote places began to establish trading relationships with others. Why does it matter now that many countries around the world have adopted China's system of governance?

Well, it matters a lot because all those things that are going on in our modern society have their origin in China. For example, even today, most governments have taken steps to reduce poverty, increase education opportunities, and create jobs. To sum up, let us see how various societies came into being, what reasons drove them out and where they ended up. Let us look into this fascinating history of migrations. What Exactly Is a Long March? It refers to the "movement of people in large numbers in pursuit of specific goals".

During that time, all of the people had a common goal: to get away from their families and be able to fend for themselves. This movement came under the name of a few short words called "Long March", meaning that this journey lasted several months. There are two names for the Long March: the Changshu and the Qinglong. It means "Long Trip" in English. First and foremost, Changshu means "Big Move" ("Long Tang" in Mandarin).

More than 20 million people followed suit from multiple cities along the Changshu River to reach their destination, including Beijing, Nanjing, Fuzhou, Shanghai and Hangzhou. On top of this, people travelled throughout Jiangsu and Liaoning Provinces as well. Let's say the number of inhabitants of Changshu reached 500,000 people. Then came the next stage, known as "Long Journeys". This refers to a collection of different journeys, starting with Changshu and ending in Changchun. Every year, thousands of individuals would travel through the entire Changshu Valley to attend funerals and other religious ceremonies. For example, by 1710, there had already been over 7 million visits that made it impossible for people to complete the cycle. People travelled the whole length of the river.

Around 1860, a group of horsemen started to develop a unique transport technology called "Journey Mode". This mode allowed the carriage of goods and passengers across the river, and for many miles until the end of the route. Hence, the term "long march", was coined in 1852. Since then, many individuals who were stuck on either side of the Changshu River would meet again, travelling the same route in reverse order. The first group of travellers decided to leave Changshu, while the second group set off towards the north and south. Some members could never return home; others were forced to work as labourers due to their inability to pay taxes.

After having crossed the Changchun River, the Second Long March came to its conclusion in Jianzhong province, where Li Dazhu built the famous Forbidden City. The Third Long March: Reform movement in order to bring down the gap between rich and poor, party leaders set out to convince those lower classes that the former should follow their example. Although reformers had enough money to afford boats, they simply couldn't afford food and accommodation while attempting to cross the Changchun River. The third long march finally began with the formation of the Fourth Plenary Congress of 1868.

Many delegates representing landowners came forward, stating that they had lost everything and needed an opportunity to return home. Such a strong influence on people's minds made the revolution unstoppable. On November 6, 1868, Yuan Qingxian (1852–1906), leader of the local chapter of the Chinese Communist Party founded the Imperial Court of Hunan, thus creating a centralized authority. The fourth long march finally came to an end under Jing Qishan's rule. His reign began between 1870 and 1882; however, he died after only 10 years, leaving the throne to Deng Xiaoping. On February 13, 1909, the newly created Republic of China joined the League of Nations. Later on, after the Japanese Warlord Uprising, China entered World War II. Prices of essentials remain extremely high, causing millions of people to starve and die.