Chinese Civil War (Nationalists vs. Communists)

This activity has students first read a brief summary of the Nationalist Revolution of 1911 and how the Chinese Civil War emerged. Then, students read two "campaign posters" - one for the Nationalists and one for the Communists - and decide who they would side with in the Civil War. I had my class then divide into different sides of the room for siding with the Nationalists or Communists, and then those who are undecided stay in the middle. The students from either side take turns trying to convince the undecideds to join their party, and once everyone has made a decision, I give them the Mao and Peasants documents showing what the Communists actually did while in power.