Resolution Concerning the Peasant Movement
Resolution of the Second National Congress of
the Chinese Guomindang
(January 19, 1926)1

1. China now has not yet gone beyond the agricultural economy and peasant
production, and the peasants account for as much as 90 percent of the total
productive output. If we wish to carry out the Director General's Three People's
Principles, the first thing is to liberate the peasants. Since peasants in fact make
up over 80 percent of the population of our country, then among the 400 million
people of the country, peasants actually number over 300 million. Therefore,
China's national revolution is, to put it plainly, a peasant revolution. If we wish
to consolidate the foundation of the national revolution, we must, once again,
first liberate the peasants. It follows from the arguments presented above that the
Chinese Guomindang should always and everywhere consider the peasant movement as its foundation. Both political and economic movements should have the
peasant movement as their foundation. The party's policies should focus first and
foremost on the interests of the peasants themselves, and the actions of the
government should also be designed to liberate them in accordance with their
interests, for the liberation of the peasants represents the completion of the major
part of the national revolution and the basis for our party to realize the Three
People's Principles.

2. Since the peasant movement came into existence in Guangdong no more
than seven months ago, our party has [created] peasant associations in thirtyseven xian, membership has increased to 620,000 people, and [there is] an organized peasant army of 30,000 men. Peasants participated mightily in our party's

This resolution was published in Zhengzhi zhoubao, Nos. 6-7, April 10, 1926. Our translation is based on this text as reproduced in Mao Zedong ji. Bujuan, Vol. 2, pp. 173-76.
Yellow River Basin. Thus far, they are less well organized, and have not shown
marked effectiveness. In order to involve the peasants all over the country in the
political struggle, our party must try its best to focus attention on the two regions
of central and northern China. Otherwise, it certainly cannot promote the organization of the peasants of the whole country to strive for the national revolution
within the shortest period of time. Therefore, our party must make special efforts
to establish a unified plan for a national peasant movement, and must also set
aside funds for carrying out such a plan.

For the reasons stated above, the congress adopts three resolutions on the
peasant movement, dealing respectively with the political, economic, and educational aspects.

1. The political aspect:

a. Guide peasants to become organized popular masses and take part in the
national revolution.

b. Eliminate warlords, the comprador class, corrupt officials, bad gentry and
local bullies, and others who harm the interests of the peasants.

c. Dissolve armed organizations that oppress the peasants.

d. Clearly stipulate the principle of peasants' self-preparation and selfdefense.

e. At all times, our party and government should stand on the side of the
peasants and fight for their interests.

f. Formulate laws for the protection of peasants.

g. Put into force standard weights and measures.

2. The economic aspect:

a. Strictly forbid making usurious loans to peasants.

b. Stipulate the highest land rent and the lowest grain price.

c. Reduce farm laborers' working hours and increase their pay.

d. Abolish exorbitant taxes, fees, and extra levies; stop collecting money and
grain in advance; and eliminate payments in money and grain for those
who have no land.

e. Forbid the agricultural contract system.

f. Rapidly set up agricultural banks and promote the cause of peasants'
cooperation.
--- Notes

1. When the report on the peasant movement was first laid before the congress on the
morning of January 18, 1926, one speaker characterized it as "not bad," but too narrowly
focussed on Guangdong. It was therefore decided that the report should be resubmitted the
following morning, after being revised by an enlarged review committee. Mao Zedong,
who had not been involved in drafting the original report, was appointed to this review
committee on the afternoon of January 18. It was Chen Gongbo who presented the revised
report, translated here, on the morning of January 19, but Mao undoubtedly played a role
in drafting it.
expeditions against Yang and Liu in the past and in its unification of Guangdong
this time. All this proves that our party is essential for the peasants to make
progress and for them to seek their own emancipation, and also shows the
strength they can contribute on joining the national revolution. Besides
Guangdong, peasant movements have also emerged in Guangxi of the Pearl
River Basin, in Hunan, Hubei, and Anhui of the Yangzi River Basin, and in
Shandong, Henan, and special districts such as Zhili, Rehe, and Chaha'er of the