Final answer:
The Nationalists, led by Chiang Kai-shek, were defeated by the Chinese Communist Party in 1949 due to corruption, incompetence, loss of popular support, and effective Communist strategies, resulting in the creation of the People's Republic of China.
Step-by-step explanation:
The nationalists were defeated in 1949 for several reasons, leading to the establishment of the People's Republic of China by the Chinese Communist Party. The Nationalists, led by Chiang Kai-shek, faced issues such as corruption, incompetence, and poor morale among troops. Despite having numerical and economic advantages initially after World War II, the Nationalists failed to maintain support among the urban middle class, workers, and peasants.
The Communists, on the other hand, led by Mao Zedong, capitalized on the discontent of the peasantry and urban workers, employed effective recruitment strategies, and presented a united front that attracted defectors from the Nationalist forces. The Nationalists ultimately retreated to Taiwan, where they established a separate government.