From Revolution to Reform in China

China’s Civil War After WWII engaged in civil war NATIONALISTS (supported by the US) Vs COMMUNISTS Read “The Long March” China united under Communist control of Mao who won support of the peasants Declared the Peoples Republic of China, 1949 The US only officially recognized the exiled government in Taiwan

Nationalized businesses, followed Soviet 5-year plan model Communist Policies Nationalized businesses, followed Soviet 5-year plan model Collectivization of land and labor Totalitarian state Replaced traditional religion and beliefs Students taught to praise Mao Violence against landlords Increased literacy and health

Mao Zedong: The People’s Democratic Dictatorship A speech given in 1949 on the anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party, Mao Zedong explains the philosophy that guides China under his leadership Read and Answer Questions

2 Economic Disasters Although some reforms did result in more access to education and greater equality, people in China paid a heavy cost for Mao’s programs. During the 1950s and 1960s, two efforts in particular led to economic disaster and tremendous loss of life. The Great Leap Forward The Cultural Revolution .

The Great Leap Forward In the “Great Leap Forward,” Mao urged people to make a superhuman effort to increase farm output. Food output slowed and backyard industries turned out low-quality, useless goods. A terrible famine occurred. Between 1959 and 1961, up to 30 million Chinese starved to death.

The Cultural Revolution The goal of the Cultural Revolution was to purge China of “bourgeois” tendencies. The Cultural Revolution convulsed China. Schools and factories closed. The economy slowed, and civil war threatened. [See PowerPoint Images of the Cultural Revolution]

Mao’s “Little Red Book Every Communist must grasp the truth: Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun. -Mao Zedong

RELATIONS WITH THE SOVIET UNION 2 China and the Cold War RELATIONS WITH THE SOVIET UNION RELATIONS WITH THE UNITED STATES Stalin sent economic aid and technical experts to China, but he and Mao disagreed on many issues. China and the Soviet Union competed for influence in developing nations. By 1960, border disputes and clashes over ideology led the Soviets to withdraw all aid and advisers from China. At first, the United States refused to recognize the People’s Republic of China and for years tried to isolate China. Slowly, relations improved. In 1979, the United States set up formal diplomatic relations with China.