The Transformation of China Under Mao

Post-WWII Civil War… Communists (Mao) fought Nationalists (Jieshi) for control struggle began in 1920’s Mao won and set up People’s Republic of China in 1949 Nationalists fled to Taiwan

Reasons for Communist Victory… support of peasants suffered from brutal landlords and taxes Mao promised to redistribute land women were mistreated under Nationalists Mao had a superior army that used guerilla tactics

Remaking Chinese Life… Economy: nationalized all businesses five-year plans to increase coal, steel, and heavy industry distributed land to boost agriculture

Society: attacked crime and corruption peasants and workers were honored alphabet, education, and health all improved

Equality for Women: won equality under the law jobs, day-care, nuclear families improved still had unequal pay and lower positions

The Great Leap Forward… urged people to make superhuman effort in farming and industry in 1958 created communes for farmers up to 25,000 people had school, housing, dining halls had production quotas and mobilized labor brigades was a dismal failure low-quality products and slow output famine led to 30 million deaths (1959-1961)

The Cultural Revolution… began in 1966 when Mao urged youth to take more active role formed bands of “Red Guards” and attacked counterrevolutionaries almost shut down country and caused civil war