A CENTURY OF UPHEAVAL CHINA’S MARCH TO COMMUNISM

COMMUNISM ENTERS CHINA IN 1949 Unlike Russia, China arrived at Communism after a prolonged struggle The Party was founded in 1921 and grew under Mao Zedong Guomindang and Communists CCP was driven from the cities in the early 1930’s and focused on rural areas and developed a peasant strategy CCP gained converts as a result of Japan’s invasion of China CCP was deeply opposed to imperialism and exploitation of peasants

Step one: create a rural communist society Communist party the only party in town State controlled economy- industrialization not a primary goal China embraced communism much easier than USSR Much less political violence Step one: industrialize Communist party was the only party in town State controlled economy Totalitarian system needed to root out resistance BUILDING A COMPARISON AND COMMUNISM Soviet Union under StalinChina

Communes established as peasants confronted landlords Collectivization was peaceful in China, violent in USSR China’s moved farther REDISTRIBUTION Land Reform

USSR: industrialization an early goal China: goal not realized until the 1950’s as they followed USSR model Major growth followed Both cases advocated heavy industry and militarization Party controlled resources. Mao applauded results… INDUSTRIALIZATION Comparison

Tried to apply principles of rural development to industrialization Industrialization was a backyard endeavor. GREAT LEAP FORWARD Mao tries to combat social elements of industrialization

Attitudes had gone too far from Great Leap Forward… Communist ideas needed to be reinforced, independent ideas of GLF needed to be purged. Stalin had his show trials and purges to reign in independent thinking…China had this REIGNING IN SOCIAL REFORMS The Cultural Revolution

Both events eventually had to be calmed by military intervention Both events discredited socialism by and contributed to the collapse of each system. LONG TERM IMPACTS OF STALIN’S TERROR AND MAO’S CULTURAL REVOLUTION? ImpactsA Stalin Era Mass Grave

Deng Xiaoping One time exile to most powerful man in China. Oversaw the entrance of China onto the world economic stage Increased freedoms and explosion of China as a commercial entity. CHINA AFTER MAO The Little TigerHe even wore cowboy hats

BASHING MAO’S GHOST? Relaxed censorship Released 100,000 prisoners Dismantled communal farms Stunning economic growth Political monopoly kept in tact

OPPOSITION TO A ONE PARTY STATE 1980’s saw a contradiction between the economic growth and the freedoms people could expect. Things spilled over with massive protests in Tank man