Communism in China Mao Zedong: Declassified 43:38

Opponents NATIONALISTS - Jiang Jieshi - Southern China - defeat of Communists - public support-weak - ineffective, corrupt leadership - supported by Americans COMMUNISTS –Mao Zedong –Northern China –Desired National liberation –Public support esp. peasants- strong because of promised land reform –Experienced, motivated guerilla army (Red Army) –Supported by Soviet Union

The Long March Chaing Kai-Shek went after communists and Mao Mao and his Red Army went on a 6,000 mile march to the mountains of Northern China 100,000 soldiers braved horrible conditions Used Guerilla warfare and hit and run tactics Only 8,000-20,000 communists survived

Mao in Control After the Long March, Mao must regroup what little Red Army is left Chaing Kai-Shek must protect China from invading Japan but can’t Mao joins Chaing Kai-Shek to defeat the Japanese and is able to gain power of China forcing Shek to Taiwan Mao gains control of China in Oct and renames it the People’s Republic of China (communism rules!)

Walk About Look at pictures around the room and answer questions

Mao “The force of the peasantry is like that of the raging winds and driving rains…. They will bury beneath them all the forces of imperialism, militarism, corrupt officialdom, village bosses and evil gentry.”

Great Leap Forward Modernize China…catch up to Britain, America, Russia Five Year plan to get better technology and agriculture –Collective Farms-Government owned farms to grow food in mass –Build factories to increase goods and economy PROBLEMS-Bad crop rotation, poor grain, limited rain, too many farmers forced to work in factories 20 million people starved to death from famine So does the Great Leap Forward work???? Mao goes into hiding to figure out his next move…how to bring the country back under his control

Cultural Revolution Ten-year political campaign - a social experiment aimed at rekindling revolutionary ideas and purifying the communist party Mao Zedong and his wife, Jiang Qing (Madame Mao), directed popular anger against opposition Uses kids in the Red Guard to remove "intellectuals" and "bourgeois" influences Millions were forced into manual labor (including doctors, lawyers, professors) and tens of thousands were executed The result was massive civil unrest with Red Guard killing anyone against Mao and his ideas The army was sent in to control student disorder. The Cultural Revolution officially ended with the arrest of the leaders in 1976 Mao died not long after this on September 9, 1976 from a heart attack at age 82

Communism in China Mao Zedong: Declassified 43:38

Questions Did the people of China like or dislike Chairman Mao? Was the Great Leap Forward successful? Was he a hero or a villain? Was he an effective leader? What does the Cultural Revolution remind you of?