The Rise of Mao Zedong

 China early 1900’s - ripe for revolution ◦ traditionalists vs. modernists  Nationalists (industrialists) assume control of government ◦ Capitalists, corrupt ◦ exploited peasants ◦ Leader: Jiang Jieshi (1925)

1921: creation of the CCP ◦ Mao Zedong co- founder ◦ Goal: implement communism  Peasant revolution against industrialists ◦ Received advisors and supplies from Lenin ◦ challenges Jiang and nationalists

 1930: Communists vs. Nationalists ◦ Nationalists outnumber Communists 6:1 ◦ Nationalists more industrialized  1933: Nationalists push Communists on LONG MARCH to hide in interior of China ◦ 6,000 miles ◦ Mao sets up camps to educate and train peasant army  1936: Japan invades Manchuria/China civil war to halt to reunite to fight them off ◦ civil war on hold

 1946: Civil war resumes  Tide turns against Nationalists due to poor economy  Communists #’s increase and defeat Nationalists  October, 1949: China becomes communist

 Peoples Republic of China  Leader: MAO Zedong  Communist  Mainland China  Supported by USSR  Nationalist China (Taiwan)  Leader: Jiang Jieshi  Nationalist ◦ capitalist ◦ Small island off coast of mainland China  China and USSR refuse to recognize it  Supported by USSR

 1949: Communist Party members under 5 million ◦  Mao implements: ◦ Totalitarianism ◦ Communism  Mao : ◦ Seized land from land owners and divided among peasants ◦ Nationalized private companies ◦ Successful in reaching targets in production of coal, steel, and electricity.

 Lack of modern technology  Great Leap Forward was a failure ◦ Family like replaced by commune life ◦ 26,000 communes of 25,000+ people  People in Mao’s cabinet begin to get concerned and talk….bad move  Mao calls for CULTURAL REVOLUTION ◦ Cleansing of gov’t ◦ Many arrested and publically humiliated/killed ◦ Mao eventually asked to step down and he does…  Mao dies in 1976 leaving behind a vast communist nation with large economic problems

 New Leader: DENG XIAOPING  Emphasized ◦ Progress in Agricultural ◦ Industry ◦ Defense ◦ Science and Technology  RESULTS: ◦ Economic reforms ◦ Increasing food production ◦ China more open to foreign tech and invesment…a success

 Gap between rich and poor increases  Western ideas enter China but gov’t does not adopt ◦ Democracy ◦ Freedoms  Chinese university students protest ◦ Thousands arrested ◦ Hundreds killed