1. Communist China
1949 – Present

2. Communist Revolution
During the 1920’s – 1930’s China fell into a Civil War between two competing sides:
The Nationalists
Led by Chiang Kai-Shek with support of the U.S. (WWII ally)
The Communists
Led by Mao Zedong with the support of the HUGE peasant class (remember the appeal of communism)
I thought here might be a good place to just mention that the communist treated peasants better, equality for women, and better trained army rather than write it?

3. Communist Revolution
Unified during WWII against the Japanese, but the civil war resumed after the Japanese were defeated
VS.
Chiang Kai-shek
Nationalists
Mao Zedong
Communists

4. Rally with your Pally Person with the biggest “guns” goes first:
Describe to your partner who the two groups fighting for control of China are
Who are the leaders of each
*be ready to answer!

5. Communist Revolution
Communists defeated the Nationalists in 1949 and established the Peoples Republic of China (PRC)
Mao Zedong proclaims himself Chairman Mao – leader of the PRC

6. What happened to the Nationalists?
Chiang Kai-shek and the Nationalists are forced to retreat to the island of Formosa
Set up a new government and called the new country Taiwan

7. The Great Leap Forward – 1958 -1961
Mao’s goal was to modernize China – construction of dams, reservoirs, railroads
People gave up their land, so there was no private property and were to do collectivization (live/farm/produce together)
Plan was a failure and 50 million people starved to death

8. So what would come next?

9. Cultural Revolution
Continue to modernize by ridding China of the “Four Olds” – Old ideas, old culture, old customs, old habits
Organized the youth into the Red Guard
They were to continue the revolutionary movement
They caused havoc and death as they traveled china, little red books in hand, attacking the “enemies” of the revolution
Destroyed anything associated with old customs
Books, monuments, museums, temples, intellectuals (beat/killed teachers, professors)…etc.

10. “The Little Red Book” contained quotes by Mao was carried by the Red Guard

13. Person with the darkest hair goes first:
Discuss with your partner if something like this could happen here. Think:
If our president told America’s youth that they had permission to destroy anything associated with old customs or ideas, would they participate?
What types of things might get targeted?

14. Economic Reforms in China
New leadership in the 80s emphasized the Four Modernizations:
1. Agriculture
2. Science
3. Industry
4. Military
Allowed some free markets (special economic zones –SEZs) to encourage growth
Social and political policies of Mao were continued under communist single-party rule
Suppressed freedoms of speech, press, voting rights, censorship…etc.
I think that it could just be mentioned that mao died etc

15. Person with the brightest clothes on goes first:
Review with your partner:
What “olds” were destroyed in the Cultural Revolution
What was “modernized” in the next phase?
In what ways did the people continue to be oppressed as China modernized?

16. Attempt at Change
The youth and educated who helped make economic reforms successful also demanded political reforms – freedom of press and democracy
In 1989 a massive wave of protests erupted in many major cities across the country, including in the capital city of Beijing
Government sends in military and tanks to stop the protests and preserve the status quo

17. Tiananmen Square Massacre
Thousands of protesters were killed (although the “official” reports were much lower)
Put an end to the political reforms movement in China
Leads to the current “deal” = No Political freedom in exchange for economic progress
(allows economic prosperity and access to western goods – in the cities – but maintains single party communist rule)

19. Change and Prosperity…for some
SEZs continued to expand and China grows rich through free market capitalism in the cities while under communist rule (huh?)
Growing middle class larger the entire population of U.S. (350m plus)
Economy relies on its cheap labor rate to attract manufacturing (check your tags!)
Peasants and laborers remain incredibly poor (Billion+)
Begin here for day 2

20. Modern Struggles Economic growth is slowing
Huge population (1.5b) causes the “one-child” policy and associated problems like infanticide and huge abandonment of girls at orphanages. (many girls are adopted by other nations).
Discuss with your partner the following:
What kinds of long term problems might a one child policy create for China when you consider China’s cultural importance of the “male”

21. Modern Struggles
Cities are badly polluted due to unregulated manufacturing
Oppression of the people of Tibet who see the Chinese as foreign rulers

23. Modern Struggles
Rural Sichuan roadside sign: "It is forbidden to discriminate against, mistreat or abandon baby girls."

24. China Today
Spending more on its military has strained relations with U.S., Japan, and other regional countries
Communist party continues to oppress and censor the people
China operates like two different countries in one
Open market (capitalism) and prosperity in the cities
Closed market (communism) and poverty in rural areas

25. Emerging Super Power and the New Arms Race

26. China Today
Citizens continue to demand more freedoms and clash with single-party rule
2014 seen huge protests in Hong Kong where the policy is “one country, two systems” and the Chinese government tried to restrict voting there
I thought that a verbal explanation would be sufficient with respect to why Hong Kong is different – I also bring up the movie “Rush Hour”