1. The Transformation of China Under Mao

2. 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

3. 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

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

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

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

7. 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 ( )

8. 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