Mao Mao Zedong’s Zedong’s RegimeRegime

Mao ZedongMao Zedong

Born in 1889, Born in 1889, China was falling China was falling apartapart

Grew up on a Grew up on a farm, and was farm, and was beat by his fatherbeat by his father

Mao’s beliefs Mao’s beliefs were influenced were influenced be Shang Yangbe Shang Yang

Mao ZedongMao Zedong

Around 1928-Around 1928-1931 he built the 1931 he built the Red ArmyRed Army

1931 he was 1931 he was elected elected chairman of chairman of Soviet Republic Soviet Republic of Chinaof China

China and ZedongChina and Zedong

People’s Republic was est. Oct 1, People’s Republic was est. Oct 1, 19491949

In 1949 Communists had taken In 1949 Communists had taken almost all of mainland of Chinaalmost all of mainland of China

From 1954 to 1959, Mao was From 1954 to 1959, Mao was chairman of PRCchairman of PRC

1958, Mao launched Great Leap 1958, Mao launched Great Leap ForwardForward

Great Leap ForwardGreat Leap Forward

In January of In January of 1958, five-year 1958, five-year planplan

Planned to Planned to develop develop agriculture and agriculture and industryindustry

Great Leap?Great Leap?

Hoped to catch up Hoped to catch up to England and to England and surpass Americasurpass America

Unproven and Unproven and unscientific new unscientific new agricultural agricultural techniques were techniques were implementedimplemented

Under this plan the Under this plan the economy nearly economy nearly collapsedcollapsed

Great Leap BackwardGreat Leap Backward

The entire country were forced to The entire country were forced to recycle steel, and food reserves were recycle steel, and food reserves were depleteddepleted

In some regions, after all mice, In some regions, after all mice, insects, and tree bark were insects, and tree bark were consumed, some resulted to consumed, some resulted to cannibalismcannibalism

About 30 million people died, mainly About 30 million people died, mainly due to faminedue to famine

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yL98Rq_Hnwg&feature=related

The Cultural RevolutionThe Cultural Revolution

1966-19761966-1976 Mao’s tactic to Mao’s tactic to

secure his secure his power against power against reformsreforms

Red Guards Red Guards were formed were formed in 1966in 1966

Cultural RevolutionCultural Revolution

Forced bureaucrats, professors, Forced bureaucrats, professors, technicians, intellectuals, and other technicians, intellectuals, and other non-peasants into rural worknon-peasants into rural work

It is estimated that seven million It is estimated that seven million were killed during the decadewere killed during the decade

China’s economy sufferedChina’s economy suffered

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SupyW6UKMOE&feature=related

Mao’s EndMao’s End

At the age of 82, Mao died At the age of 82, Mao died September 9, 1976September 9, 1976

He died of Lou Gehrig’s disease.He died of Lou Gehrig’s disease. After his death there was a power After his death there was a power

struggle in China, but eventually struggle in China, but eventually moderates came to power and Mao’s moderates came to power and Mao’s regime came to an end.regime came to an end.

Mao’s LegacyMao’s Legacy Has produced great controversyHas produced great controversy Some see him as a great revolutionary leader Some see him as a great revolutionary leader

who made some big mistakes later in his lifewho made some big mistakes later in his life Mao’s made huge mistakes such as the Great Mao’s made huge mistakes such as the Great

Leap Forward, Cultural Rev., and birth control.Leap Forward, Cultural Rev., and birth control. statistics say that the illiteracy rate and life statistics say that the illiteracy rate and life

expectancy was greatly improved while Mao was expectancy was greatly improved while Mao was in powerin power

It is argued that he developed them into a major It is argued that he developed them into a major world powerworld power

By abolishing prostitution, some think he By abolishing prostitution, some think he improved women’s rightsimproved women’s rights

SomeSome

Mao vs. Other GenocidesMao vs. Other Genocides

Murdered more Murdered more people than Hitler, people than Hitler, estimated 40 million estimated 40 million or moreor more

The majority of The majority of Mao’s killings were Mao’s killings were because of man-because of man-made faminemade famine

Mao executed nearly Mao executed nearly 10 million educated 10 million educated professionals, and professionals, and othersothers

Mao vs. Other GenocidesMao vs. Other Genocides

Tyrannized the world's most populous Tyrannized the world's most populous nation for more than a quarter nation for more than a quarter centurycentury

Mao never really succeeded in Mao never really succeeded in destroying entire oppositiondestroying entire opposition

Mao set up a Chinese Gulag - an Mao set up a Chinese Gulag - an empire of slave labor camps filled empire of slave labor camps filled with poorly fed "counter-with poorly fed "counter-revolutionaries." revolutionaries."