Mao: The Unknown Mao: The Unknown StoryStory

By Jung ChangBy Jung Chang

PowerPoint by Casey PowerPoint by Casey McCarthyMcCarthy

ThesisThesis

Although Mao is thought of as having Although Mao is thought of as having been a great ruler who was driven by been a great ruler who was driven by idealism, he was actually a cruel, idealism, he was actually a cruel, opportunistic man who caused opportunistic man who caused millions of deaths in his struggle to millions of deaths in his struggle to control the world.control the world.

Basic InfoBasic Info

-Chinese emperor-Chinese emperor

-absolute power over ¼ world’s -absolute power over ¼ world’s population for decadespopulation for decades

-caused over 70 million deaths in -caused over 70 million deaths in peacetimepeacetime

PersonalityPersonality Loved mother but hated father (who beat Loved mother but hated father (who beat

him)him) Selfish, believed that morality revolved Selfish, believed that morality revolved

around the self and that people didn’t around the self and that people didn’t have a responsibility to others or to future have a responsibility to others or to future generationsgenerations

Manipulative- told his father he’d kill Manipulative- told his father he’d kill himself if he didn’t back downhimself if he didn’t back down

Rejected concept of conscienceRejected concept of conscience IrresponsibleIrresponsible

Mao’s First Taste of Power- The Mao’s First Taste of Power- The Chinese Communist PartyChinese Communist Party

26 years old- met Professor Chen Tu-hsiu26 years old- met Professor Chen Tu-hsiu Chen was forming Chinese Communist Chen was forming Chinese Communist

Party (CCP)Party (CCP) Distributed New Youth, monthly Distributed New Youth, monthly

communist newspapercommunist newspaper Joined CCP and gained own branch- family Joined CCP and gained own branch- family

and friends as supportersand friends as supporters Started supporting Russian nationalism/ Started supporting Russian nationalism/

not attending CCP meetings- lost branchnot attending CCP meetings- lost branch

NationalismNationalism

Old nationalist chief died- Mao was Old nationalist chief died- Mao was friends with the new one, Wang friends with the new one, Wang Ching-weiChing-wei

Gained more power than in CCPGained more power than in CCP Russian Nationalists wanted to break Russian Nationalists wanted to break

with Chinese communistswith Chinese communists Persecution of communists beganPersecution of communists began Mao still technically communist- in Mao still technically communist- in

dangerdanger

Getting Land and an ArmyGetting Land and an Army

Stole armed forceStole armed force Turned to banditryTurned to banditry Defeated bandits in Ninggang Defeated bandits in Ninggang

country, held rallies with public country, held rallies with public executionsexecutions

Party expelled himParty expelled him He made sure his men didn’t find outHe made sure his men didn’t find out

Zhu DeZhu De

Had force of 4,000, Mao only 1,000Had force of 4,000, Mao only 1,000 Sought refuge in Mao’s landSought refuge in Mao’s land ““Burn, burn, burn! Kill, kill, kill!”Burn, burn, burn! Kill, kill, kill!” Zhu-Mao Red ArmyZhu-Mao Red Army Mao got control, took Zhu’s troopsMao got control, took Zhu’s troops Backed by ShanghaiBacked by Shanghai Kept as figureheadKept as figurehead

MassacreMassacre

Troops merged with Peng’sTroops merged with Peng’s Took over several cities- wife and son Took over several cities- wife and son

dieddied Purged people for Anti-Bolsheviks, Purged people for Anti-Bolsheviks,

Nationalist groupNationalist group Tortured CCP members for names of Tortured CCP members for names of

ABsABs Shanghai and Moscow backed himShanghai and Moscow backed him

Red StatesRed States

Everyone in army- Children’s CorpsEveryone in army- Children’s Corps Lowered standard of livingLowered standard of living Peasants give up food for armyPeasants give up food for army ““Humiliation teams”Humiliation teams” ““class enemies”- limitless forced laborclass enemies”- limitless forced labor Women- heavy manual laborWomen- heavy manual labor High suicide rateHigh suicide rate No overnight visitorsNo overnight visitors

Long MarchLong March

Procession of 80,000 peopleProcession of 80,000 people Marched 4 days, crossed riverMarched 4 days, crossed river Chiang- anti-communist leader- let Chiang- anti-communist leader- let

them escapethem escape Mao made up battle at _ Bridge to Mao made up battle at _ Bridge to

gain power/ respectgain power/ respect Myth of Long March- really no Myth of Long March- really no

fightingfighting

Japan WarJapan War Mao wants to fight the Nationalists to gain Mao wants to fight the Nationalists to gain

power for communism, the CCP, and power for communism, the CCP, and himselfhimself

Pretends he wants to fight JapanPretends he wants to fight Japan Uses this to get rid of several people seen Uses this to get rid of several people seen

as threats to his takeover of Chinaas threats to his takeover of China Tries to arrange for Chinese leader Tries to arrange for Chinese leader

Chiang’s execution, but he is freedChiang’s execution, but he is freed Wins Stalin’s support, wants China carved Wins Stalin’s support, wants China carved

up by Russia/ Japanup by Russia/ Japan

Supreme Party LeaderSupreme Party Leader

Germany attacks RussiaGermany attacks Russia Mao associates less with Moscow, Mao associates less with Moscow,

pulls back troopspulls back troops Uses terror to gain more power in Uses terror to gain more power in

China- jail, deaths, tortureChina- jail, deaths, torture Poisons Wang Ming- political Poisons Wang Ming- political

opponentopponent Becomes Supreme Party leader- Becomes Supreme Party leader-

“Stalin of China”“Stalin of China”

Opium WarsOpium Wars

Money crisis due to withdrawal from Money crisis due to withdrawal from Moscow (where most funding came Moscow (where most funding came from)from)

Mao brought in Opium to YenanMao brought in Opium to Yenan Solved money crisisSolved money crisis Caused addictions, disease, and Caused addictions, disease, and

inflationinflation Peasants poorerPeasants poorer Economy destroyed in YenanEconomy destroyed in Yenan

Russia InvadesRussia Invades Russia invades China, Stalin gives Mao Russia invades China, Stalin gives Mao

control of Manchuriacontrol of Manchuria Communists in civil war with nationalistsCommunists in civil war with nationalists Chiang, nationalist Chinese ruler, not Chiang, nationalist Chinese ruler, not

supported by U.S.supported by U.S. U.S. says Chiang must stop driving back U.S. says Chiang must stop driving back

CCP troopsCCP troops Russia, North Korea, and Mongolia help Russia, North Korea, and Mongolia help

MaoMao Mao sends 1 million tons of food to Russia Mao sends 1 million tons of food to Russia

each year to repay Stalin- causes Great each year to repay Stalin- causes Great FamineFamine

Chiang loses power- betrayed by officialsChiang loses power- betrayed by officials

Absolute RulerAbsolute Ruler Mao has complete power over ChinaMao has complete power over China Brutal to those who resist- trapped Brutal to those who resist- trapped

civilians in Changchun five months without civilians in Changchun five months without food-830,000 deathsfood-830,000 deaths

People must give food and houses to People must give food and houses to soldiers, men draftedsoldiers, men drafted

Peasants rebel against landlords- Mao Peasants rebel against landlords- Mao encourages torture and violence, even encourages torture and violence, even towards childrentowards children

Then Mao terrorizes peasants- public Then Mao terrorizes peasants- public executions, tortureexecutions, torture

Goal is widespread terror to prevent Goal is widespread terror to prevent rebellionrebellion

Ruled as totalitarianRuled as totalitarian

Rivalry with StalinRivalry with Stalin At first Mao tries to gain more fame than At first Mao tries to gain more fame than

StalinStalin Realizes Stalin is more powerful- calls him Realizes Stalin is more powerful- calls him

“Master”“Master” Cuts ties with West- Stalin wants this, full Cuts ties with West- Stalin wants this, full

support of communismsupport of communism Tries to negotiate with Stalin, who Tries to negotiate with Stalin, who

punishes him for his ambitions to be more punishes him for his ambitions to be more powerfulpowerful

Wants Stalin’s help to make China a Wants Stalin’s help to make China a superpowersuperpower

Gets help when he threatens to Gets help when he threatens to reintroduce Western contactreintroduce Western contact

Korean WarKorean War Stalin gave Mao Vietnam, wanted him to Stalin gave Mao Vietnam, wanted him to

fight South Koreafight South Korea Wanted Chinese to get rid of American Wanted Chinese to get rid of American

troopstroops Mao agreed, wanted to defeat U.S.Mao agreed, wanted to defeat U.S. Makes deal with Kim, North Korean leader, Makes deal with Kim, North Korean leader,

to help attack the Southto help attack the South U.S. bombs North Korea heavily, Mao asks U.S. bombs North Korea heavily, Mao asks

Stalin for nuclear weaponsStalin for nuclear weapons Stalin decides to end war instead but dies Stalin decides to end war instead but dies

of a “stroke”of a “stroke” War ends in a truceWar ends in a truce

The Secret Superpower ProgramThe Secret Superpower Program

Mao wanted to rule a military superpower in his Mao wanted to rule a military superpower in his lifetime- didn’t care what happened after his lifetime- didn’t care what happened after his deathdeath

Got technology from Russia in exchange for food- Got technology from Russia in exchange for food- peasants starvedpeasants starved

Tried to reduce ties with Soviet Union- thought Tried to reduce ties with Soviet Union- thought undermined authorityundermined authority

Peasants banned from moving to other areasPeasants banned from moving to other areas 50% of households had to eat tree leaves50% of households had to eat tree leaves Peasants beaten by officials for food- caused ¼ Peasants beaten by officials for food- caused ¼

million suicides million suicides Wanted to create atomic bombs/ gain nuclear Wanted to create atomic bombs/ gain nuclear

warships- asked Moscowwarships- asked Moscow

Massive KillingMassive Killing

Brainwashed intellectuals to speak out, Brainwashed intellectuals to speak out, then killed them for itthen killed them for it

Wanted to overtake all capitalist countries- Wanted to overtake all capitalist countries- The Great LeapThe Great Leap

Exported massive amounts of foodExported massive amounts of food Said “half of China may well have to die”Said “half of China may well have to die” Mourning prohibited- said death should be Mourning prohibited- said death should be

celebratedcelebrated Tried to conquer Tibet, failed but killed all Tried to conquer Tibet, failed but killed all

Tibetans he came into contact withTibetans he came into contact with

Cultural RevolutionCultural Revolution

Decided to wipe out culture everywhereDecided to wipe out culture everywhere Killed cultural icons, i.e. actors, celebritiesKilled cultural icons, i.e. actors, celebrities Also got rid of political opponentsAlso got rid of political opponents Students were told to condemn teachersStudents were told to condemn teachers Used young people to organize mobsUsed young people to organize mobs Encouraged widespread violence and Encouraged widespread violence and

chaoschaos Photographed torturePhotographed torture

Failed World TakeoverFailed World Takeover Superpower Program was to help him take over Superpower Program was to help him take over

the worldthe world Problems making atomic bombs- scientists Problems making atomic bombs- scientists

tortured and killedtortured and killed Eventually fourth nuclear powerEventually fourth nuclear power Created Burmese Communist Party to spread Created Burmese Communist Party to spread

Maoism worldwideMaoism worldwide Maoism not popular in other areas of the world- Maoism not popular in other areas of the world-

partly because they’d have to denounce Russiapartly because they’d have to denounce Russia Maoism not seen as major anti-American force, Maoism not seen as major anti-American force,

Moscow more powerfulMoscow more powerful