Mao’s ChinaMao’s China

1949-19761949-1976

China after 1911China after 1911

The Revolution of 1911 was intended to The Revolution of 1911 was intended to create a modern republican form of create a modern republican form of government in China.government in China.

Instead, the country broke up into Instead, the country broke up into warlord-dominated regions with warlord-dominated regions with increasing poverty and violence.increasing poverty and violence.

The Kuomintang (Nationalist) Party led The Kuomintang (Nationalist) Party led the revolution, but controlled few areas.the revolution, but controlled few areas.

Kuomintang PartyKuomintang Party

Sun Yat-sen was the main leader of the Sun Yat-sen was the main leader of the 1911 Revolution and the Nationalist Party 1911 Revolution and the Nationalist Party (KMT).(KMT).

He died in 1925 and was succeeded as He died in 1925 and was succeeded as leader by Chiang Kai-shek.leader by Chiang Kai-shek.

Chiang cooperated with the Communists Chiang cooperated with the Communists for a time, but then massacred them in for a time, but then massacred them in 1927.1927.

Mao Zedong’s LifeMao Zedong’s Life

Mao was born in 1896 as the son of an Mao was born in 1896 as the son of an affluent peasant in Hunan province.affluent peasant in Hunan province.

After service in a provincial army in the After service in a provincial army in the 1911 revolution, Mao attended a 1911 revolution, Mao attended a teacher’s college.teacher’s college.

He then attended Beijing University and He then attended Beijing University and worked in the library there.worked in the library there.

Life, 2Life, 2

Mao was a leader of the Chinese Mao was a leader of the Chinese Communist Party since its founding in Communist Party since its founding in 1921.1921.

While most Chinese Communists While most Chinese Communists believed that urban workers were the believed that urban workers were the group that would be the most important group that would be the most important supporters of the revolution, Mao decided supporters of the revolution, Mao decided that peasants had more revolutionary that peasants had more revolutionary potential.potential.

Land ReformLand Reform

Mao discovered even in the 1920s that Mao discovered even in the 1920s that the Communists could win the support of the Communists could win the support of the peasants by taking away land from the peasants by taking away land from the rich and sharing this with the poor.the rich and sharing this with the poor.

Mao learned how to get the vast majority Mao learned how to get the vast majority of peasants on his side by concentrating of peasants on his side by concentrating the confiscations on a small minority of the confiscations on a small minority of wealthy farmers.wealthy farmers.

Life, 3Life, 3

Mao led a Communist area in Jiangxi Mao led a Communist area in Jiangxi Province in 1934, but attacks by the Province in 1934, but attacks by the Kuomintang (Nationalist Party) Kuomintang (Nationalist Party) government army forced them to undergo government army forced them to undergo the “Long March” lasting over a year and the “Long March” lasting over a year and covering 3700 miles to a new, safer area covering 3700 miles to a new, safer area to the north in Shanxi Province.to the north in Shanxi Province.

Yan’an, 1935-1948Yan’an, 1935-1948

For over a decade, Mao and the Chinese For over a decade, Mao and the Chinese Communist leadership operated from Yan’an in Communist leadership operated from Yan’an in the north of China.the north of China.

Land reform was carried out in Yan’an.Land reform was carried out in Yan’an. During most of this time, the Communists were During most of this time, the Communists were

fighting against both the KMT and the fighting against both the KMT and the Japanese.Japanese.

The Communists and the KMT competed in The Communists and the KMT competed in terms of which best represented the national terms of which best represented the national interests of China against the Japanese.interests of China against the Japanese.

Yan’an, 2Yan’an, 2

At the end of the Second World War, the At the end of the Second World War, the Russians moved into Manchuria against Russians moved into Manchuria against the Japanese and were able to share the Japanese and were able to share some weapons with the Chinese some weapons with the Chinese Communists.Communists.

Stalin urged Mao to ally with Chiang Kai-Stalin urged Mao to ally with Chiang Kai-shek rather than to fight him.shek rather than to fight him.

Communist Victory, 1949Communist Victory, 1949

Due to corruption and inefficiency among Due to corruption and inefficiency among the KMT leadership, the Communists the KMT leadership, the Communists took power in mainland China in October, took power in mainland China in October, 1949.1949.

The KMT leaders retreated to the island The KMT leaders retreated to the island of Taiwan.of Taiwan.

Now Mao was in charge of the whole Now Mao was in charge of the whole country.country.

August, 1949August, 1949

Trials of landlordsTrials of landlords

During 1949-1951, the Communists held During 1949-1951, the Communists held mass trials of landlords and KMT leaders mass trials of landlords and KMT leaders all over the country.all over the country.

Peasants were urged to denounce Peasants were urged to denounce crimes committed by the former rulers.crimes committed by the former rulers.

This tied the peasants who participated This tied the peasants who participated to the regime because they were to the regime because they were implicated in the deaths of the elite.implicated in the deaths of the elite.

Accusing the landlord of Accusing the landlord of abusing his tenantsabusing his tenants

Trials, 2Trials, 2

Hundreds of thousands of members of Hundreds of thousands of members of the former elite were put to death in the the former elite were put to death in the mass trials of 1949-1951.mass trials of 1949-1951.

Their land was then distributed among Their land was then distributed among the poorer peasants.the poorer peasants.

This was the most important This was the most important revolutionary act in the rural villages of revolutionary act in the rural villages of China.China.

IndustrializationIndustrialization

Between 1949 and 1960, China followed Between 1949 and 1960, China followed the Russian strategy of industrialization.the Russian strategy of industrialization.

They built large factories in the cities.They built large factories in the cities. Many Russian engineers came to China Many Russian engineers came to China

to assist in this effort.to assist in this effort. Many of the largest factories in China Many of the largest factories in China

today were built during this period.today were built during this period.

Great Leap Forward, 1958-Great Leap Forward, 1958-6060

In 1958, Mao decided that the Russian In 1958, Mao decided that the Russian strategy of industrial development was strategy of industrial development was not suitable for China.not suitable for China.

This urban, large-factory system was not This urban, large-factory system was not having enough of an impact on the mass having enough of an impact on the mass of the population in the countryside.of the population in the countryside.

Mao decided to opt for a unique Chinese Mao decided to opt for a unique Chinese method of industrialization.method of industrialization.

Great Leap Forward, 2Great Leap Forward, 2

The most mocked aspect of the Great The most mocked aspect of the Great Leap Forward was the backyard steel Leap Forward was the backyard steel furnaces.furnaces.

Mao thought that peasants could learn to Mao thought that peasants could learn to make steel on a broadly decentralized make steel on a broadly decentralized basis.basis.

Most areas of China, however, lacked the Most areas of China, however, lacked the ore and fuel for this.ore and fuel for this.

Great Leap Forward, 3Great Leap Forward, 3

Millions of peasants were pulled away Millions of peasants were pulled away from their agricultural tasks in order to from their agricultural tasks in order to engage in industrialization or water engage in industrialization or water conservancy projects.conservancy projects.

This lack of attention to the crops added This lack of attention to the crops added to the problem of a serious drought and to the problem of a serious drought and up to 30 million people died in China up to 30 million people died in China during this period.during this period.

Great Leap Forward, 4Great Leap Forward, 4

Small villages were done away with, and the Small villages were done away with, and the peasants were moved to larger towns.peasants were moved to larger towns.

Mao attempted to have the peasants live in Mao attempted to have the peasants live in dormitories – with the separation of husbands dormitories – with the separation of husbands and wives.and wives.

Communal kitchens and nurseries were Communal kitchens and nurseries were established.established.

These measures failed.These measures failed.

Great Leap Forward, 5Great Leap Forward, 5

The Russians were insulted that the The Russians were insulted that the Chinese were no longer following their Chinese were no longer following their advice and pulled out their engineers.advice and pulled out their engineers.

Many factories that were being built could Many factories that were being built could not be finished because the Russians not be finished because the Russians had the only plans and because the had the only plans and because the Russians were to provide the machinery.Russians were to provide the machinery.

Sino-Soviet Dispute, 1960Sino-Soviet Dispute, 1960

From 1960 onward, China and Russia From 1960 onward, China and Russia had a great ideological quarrel.had a great ideological quarrel.

Mao asserted that the world was in a Mao asserted that the world was in a revolutionary situation.revolutionary situation.

Mao expected revolution to come from Mao expected revolution to come from the poor peasants of Asia, Africa and the poor peasants of Asia, Africa and Latin America.Latin America.

Sino-Soviet Dispute, 2Sino-Soviet Dispute, 2

The Soviet Union was led in 1960 by The Soviet Union was led in 1960 by Nikita Khrushchev and he insisted on the Nikita Khrushchev and he insisted on the need for “peaceful coexistence” with the need for “peaceful coexistence” with the West.West.

Khrushchev was against promoting Khrushchev was against promoting revolution in Third World countries as revolution in Third World countries as China wished to do.China wished to do.

The Cultural RevolutionThe Cultural Revolution

Between 1961 and 1963, conditions were Between 1961 and 1963, conditions were relatively quiet in China, but in 1964 Mao relatively quiet in China, but in 1964 Mao began pushing a new crusade to began pushing a new crusade to transform the culture to make the country transform the culture to make the country more purely communist.more purely communist.

Mao attacked traditional Confucian and Mao attacked traditional Confucian and Buddhist elements in Chinese culture.Buddhist elements in Chinese culture.

Cultural Revolution, 2Cultural Revolution, 2

Any Communist leaders who were not Any Communist leaders who were not strongly for equality were condemned in strongly for equality were condemned in this movement.this movement.

The Cultural Revolution started among The Cultural Revolution started among students, but it began to affect other students, but it began to affect other sectors of society.sectors of society.

Cultural Revolution, 3Cultural Revolution, 3

Eventually, the military stepped in and Eventually, the military stepped in and sent the students off to work as sent the students off to work as peasants.peasants.

Assessing MaoAssessing Mao

Most people both in China and the West Most people both in China and the West consider that Mao’s leadership was consider that Mao’s leadership was atrocious – particularly the Great Leap atrocious – particularly the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution.Forward and the Cultural Revolution.

However, it is possible that the success However, it is possible that the success of Chinese economic growth since Mao’s of Chinese economic growth since Mao’s death in 1976 owes much to these two death in 1976 owes much to these two movements.movements.

Assessing Mao, 2Assessing Mao, 2

In spite of the deaths during the Great In spite of the deaths during the Great Leap Forward and the social and Leap Forward and the social and economic disruption of the Cultural economic disruption of the Cultural Revolution, the two movements helped to Revolution, the two movements helped to modernize China both in its rural modernize China both in its rural economy and in its ideology.economy and in its ideology.

Both movements helped to give primacy Both movements helped to give primacy to industry and technology.to industry and technology.

Assessing Mao, 3Assessing Mao, 3

Both movements asserted the power of Both movements asserted the power of the common people to make important the common people to make important social changes.social changes.

The tradition of the Confucian mandarin The tradition of the Confucian mandarin bureaucrat was buried, and the new bureaucrat was buried, and the new leadership of China had to justify their leadership of China had to justify their power on the basis of economic growth power on the basis of economic growth for the betterment of the people.for the betterment of the people.

Assessing Mao, 4Assessing Mao, 4

History often has tragic aspects.History often has tragic aspects. The deaths due to the famine associated The deaths due to the famine associated

with the Great Leap Forward (and the far with the Great Leap Forward (and the far smaller numbers of deaths in the Cultural smaller numbers of deaths in the Cultural Revolution) were tragic aspects of a Revolution) were tragic aspects of a broad national transformation.broad national transformation.

Assessing Mao, 5Assessing Mao, 5

Industrializing a huge, impoverished Industrializing a huge, impoverished peasant society is a giant task that peasant society is a giant task that involves ideological mobilization as well involves ideological mobilization as well as simply building factories and installing as simply building factories and installing new machinery.new machinery.

China might not have been as advanced China might not have been as advanced as it is today without the Great Leap as it is today without the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution.Forward and the Cultural Revolution.

After MaoAfter Mao

From 1975 to 1997, China was led by From 1975 to 1997, China was led by Deng Xiaoping who welcomed economic Deng Xiaoping who welcomed economic reforms in the direction of capitalism.reforms in the direction of capitalism.

Peasants were allowed to farm on their Peasants were allowed to farm on their own and to leave the collective farms.own and to leave the collective farms.

Local governments were permitted to Local governments were permitted to establish industrial companies that establish industrial companies that functioned like capitalist firms.functioned like capitalist firms.

Deng XiaopingDeng Xiaoping

After Mao, 2After Mao, 2

Mao would be turning over in his grave at Mao would be turning over in his grave at the foreign investment and the consumer the foreign investment and the consumer culture that is spreading in China today.culture that is spreading in China today.

However, Mao’s efforts did create a However, Mao’s efforts did create a strong, united Chinese state that after strong, united Chinese state that after Mao’s death was able to make serious Mao’s death was able to make serious reforms to compete in a global economy.reforms to compete in a global economy.