Modern China

The Civil War In 1912, China’s last emperor was

forced to abdicate. China was unified under a single

government, but after its leader died, China fell into Civil War. The Nationalists were led by Chiang Kai-

shek. The Communists were led by Mao

Zedong

Chiang Kai-shek Mao Zedong

The Civil War During World War II, both the Nationalists

and the Communists fought against the Japanese, and worked to gain the loyalties of the Chinese people.

In 1949, the Communists, led by Mao, won the war.

The Nationalists retreated to Taiwan. They created the Republic of China.

The U.S. supported Taiwan, despite the fact martial law was maintained there for many years.

MAO’S CHINA Only the Communist Party was allowed. Private land was seized, and organized into

large, government-run farms. Factories were put under state control. The government regulated food production

and factory production The government owned all housing, and

decided where people would live.

Mao’s China Religious worship was prohibited. Food production was cut in order to

increase industrial production. As a result, about 30 million Chinese died in famines in the 1960’s.

Freedom of speech and the press were virtually nonexistant.

The Cultural Revolution In 1966, Mao called for a Cultural

Revolution. He felt that not enough had been done to smash old ways of thinking, and that China’s progress had been too slow.

During the C.R., he established the Red Guard.

The Red Guard To create the Red Guard, he shut

down the schools and universities, and replaced education with indoctrination.

The Red Guards set out to destroy the Olds in China.

All those who disagreed with Mao were punished.

The Red Guard/Cultural Revolution As a result of the Cultural Revolution,

production ground to a halt, and schools closed. The economy was almost completely ruined.

The destruction was so great that Mao called for an end to the Cultural Revolution in 1969. He ordered the army to disband the Red Guards.

Deng Xiaoping Mao died in 1976, and was replaced

by Deng Xiaoping. Deng made two major changes:

He instituted the One Child Policy. He started the Four Modernizations.

The goals were to improve agriculture, science, industry and defense.

Deng said: It doesn’t matter if a cat is black or

white, as long as it catches mice!

Economic Change under Deng China switched over from a focus on

heavy industry (steel and machinery) to light industry (clothing and appliances).

He began rewarding managers and workers who improved production.

Special Economic Zones These zones allow foreign investors to build

factories and hire Chinese workers. It began with four; now there are hundreds.

Special Economic Zones tend to be near the coasts, so the gap between rich and poor in the urban and rural areas has grown.

China’s regulations have not kept up with growth.

Tiananmen Square Chinese citizens gathered in

Tiananmen Square to demand democratic reforms. June 3, 1989...when crowds failed to

disperse... Chinese government sends troops and

tanks to Tiananmen Square. Student protesters are brutally

massacred.

Deng’s Legacy Deng is remembered as a leader who

modernized China’s economy. However, the black mark created by Tiananmen Square and other human rights violations cannot be forgotten.

Since his death in 1997, his successors have legalized private industry, but have retained strict human rights regulations.

China’s President Hu