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Mao & The People’s Republic of China (SPS)Left-Wing Dictatorship Region: Asia

Section 1: Origins and Nature of the Single Party StateIn this section, the precursors to the rise of the People’s Republic of China are discussed, how Mao rose to national prominence, and the major influences on him. Typical exam questions would focus on

Strengths and Weaknesses of the GMD and CCP Assessment of Mao and Jiang as leaders Examination of the factors that allow Mao to come to power (Compare with Hitler or Franco)

I Background of Mao Zedong Early Life

Mao was born in 1893 to a moderately prosperous family in Hunan Province (South-Eastern China)

He was a teacher and businessman in his early adulthood. He was initially more focused on Hunan issues than national concerns. He was well-read and familiar with western philosophy (Capitalism and Communism especially)

Mao was greatly influenced by China’s turbulent history. His key attitudes: An aggressive and expansionist Japan which sought natural resources for its home

industry was a major threat to China The ruling elite ignored the needs of the peasantry and rural China.1 The failure of

the Three Principles2 to affect a real change will drive Mao to “Revolution” Chinese Nationalism: Western Powers (Europe and the United States) were

determined to keep China divided, weak, and subjugated. Regionalism & the Warlord control must end

Influence of the Paris Peace Accords Following the Treaty of Versailles, Japan gained control of German interests in China.

They seemed to threaten to expand further into China. This was wildly unpopular in China.

May Fourth Movement: This was a student led protest of the Treaty of Versailles and the growing hegemony of Japan in the region The students protested Japan’s attempt to gain territory control of China (21-

Demands3) This Movement led to the formation of the Chinese Communist Party4 (CCP) which

was founded in Shanghai in 1921. Mao’s political activity began at this time. He joined the Communist Party.

Contact with the Russian Comintern5 contributed to Mao’s distrust of western powers as he saw the events of the Russian Civil War (See Foot Note 4)

1 Maoism and the Chinese Communist movement is a rural movement primarily. It doesn’t involve an urban proletariat

(traditional Marxism) because most of China are poor peasants. There is no urban working class. 2

Key focus: Nationalism, democracy, and People’s Economic livelihood 3

21 Demands: A series of Japanese demands issued in 1915 to the Chinese government which would have given J. virtual control of China4

Remember the Bolshevik Revolution just broke out in 1918. Communism was the newest thing. It was opposed to imperialism and right-wing nationalism. At this point, the USSR was in the middle of the Russian Civil War.


First United Front Sun Yixian founded a Guomindang6 (GMD) government in the South. His major

challenge was battling the regionalism in China. The 1st United Front was a temporary unification of the GMD and the CCP. This is a

marriage of convenience7 that will quickly breakup after the warlords are defeated. During the United Front, the GMD was led by Jiang Jieshi8 (Alternate spelling: Chiang

Kai-shek) The Northern Expedition is a military campaign led by the CCP and GMD against the

warlords. It is eventually success in defeating the warlords and ending regionalism (mostly)

Why this matters for Mao During the Northern March, the CCP was organizing and indoctrinating peasants to

the wonders of Communism. The CCP rapidly grows in size and political power during the period. This is part of the reason Jiang turns against the CCP

Mao at this point is working in Hunan organizing peasants. He’s not at a point of national prominence…yet

The Nanjing Decade 1928-37 The Nanjing Decade began during the Northern Expeditions. Following a series of GMD

victories Jiang established a GMD gov’t and turned against the CCP (White Terror). This event triggered the Chinese Civil War

Division in the United Front and within the GMD The CCP gained popularity during the Northern Expedition. This was a threat to

Jiang The GMD Leadership became divided between Jiang and Wang Jingwei9

Jiang initiated a White Terror in the hopes to purge the GMD of the Communists. Thousands were killed. Ironically, Jiang spends a lot of this energy during the Nanjing decade trying to

eliminate the communists but completely neglects the Japanese threat. He doesn’t resist the Japanese take over of Manchuria (Prescribed Subject!!) and this sparks a nationalist movement, which undermines his rule and strengthens the communists.

Jiangxi Soviet Mao sets up the Jiangxi10 Soviet. It’s a small group of his followers that are

attempting to resist Jiang’s encirclement campaign’s

5 Cominterm: Communist International, their goal was to help set up Communist Parties in other countries and hopefully lead

a worldwide revolution (Ya-hoo!) 6

Pronounciated kwoh-min-tang7

Marriage of convenience is orchestrated for personal gain or some other sort of strategic purpose not LOVE8

Pro-Western, growing in his Anti-Communist attitude Jiang turns against the CCP. He runs an authoritarian state in China till his defeat in 1949. But since he is Anti-Communist western powers support him.9

Wang Jingwei: A member of the GMD who disagreed with Jiang’s policies and emerged as a potential rival.10

Jiangxi is a province in South-Central China located next to Hunan


During this period, Mao emerges as a prominent Communist Leader During the Jianxi Soviet, he puts forth his “Land Law”11 which was designed to

appeal to the peasants. It also is a precursor to his land reform in the 1950. By 1931, Mao had set up an independent force with massive peasant support,

a secure base of operation, and strong military that embraced guerilla warfare.

Significance of the Nanjing Decade Mao emerged as the CCP leader. Jiang as the GMD leader China lost control of Manchuria to Japan because Jiang’s focus on the CCP and the

encirclement campaigns CCP is gaining support with the peasants and is beginning to advocate Leninist style

land reform. The Long March

The Fifth Encirclement campaign is more effective than the first four against Mao’s forces Jiang had changed his strategy12

Conflict within the CCP resulted in Mao being replaced by the 28 Bolsheviks13 and the CCP abandoning guerilla warfare in exchange for conventional tactics. It doesn’t work out too well for the Communists.

The Communists escape in the Long March but it is incredibly costly (90% of the CCP dies)

The Zunyi Conference (This is a key event for Mao’s Leadership) During the Long March the CCP captures the town at Zunyi. After the victory

they discuss the reasons they are losing to the GMD. The decide to put Mao back in charge

11 Remember how Lenin appealed to the peasantry. Free land for all!

12 Jiang adopts a “Block House Tactic.” He builds defensive structures and concentrates his army in these positions. This way,

they are less susceptible to guerilla attacks. Combined with the change in the CCP tactics, this almost results in the defeat of the Communists at the Jiangxi 13

This was a group of Chinese military advisors who studied in the USSR. They were assisted by other foreign Comintern Officials (Example: Li De or Otto Braun of the German Comintern)


He has direct command of the army He goes back to guerilla tactics He forms an alliance with the other Communist forces of Zhou Enlai14

against the 28 Bolsheviks After 368 days (that’s a long march alright) they arrive in Yan’an in Shaanxi.

This area is protected by harsh terrain and provides Mao a base of operation with a friendly peasant population to support him.

Mao Concentrates his power and develops Maoism After arriving in Shaanxi15, Mao consolidates his power. The “success” of the Long

March showed the endurance of the Communists. Mao emerges as a hero.16 It also showed that the Jiang and the GMD were weak.

While in Shaanxi, Mao develops his philosophy based on the ideas of Marxist-Leninism17

Mao is aided by Chen Boda (Fellow CCP Member) Maoism applies the revolutionary model of Marxist-Leninism to China Instead of a proletarian working class led by the Communists, it is a peasantry18

The CCP’s military force eventual takes the name: The People’s Liberation Army or the PLA

The Sino19-Japanese War Formation of the Second Popular Front

Jiang was so distracted by the CCP that he allowed Japanese invasion of Manchuria and their seizure of large chunks of territory.

In 1937 the Japanese invade from Manchuria into China20 and began to seize territory. This ends the Nanjing Decade and begins the Sino-Japanese War

Jiang reluctantly agrees to join Communists against the Japanese in a Second United Front

Course of the Sino-Japanese War The war initially goes very bad for Chinese. They lose most of the eastern coast of

the country to Japan The Chinese are only aided by the USSR The international community is too distracted by events in Europe to get

involved. Japan commits a series or human atrocities in China21

When WW2 breaks out, Japan redirects its forces to fight the US and British. There is a stalemate in China

The US aids Jiang and the GMD. Jiang withdraws his support for the CCP Jiang’s leadership is heavily criticized. He is viewed as an ineffective leader who

runs an authoritarian state22

He begins a conscription program that hit the peasants the hardest (Which makes them turn to the CCP)

High inflation during this period hit the urban middle class the most23

14 Another leader of the CCP who back Mao

15 This is sometimes called the Yanan Period. This is where Mao stops after the long March

16 This is an important event in the formation of Mao’s Leadership Cult (Characteristics of a totalitarian)

17 Remember Leninism and the role of the revolutionary vanguard. This is the how Mao see’s the relationship of the CCP with

the peasants. He sought to establish “awareness” (Lenin would describe it as class consciousness)18

Traditional Leninists disagree with Mao. They argue peasants could not be a true revolutionary class. 19

Sino means “China or Chinese”20

Of course this further violates all those international agreements that J. signed. But those were already broken by the Manchuria Invasion. 21

See the Rape of Nanking 22

Typical stuff: Censorship, oppression of dissenting groups, wide-spread corruption23

They were the key supporters of the GMD


Jiang gets direct military aid from the US. He screws this up because he is so focused on undermining the CCP.24

The Sino-Japanese War ends when the US drops the A-bombs on Japan. Effects of the Sino-Japanese War

The CCP significantly strengthened its popularity with the peasants. They are viewed at the true Nationalist Party

The economy and society of China was in disarray (War, inflation, destruction, mass death)

The Leadership of Jiang was extremely unpopular. Mao was able to purge revivals in the CCP through a series of “rectification

campaigns.” This strengthens his position in the party considerably. Mao also adopts the “Mass Line.” This is direct party indoctrination of peasants. The

goal is to make Maoism appealing and gain support. Second Phase of the Chinese Civil War 1945-49

The Chinese Civil War began again after the end of WW2. However it became part of the larger Cold War as the US and USSR began to struggle for power (Proxy War)

The US attempted to negotiate a settlement between the groups but this proved impossible (See the Marshall Mission). Open war breaks out in 1946

The US backed Jiang and the USSR supported Mao25

Despite the fact that the GMD outnumber the PLA 4 to 1, the PLA win. WHY? Mao’s use of guerilla warfare, careful indoctrination of the peasants,

overall nationalist appeal of Maoism26

Jiang fled to Taiwan27 in 1949. Mao established the People’s Republic of China in Oct 1949

Establishment of the PRC For the first time in 50 years China was free on internal division and outside

intervention. However it was very weak economically. Inflation was very high. Industrial production was low. The country was largely

undeveloped28. Communists introduced a new currency to stabilize prices (the Renminbi). They

also adopted pricing rules for oil, rice, coal, flour. Taxation was reformed. The Communists ended up better funded then Jiang.

Inflation dropped dramatically. The economy stabilized. Mao would then embark on two key reforms in an attempt to create a modern socialist state:

24 See the Stilwell conflict and the problems with the Dixie Mission pg 153-54

25 The Chinese and the USSR are never very close allies despite their ideological similarities.

26 The Communists promise equity and fairness. Something that was not present in Jiang’s rule

27 Taiwan remained independent from main land China. It signed a military protection alliance with the US. Every 5 or 10

years, the Chinese threaten Taiwan but nothing happens28

Not a lot of industrialization, factories, infrastructure, or an educated workforce.


Agricultural Collectivization Cultural Reforms

Section 2: Mao in Power: Domestic Policies and their impact, 1949-76This section will focus on how Mao centralized his power, essentially how China became a single party dictatorship. It will examine the factors that allowed Mao to do this. It will also examine his key Revolutionary Programs (Land Reform, Cultural Revolution). Social polices and foreign policy will be discussed as well.

A key idea is that Mao embarks on gradual reform. 1949 does not see a set of sweeping changes (compared with the Bolsheviks). However, by the early 1960s Mao adopts a series a radical programs that destabilize Chinese society and result in the deaths of millions. The high count is 40 million people.

Typical Questions will focus on Factors that allow Mao to gain the dictatorship Aims of Mao and his success Revolutionary nature of Mao Assessment of different social policies (Compared with other SPS)

II Initial Years of the People’s Republic of China The Organic Law

The first constitution existed for 5 years. It set up a government modeled on the Bolshevik state. The Constitution calls for a “People’s Consultative Conference” which would advise the Communists. This is effectively a multiparty state. While the GMD is banned, other parties are allowed to exist. Mao argues he is attempting to create a model of the New Democracy for China The organic law is decidedly against very elite capitalists (moderately successful are

ok), imperialists, and foreigners. The organic law focused on creating equality and fairness amongst the Chinese.

However, it is limited in it’s success. Structure of the Chinese State:

Central People’s Government Council (CPGC) Led by the Chairman: Mao Controlled executive, legislative, judicial branches29 Supported by 6 Vice-Chairmen 56 Elected members

State Administrative Council Made decisions when the the CPGC was not in session but was technically under

their control If neither the CPGC or SAC was in session Mao could make decisions as Chairman

of the State Chinese itself was divided into 6 administrative councils

Each was made up of several provinces In 1950: The PLA was sent out to gain control of surrounding provinces: Tibet, Xinjiang,

and Guangzhou30 This further concentrated PRC power

The Chinese Communist Party Only 1% of the population were actually members of the Party

Membership was selective. This was done to preserve orthodoxy. There is also a lot of people in China

Structure of the Party (Mao Controlled all three)

29 So there is no separation of powers in the PRC

30 This is still an issue today with the Dali Lama and Tibet


Politburo/The Secretariat/Central Committee Following the example of Lenin and the dictatorship of the prolitariate, a small

group of elite dominated the party: Mao, Lio Shaoqi, Zhou Enlai Marriage Reform Law of 1950

On of the first major social reforms passed by the PRC Benefits

Ended arranged marriages Greatly benefited the status of women. They were now legally equal to their

husbands. Made divorce easier to get Gave women essential human rights: Specifically banned prostitution, footbinding31.

They also gained the right to own property32

Chinese Foot Binding Reaction

Increased the popularity of the CCP for women. Really had a positive benefit for Chinese women Clashed with traditional patriarchal society33 in China. Also rejected by Chinese

Muslims Was not universally accepted

Agrarian Reform Chinese Agrarian reform moves slower than the USSR. The USSR ran into massive

problems with collectivizing farms (Massive Famine) and the CCP hope to avoid disaster. Phase 1: Agrarian Reform Law (1950)

The CCP organizes “struggle meetings” as it encourages peasants to confront large landholders and try to make them “Confess” to their crime of exploitation

In reality, the party was encouraging peasants to attack landlords and seize their land. The new land would be privately held by the peasants.

This policy helped gain the peasants’ support and fulfilled one of the promises of the party

This is an important step for Mao in wiping out right-wing opposition (Rectification). He used poor peasants against the wealthy landholders. Many were beaten and murdered.34Thus a major threat to Mao’s power was eliminated

By 1952, land had been redistributed to 300 million peasants See the 5-Year Plan Forward for Phase 2

III Movement Towards Radical Socialism The Korean War

The Korean War35 broke out in 1950 when the Communist North (Run by Kim Il Sung) invaded the democratic South36.

The Korean War put Mao in a tough spot. He really should avoid getting involved in a costly war but he felt compelled to aid fellow Communists. There were advantages for getting involved in the war:

31 Footbinding was a beauty standard for women. Their feet were tied with rope and the bones were reshaped.

32 The move to collective farms reverses this, but then again, no one could own property

33 Patriarchy: Male Dominated society

34 Compare this to the problems the Left had in Spain because of the Spanish Grandees

35 This is the first major proxy war of the Cold War

36 Short History of Korea: Korea had been under Japanese control since the 1910s. After WW2, Korea gained its independence

but their were two rival groups: Communist North and Democratic South.


Point 1: Would encourage nationalism and unity by resisting an aggressive outside power (Western Powers backing the South)

Point 2: The Success of the Red Army (Communist China’s Military) against the US and UN forces increased the prestige of the PRC

Point 3: It gave Mao an excuse to take action against elements of Chinese society that opposed him37

The “Antis” Movement The Antis movement began as a way to purge dissenters from the gov’t and business

“The Three Antis” [sanfen] 1951 “The Five Antis” [wufan] 1952-Targeted corruption, waste, and inefficiency-Directed at business, party members, gov’t officials

-Targeted cheating on contracts, tax evasion, bribery

Methods Employees were encouraged to denounce bosses. Groups would hold “struggle

meetings” and they would confront the “criminals”. Those found guilty would have to pay fines or attend thought reform programs This mimicked the methods used from agricultural reform

Effects The Antis movement targeted bourgeoisie and capitalists in China. Thus further

strengthening Mao and bringing the society under his control The state became more wealthy (because of the fines) and inflation dropped

Anti-Intellectual Movement During the Antis Movements, the state also targeted intellectuals38 who were not

vanguard members of the party and could be possible threat to “revolutionary thinking” This group was seen as a threat to the Party and the State and they needed to be

“reformed” and exposed to proper socialist ideals Party Centralization

During this period, the Party changed its registration program and became more important to the individual’s life

The party required people to obtain residence permits (hukou) to be able to live somewhere and work permits (danwei) that allowed them to work. These were closely tided to a members secret personnel file (dangan) that contained all the details of your private life. Your file would determine your eligibility to obtain work and residence permits. This further increased centralization as people became more reliant and obedient to

the party39

The overall effect of the Antis Movement, Anti-Intellectual Movement, and Party Centralization was to eliminate possible threats to Mao and the CCP (Capitalists, Middle Class, Intellectuals) and more firmly root the party in everyday life.40

The Party had enacted land reform, purged dissenters, and strengthened their power. They moved on to industrial reform and a move towards socialism

Industrialization and the first 5-Year Plan Background

Mao focused now on industrial planning and land reform that would transition China to a fully modern socialist state Goal: Double Industrial Production ASAP

37 Again, consolidating his power. People that opposed him were labeled “reactionaries” or “counter-revolutionaries” and

disposed of.38

Journalists, teachers, lawyers, writers, artists39

If you screwed up, you can lose your place to live and job. Strong incentive to follow the rules. 40

Think of this compared to Hitler and the Nazi state.


Mao modeled his 5-Year Plan41 on the USSR’s42

The first 5-Year Plan would rely on the use of Soviet technical experts and financial aid.43

Effects All businesses were nationalized under state control By 1956, most industrial output goals were met However, agricultural investment lagged behind.

Phase 2 of Land Reform Goal: End peasants holding private property and collectivize agriculture44

Sequence of Land Reform Step 1: Mutual Aid Teams would be formed. They would be 3-30 farmers who

would work a common piece of land. Peasants would retain their property but would share equipment and labor. This doesn’t work out well. Class distinctions emerge between wealthy and

poor peasants. Productivity dropped but they went to Step 2 anyway Step 2: Large Cooperatives would be made by merging the Mutual Aid Teams.

Land would be pooled together. There was a fear that the wealthier peasants would simply destroy their property or refuse to work. This happened in Russia under Stalin.45 Mao went forward anyway. They state used its influence to force individuals to join these collectives. They also compensated the families that donated more to the collective by giving them more of a share (Vaguely Capitalist)

Step 3: Large Cooperative Farms were established according to the Soviet model. Things actually went OK. Private property ended as the state took over all lands. Peasants were compensated for their labor. By 1957, 300,000 Cooperative Farms were created, each with around 300

families living on them. Changes to the Structure of Government and the Party

In 1954 Mao introduces a new Constitution that replaces the Organic Law National People’s Conference (NPC)

Made up of representatives that were elected every four years. Mao was the Chairman of the NPC Mao was supported by a Vice-Chairman (First, Zhu De)

CCP was also restructured. Mao retained control at each level A Central Committee was made up of 6 chairmen, led by Mao. It was the real center

of executive power The Politburo was made up of 7 men A National Party Congress was elected every five years.

Changes to Communism, Post-Stalin Background

After the death of Stalin, the Soviet Union began to retreat from his extreme. Khrushchev (the new Soviet Premier) openly criticized Stalin and his authoritarian rule and began a process of destalinization

Uprisings against Communist control in Easter Europe seemed to undermine the power of the USSR

Why this matters

41 In the USSR, the Five-Year Plan has a set of industrial and agricultural goals issued by the state. Businesses and

organizations were expected to meet the year goals. This is a command economy with the state dictating production. The end result is rapid industrialization and development 42

The USSR in the 1920s was radically different than China in the 1950s but Mao used them as a model anyway. 43

Like some weird Left-Wing College44

Create very large farms where people lived and worked together but no one owned any property45

Dekulakization: Stalin went after the wealthy peasant “kulaks” during his collectivization process. Wide spread famine resulted and it was a disaster.


Mao’s rule closely resembled Stalin’s in his style and authoritarianism. Events in Europe also exposed what could be viewed as a weakness of the USSR.

Mao began to think about adopting a Third Way, which would be somewhere between Soviet and Western ideologies.

The Hundred Flowers Campaigns The Hundred Flowers Campaign began as a way to encourage more open dialogue and

criticism in China. The hope was through open criticism, progress would occur.46

The Campaign is a huge disaster for the CCP. Thousands of articles are published criticizing every aspect of the party, state, and economy. Individual leaders are called out by name. It’s very embarrassing and a huge screw up for Mao

Response To respond, the PRC launched an Anti-Rightist Campaign47 against dissenters People were subject to “struggle meetings,” executed, or sentenced to forced labor.

Millions were sent to the countryside to learn from the peasants (work on collective farms) Many committed suicide instead.

IV The Great Leap Forward48, 1958-62 The Great Leap Forward was a continuation of industrialization under the first 5-Year Plan.

However, Mao moves away from the traditional soviet style. Mao will focus on increasing steel production and creating new types of large

communes. Mao hoped to further his ideology and increase the productive output of Chinese

workers. Structure of the Great Leap Forward

All peasants would be moved into 27,000 Communes. Each had about 5,000 households. Private land ownership was ended. The communes would be mini-cities. Each with its own industrial production,

agriculture, living spaces “Backyard Furnaces” [which were blast furnaces designed to forge steel] were set up in

the communes. The goal was to rapidly increase steel production. The Communes were run like a military institution was production goals set by the state.

Outcome of the Great Leap Forward (Disaster) Production goals were wildly unrealistic and not met The steel produced was low quality and useless Production standards declined. There are shortages of important goods. There was massive deforestation as workers used trees for fuel for the furnaces which

produced useless steel The communes were too large for people to really live and work in effectively Agricultural and industrial production drop

Agricultural Reform (Disaster) The Chinese are influenced by the Soviet Scientist Trofim Lysenko. They adopt various

strategies to grow “super crops” but they don’t work out well Agricultural production was low despite hugely ambitious production goals. Because

people are afraid of the state, they lie about how much grain they produced. Since everyone is afraid of getting branded a “counter-revolutionary” and being killed or sent to a forced labor camp if they tell the truth, they continue the lie.

Massive famines result. Results of the Great Leap Forward (Big time Disaster)

By 1958, its clear that the Great Leap Forward isn’t working. The gov’t reduced its goals were too late to avoid disaster.

“Three Bad Years: 1959-61”

46 The name comes from a speech Mao made in 1956, “let a hundred flowers bloom and a hundred schools of thought

content.”47

The Anti-Rightist campaign was led by Deng Xiaoping. He would become Chinese Primer between 1978-199748

The name is ironic because the program is largely a disaster


China was hit but drought, flood, and famine. Hungry was wide-spread. Some people resorted to cannibalism. It is estimated that 50 million people died as a result of the Great Leap Forward.

Division in the CCP The disaster of the GLF creates division in the CCP. At the Lushan Conference: After

being privately criticized by his Defense Minister Peng Dehuai, Mao threatens to raise a new army of peasants and re-conquer the country.

This silences his critics.V The Cultural Revolution

The GPCR was a massive, violent “reform” movement begun by Mao and carried out by the PLA and radicalized university students. It was Mao’s attempt to reassert his central role to the Chinese Communist Revolution, prevent “revisionism” and the abandonment of socialist principles [there was a movement towards limited capitalism], and purge his opponents

Pretext to the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution (GPCR) By 1961 there was a significant break between the USSR and the PRC. The USSR under

Khrushchev had moved in a direction away from the authoritarian style of Stalin. It clashed with China over foreign policy issues.49 The USSR pulled out its technical advisors effectively leaving China isolated from the world.50

Mao had stepped down as party leader in 1959. He was replaced by Liu Shaoqi. The catastrophic failure of the GLF made the new leadership assess their socialist policies. There was a new movement towards private land ownership and away from collectivization and socialism.51

Mao rejected the liberalization of the Socialist Revolution. He described it as “revisionism” and “capitalist-roaders”

Formation of the Cult of Mao Mao began to cultivate a following in the PLA with the help of Lin Biao.52 Mao, Lin, and

Chen Boda53 compiled Mao’s Little Red Book. This was a compilation of his sayings/beliefs and was instrumental in building his cult following.

With the help of Lin, Mao turned the PLA into an instrument of propaganda. The army was moved father to the left and increasingly became distant from the state54.

Trigger of the GPCR The trigger of the Great Proletariat Cultural Revolution was a

supporter of Mao’s written criticism of the play The Dismissal of Hai Rui From Office55. It publicly highlighted the divisions in the CCP between Mao and the new leadership of Liu and & Deng.

Mao’s wife, Jiang Qing, with the help of Lin Biao, organized the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution in 1966

Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution Phase 1 (May 1966-Feb 1967)

Jiang helped to set up the Central Cultural Revolution Group (CCRG) which would begin to carry out Mao’s GPCR. The current leaders of the CCP were identified as counter-revolutionary

49 There was conflict over the Albania. See p174 for more details.

50 China was a pariah state. It was not allowed in the UN, it was not diplomatically recognized by western powers or the US. Its

only friend had been the USSR ;( 51

The movement was known as the “Four Clean-ups”52

He was defense minister.53

From the original development of Maoism54

Remember, this is a reflection of the division in the CCP between Mao and the currently leaders. Mao was attempting to reassert his control of the revolution. 55

The play was a thinly veiled attack on Mao and his failures of leadership.


May 1966: The CCRG organized a major protest at Beijing University. College students protested what they felt was Non-Maoist, counter-revolutionary policies. Things quickly got out of hand and the government could not bring the students under control56

June 1966: Out of nowhere, Mao appears in the Yangtze river swimming and displaying how fit and healthy he is. The crowds went wild. Mao was back and better than ever!! Mao elevated Lin to his second in command at a Central Committee Meeting. The GPCR could now go into full effect. Students were rallied and told to attack the CCP. The Red Guard were radicalized, Maoist college student. With the help out the

PLA, they ran around carrying Mao’s Little Red Book, attacking private property and “threats to the revolution.”

The Red Guard and the PLA rampaged the country. They attacked churches, temples, libraries, and museums. The CCP was targeted. Its leadership was arrested, supporters denounced. 1,000s were sent to forced labor camps or were killed.

By Dec 1966, Mao was losing control of the Red Guard and the control looked to be on the verge of chaos and civil war. Mao ordered the PLA to restore.

Phase 2 (1968-1971) The PLA replaced the Red Guard as agents of terror.

Under orders from Jiang Qing and Lin Biao, it began a campaign against enemies of the state. 10,000s of people were killed. 12 million people were sent to the countryside.

By 1971 the GPCR is winding down. It stops when

Lin is accused of trying to assassinate Mao. Aftermath of the Cultural Revolution

The country is nearly bankrupted. It’s economy was in shambles. The party leadership was disrupted. Schools effectively shut down.

Almost 100 million people suffered as a result. The Young Communist League was established to manage Maoist college students. Deng Xiaoping was restored to power in the CCP. He was eventual “rehabilitated” and

eventually became the leader of the PRC Motives- Why did Mao do it?

Mao said it was his greatest achievement but he never said why. Some people think it was just another component of his vision of Chinese socialism.

Other groups think that it was his attempt to prevent the revisionism and retreat from socialism that occurred after Stalin’s death in the USSR.

VI Death of Mao (1976) In 1976 several key revolutionary leader die (Zhou, Zhu De). Mao appoints his successor: Hua Guofeng A terrible earthquake hits China. This is viewed symbolically as the end of the Maoist era. Mao dies on Sept 9, 1976. His wife and the radicals still active in the CCRG (Known as the

Gang of Four) were arrested. This is the end of Left-wing radicalism. China moves towards a hybrid of state supported capitalism/socialism. While it is currently

the 2 largest economy in the world (only behind the US), Mao would probably not be happy.

Section 3: Foreign Policy

56 College students really are good for nothing


This section summarizes the major foreign policy events for the PRC. The IB Exam will not ask questions directly about foreign policy, however it will be important to bring up when discussing the Aims and Rule of SPS.

VII Foreign Policy Aims of the PRC The number one goal of Mao is for the PRC to be a recognized57 and independent state.

Centuries of foreign exploitation and domination make this a particularly important goal.

Sino-Soviet Alliance The Chinese had an ideological ally in the Soviet Union. While relations are never

completely friendly, they sign the Sino-Soviet Treaty (1950), which gave the Chinese $300 million in aid

The Korean War, 1950-53 Background

Korea had been divided at the 38th parallel at the Cairo Conference (1943) between the Communist North and Democratic South

While it looked like the US would not directly involve itself in Asian politics, this changed when North Korean invaded the South on July 25, 1950, beginning the Korean War

Course of the War

The US led a 15-nation UN Peace Keeping force against the North. The US Commander was Douglas MacArthur.

The MacArthur pledged Jiang US support of Taiwan against the threat of Chinese invasion.

The war went very well for the US/UN forces until they got close to the North Korea-Chinese Border. The Chinese counter-attacked pushing the US/UN forces back. MacArthur was fired and the war was fought to a stalemate in 1953.

Effects of the Korean War It was a costly conflict for both the US and China (Lost about 1,000,000 men) The Chinese has it as confirmation that foreign powers and the US were determined

to destroy the PRC. The “victory” over the US helped to support Chinese-Communist Nationalism. For the Chinese, the war was costly both in terms of money and lives. They got into a

$1 billion dollar debt to the USSR. Sino-Soviet Relations, 1953-61

While Mao was initially supported by Stalin (USSR), the Korean War drove a wedge between the two countries.

When Khrushchev began his “thaw58,” the USSR and PRC began to drift apart Two Factors formally split relations

The disaster of the Great Leap Forward and the removal of USSR aid from China Conflict over foreign policy between China and USSR

The two countries split in 1960-61

57 Meaning the international community would recognize the Communist gov’t as the true and legitimate gov’t of China.

58 Movement away from Stalinism to a more moderate variant of Communism which could peacefully co-exist with the West.


There was a minor military conflict on the Russian-Chinese border in 1969. A consequence of this split was a warming between the US and the PRC

Chinese-American Relations, 1971-76 Nixon was invited to China by Mao in 1971. This was a remarkable turn-around and

represented a dramatic policy shift for both countries

One motive for the US, was to undermine the USSR. Another motive was the US supporting China’s bid for a seat on the UN security

council. They would replace Taiwan and be able to veto an Soviet initiative

By 1979, both countries had full, formal diplomatic relations Other Diplomatic Relationships

The PRC had difficult relations with India. While India initially supported them, the India-Pakistan War (1965) created tension. PRC supported Pakistan in the conflict. Things did not return to normal until 1976

China’s invasion of Tibet and exile of the Dali Lama created tension between the West and the PRC. Their attempts to retake Taiwan (or at least threaten to) created tension between the US and PRC.

While China had initially been a supporter and potential leader of third world nations, by the 1970s they stepped back.

Mao’s foreign policy has usually mixed reviews. There wasn’t really any coherent agenda. PRC did remain independent and was widely recognized as a world power.

This completes the summary for Mao. The packet has a nice analyis of Mao. P183-186

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