Communist China

The rise of Mao Zedong

Decline of China

Manchu (Quing) Dynasty is initially strong

Up through the 1700’s China is a major world power, trading with Europe and dominating Asia

Internal struggles (growing population and weakening of the central government) leads to decline

During the 1800’s China was imperialized by almost every major European power

Imperialism in China

By the 20th century China is divided up into “spheres of influence”

China struggles to try and reform and catch up with the Western world while maintaining its cultural heritage

Different political groups within China compete to reform the country (Nationalist Party and the Chinese Communist Party)

May 4th Movement

May 4th, 1919 Demonstrations protesting

Chinese government’s weak response to the Treaty of Versailles

Treaty gave Japan certain areas that had been surrendered by Germany (territories in Shandong)

Began with student demonstrations in Beijing

Part of a greater cultural movement from 1919-1921

New-Democratic Revolution

Influenced by the revolutions in Russia, Communist groups began to form in China

First National Congress is held in Shanghai in 1921. Mao Zedong is one of the 12 delegates

Communist Party of China (CPC) is founded

Mao Zedong

12/26/1893-9/9/1976 Born into a wealthy

farming family Chinese Communist

revolutionary Founding father of the

People’s Republic of China Was inspired by Karl Marx

and Vladimir Lenin His policies are referred to

Marxism-Leninism-Maoism or Mao Zedong Thought

Chinese Civil War

Fought between the Kuomintang (KMT) and the Communist Party of China (CPC)

1927-1949 Chiang Kai-shek is one of the

key leaders of the KMT, while Mao is one of the key leaders of the CPC

The civil war results in two states: the Republic of China (ROC) in Taiwan and the People’s Republic of China (PRC) on the mainland

Both states claimed to be the legitimate government of China

World War II

Civil war pauses during World War II

CPC and KMT stop fighting one another, instead fight Japan

World War II began much earlier for China, with the Japanese invasions in the 1930’s

China greatly aided in preventing Japanese expansion

China was one of the allies, working with Great Britain and the US to help stop Japan

Civil War Continues

After World War II the civil war continues, except now the CPC has the advantage

Many military and political decisions made during WWII were unpopular amongst young supporters, who then switched and joined the CPC

US support of the KMT also diminished after WW2, while Soviet support of the CPC began to increase

Civil war ends in 1950

Consequences of Civil War

Estimated 1.8-3.5 million die as a result of the Civil War

In 1949 Mao Zedong declares the People’s Republic of China, with Beijing as the capital

Chiang Kai-shek and 2 million Nationalists flee to Taiwan, known as the Republic of China (ROC)

The United States protects the ROC and ensures that the PRC do not invade

Since then Taiwan and China have slowly been rebuilding relations

Mao in control

The People’s Republic of China (PRC) is directly controlled by the Communist Party of China (CPC)

Mao begins to consolidate his power by creating land reforms and working against his perceived enemies, who he deemed “counter-revolutionaries”

Had a goal of transforming China into a modern industrial nation

The Great Leap Forward

Economic and Social campaign from 1958-1961, designed to rapidly modernize China and change from an agrarian economy (farming) into a socialist society

Similar to Stalin’s 5 Year Plan Resulted in the Great Chinese

Famine, which is the cause of over 40 million deaths

Famine was caused by low levels of food production as well as inefficient and unorganized distribution

Mao was criticized for this failure, which caused him to lose power and influence within the party

Cultural Revolution

1966-1976 Designed by Mao Zedong to preserve

true Communist ideology by removing capitalist and traditional elements from society in China

Was a move to recover political power by Mao

The movement insisted that “revisionists”, people in China who promoted capitalism, had to be removed through violent class struggle

Red Guard was a movement of Chinese Youth to perpetuate these goals

Millions of people were persecuted, cultural icons were destroyed, religious sites were ransacked