Communism in China

• Rise of Mao ZedongRise of Mao Zedong

• Chinese Civil WarChinese Civil War

• Life Under MaoLife Under Mao

• The Great Leap ForwardThe Great Leap Forward

• Cultural RevolutionCultural Revolution

• Tiananmen SquareTiananmen Square

The Rise of Mao ZedongThe Rise of Mao Zedong

• Mao Zedong was a Communist organizer and a member of the Chinese Communist Party

• Mao first had to defeat the Nationalists, using the peasants’ huge population as an advantage.

• During the Long March, an estimated 81,000 out of 90,000 people died while walking 6,000 miles to the last surviving Communist Base in southern China.

• During the course of the Long March, Mao established himself unquestionably as the leader of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party)

• He held his title his whole life.

Chinese Civil War

• Cause:

– The war occurred because the Chinese Nationalists (led by Chiang Kai-shek) and the Chinese Communists (led by Mao Zedong) were competing for power

– The war between the two groups began in 1945

Chinese Civil War

• Outcome:– Communists won over millions of peasants by

promising them land– Numerous people joined Mao’s People’s Liberation

Army– Nationalists lost to the Communists in 1949– People’s Republic of China was ruled by the

Communist Party– Chiang Kai-shek and 2 million Nationalists

retreated to Taiwan and established the Republic of China

Life Under Mao

• Launched a program in 1955 in order to form a socialist society

• Took land from wealthy landlords and gave it to two-thirds of the peasants in hopes that food production would increase, which ended up not happening

• He took collective farms and combined them into communes, that contained 30,000 people who lived and worked together

Great Leap ForwardForward

• It was a radical program that began in 1958

• Mao Zedong started it in hopes to speed up economic growthMao Zedong started it in hopes to speed up economic growth

• He took collective farms and combined them into communes, that He took collective farms and combined them into communes, that contained 30,000 people who lived and worked togethercontained 30,000 people who lived and worked together

• His goal was to reach the final stage of communism – a classless societyHis goal was to reach the final stage of communism – a classless society

• One of Mao’s campaigning slogans was:One of Mao’s campaigning slogans was:– ““Hard work for a few years, happiness for a thousand”Hard work for a few years, happiness for a thousand”

• The Great Leap Forward was a disasterThe Great Leap Forward was a disaster

• The food production went down because of bad weather and bad planningThe food production went down because of bad weather and bad planning

• 16 million citizens starved to death16 million citizens starved to death

• Two years later, in 1960, the Chinese Government broke down the Two years later, in 1960, the Chinese Government broke down the communescommunes

The Cultural RevolutionThe Cultural Revolution

• Mao still wanted a classless societyMao still wanted a classless society• Only a permanent and constant revolution Only a permanent and constant revolution

could make this happencould make this happen• In 1966 The Great Proletarian Cultural In 1966 The Great Proletarian Cultural

Revolution beganRevolution began• Little Red Book was a book of Mao Zedong’s Little Red Book was a book of Mao Zedong’s

thoughtsthoughts– Thought of as a bible and ultimate source of Thought of as a bible and ultimate source of

knowledgeknowledge

The Cultural Revolution Continued

• Red Guards were formedRed Guards were formed

– Bands of mostly student and teenage revolutionariesBands of mostly student and teenage revolutionaries

– Wanted to get rid of the “Four Olds”Wanted to get rid of the “Four Olds”

• Old ideasOld ideas

• Old culturesOld cultures

• Old customsOld customs

• Old habitsOld habits

– Destroyed books that were written by foreigners, foreign Destroyed books that were written by foreigners, foreign music, and templesmusic, and temples

– Renamed the streets so that they sounded more revolutionaryRenamed the streets so that they sounded more revolutionary

– Brutally attacked people who “deviated” from Mao’s planBrutally attacked people who “deviated” from Mao’s plan

Cultural Revolution ContinuedCultural Revolution Continued

• Many people including party members, professionals, Many people including party members, professionals, and military officers went against the Red Guards and military officers went against the Red Guards because they were repulsed by the Red Guard’s actionsbecause they were repulsed by the Red Guard’s actions

• Mao reined in the Red Guards and got tired of their Mao reined in the Red Guards and got tired of their actionsactions

• Deng Xiaoping gained power after Zedong’s deathDeng Xiaoping gained power after Zedong’s death

– Brought the Cultural Revolution to an endBrought the Cultural Revolution to an end

Tiananmen SquareTiananmen Square

• Located in the capital of BeijingLocated in the capital of Beijing• Massive demonstrations were held thereMassive demonstrations were held there• The death of Hu Yaobang, a pro-democracy pro-market official, sparked The death of Hu Yaobang, a pro-democracy pro-market official, sparked

these protests. these protests. • Over 100,000 spectators showed up to Yaobang’s funeral on April 15, 1989Over 100,000 spectators showed up to Yaobang’s funeral on April 15, 1989• The movement lasted seven weeks, until Deng Xiaoping ended it on June 4The movement lasted seven weeks, until Deng Xiaoping ended it on June 4• Xiaoping believed that protesters were calling for the end of communist Xiaoping believed that protesters were calling for the end of communist

square square – He ordered tanks and troops to get rid of the protestersHe ordered tanks and troops to get rid of the protesters– Between 500 and 2,000 people were killedBetween 500 and 2,000 people were killed

• By the late 1990’s:By the late 1990’s:– Protested againstProtested against– Chinese citizens had high taxesChinese citizens had high taxes– A classless society was never achieved, and there was major economic A classless society was never achieved, and there was major economic

and social inequalityand social inequality

Analyze & Discuss

                                           

By:By:Rachel FurcickRachel Furcick

Nikol GrbicNikol GrbicMax MercadoMax MercadoSteven MomiSteven Momi