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What were the economic factors that played a significant role in Mao’s emergence to power?
Poverty and land inequality among the chinese peasants
GMD corruption and inflation
China was divided into “spheres of influence”
Wealth was concentrated disproportionally in the hands of wealthy landlords
A significant portion of land was unusable due to natural disasters
How were the social division conditions that led to Mao’s emergence of power?
Feudalism with disproportionate concentration of wealth
The May Fourth movement (1919)
Social hierarchy with the emperor on top
What was the May Fourth Movement?
Chinese cultural and anti-imperialist political movement where students protested the government’s weak response to the Treaty of Versailles
What was the impact of war?
China suffered from lack of unity (spheres of influence)
Dominated by foreign power (Japan)
Won against the Japanese using guerrilla warfare, thus becoming more attractive options for the people compared to GMD
What was the impact of the weakness of the political system (Qing Dynasty)?
Defeat in Opium Wars (1839-42)
Defeat against Japan (1894-95)
Boxer rebellion (1898-1901) - Britain sought to profit from China and split the country
Resented government taxes
Inflation
Peasants of China succumbed to widespread revolutionary ideas
What was the impact of the weakness of the political system (New National Assembly)?
Sun Yat Sen resigned as president after lack of military support, replaced by Yuan Shikai
Yuan Shikai created another dynasty, where he was in control
He banned parliamentary elections and lacked loyalty towards revolutionary ideologies
After his death the warlords took over
What was the impact of the weakness of the political system (Beijing Government)?
Lack of supporters
Tried to establish popularity by joining WWII but Japan was revarded in ToV infuriating the Chinese
May Fourth Movement
What was the role of the leader (Mao)?
Jiang Jieshi broke alliance with Mao as he attempted to revolt
Formed the Red Army (1928)
The Long March
Advocating guerrilla warfare
Implementing land reforms and appealing to the rural population
Developing Mao Zedong Thought
What was the impact of the Long March (1934-35)?
Relocation of the communist revolutionary base as the Nationalist forces were advancing
The heroism inspired many young Chinese to join the CCP
What was Mao’s ideology?
Maoism = Product of Mao’s own peasant background
Focus on peasant and not workers
Energy of the masses
Ruthless determination: Violence was a necessary element of revolution
Mao was always right
“Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun”
What is communism?
Political and economic doctrine
Based on marxism
Aims to replace private property and profit-based economy with public ownership and communcal control
Revolution from the working class
Advocates for classless society
What was Mao’s use of force during his emergence?
When Mao established the Red Army they were poorly equipped, leading them to develop guerilla tactics
Though the Red Army (later to be PLA) were fewer troops, their experience, morale, and discipline eventually lead them to victory
What was his use of propaganda during his emergence?
Varied in themes such as Maoist ideals, anti-imperialism/anti-capitalism, family/social values
Posters, media, schools, literature, music, etc
The CCP army assisted in mass indoctrination and reinforcing political messages
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