Authoritarian States- IB History of the Americas Paper 2 HL

What conditions led to Mao’s rise?

Instability from warlordism, Japanese invasion, and KMT corruption created chaos. Mao gained peasant support through guerrilla tactics and rural focus.

What conditions led to Castro’s rise?

Batista’s dictatorship, U.S. economic control, and rural inequality spurred revolution. Castro used nationalism and charisma to rally support.

Key difference in conditions

Mao rose through civil war and foreign invasion; Castro’s revolution was more nationalist and initially less violent.

How did Mao use ideology?

Adapted Marxism to rural China (Maoism), emphasizing class struggle and peasant revolution from the beginning.

How did Castro use ideology?

Started with nationalism and anti-imperialism, adopting Marxism after 1959 to justify reforms and alliances.

Key difference in ideology use

Mao’s ideology guided him from the start; Castro’s shift to communism was more pragmatic and gradual.

How did Mao use force to maintain power?

Used mass repression through Red Guards, labor camps, and violent purges like during the Cultural Revolution.

How did Castro use force to maintain power?

Relied on secret police, imprisonment of dissenters, and citizen surveillance via the CDRs.

Key difference in use of force

Mao mobilized mass campaigns; Castro’s repression was more centralized and steady.

What political structures did Mao and Castro create?

Both built one-party states with strong executive control.

Key difference in political stability

Mao’s purges caused repeated instability; Castro’s rule was more consistent post-1970s.

What were Mao’s economic outcomes?

The Great Leap Forward caused famine and failure; recovery was slow and disrupted by the Cultural Revolution.

What were Castro’s economic outcomes?

Nationalized U.S. assets and relied on Soviet subsidies. Gains reversed when the USSR collapsed in the 1990s.

Key difference in economic outcomes

Mao’s failure was immediate and deadly; Castro’s model lasted longer but wasn’t sustainable.

What social reforms did Mao implement?

Expanded literacy, promoted gender equality, and restructured healthcare—but many gains were reversed by the Cultural Revolution.

What social reforms did Castro implement?

Universal education and healthcare, increased literacy, and encouraged women’s employment—with fewer disruptions.

Key difference in social outcomes

Mao’s policies were undermined by mass campaigns; Castro’s were more consistent and long-lasting.

How did Mao use propaganda?

Promoted a cult of personality using the Little Red Book, posters, and mass rallies to secure loyalty.

How did Castro use propaganda?

Used speeches, media, and education to promote revolutionary ideals and national pride.

Key difference in propaganda

Mao’s cult created chaos; Castro’s approach was more controlled and maintained order.

How did foreign policy affect Mao’s domestic rule?

Korean War boosted legitimacy; Sino-Soviet split isolated China but positioned Mao as a revolutionary leader.

How did foreign policy affect Castro’s domestic rule?

Soviet alliance helped justify domestic repression, but dependence on USSR caused crisis after its collapse.

Key difference in foreign influence

Mao gained independence but isolation; Castro gained support but became vulnerable to external collapse.

Did Mao fulfill his ideological goals?

Partially—improved literacy and equality, but mass violence and famine undermined his vision.

Did Castro fulfill his ideological goals?

Advanced education and healthcare, but repressed freedoms and relied on the USSR to stay afloat.

Compare conditions of Mao’s and Castro’s rise

Both emerged during instability and inequality. Mao faced warlordism and invasion; Castro fought dictatorship and U.S. dominance. Counterargument: Castro’s revolution had more nationalist roots and less total war than Mao’s.

Compare ideology in their rise and rule

Both used Marxism-Leninism, but Mao emphasized rural revolution early on; Castro started with nationalism. Counterargument: Mao’s ideology was foundational; Castro’s evolved over time for strategic reasons.

Compare use of force

Both used repression—Mao through mass campaigns, Castro via surveillance and imprisonment. Counterargument: Mao’s campaigns (e.g., Cultural Revolution) were more destabilizing and violent.

Compare political structures

Both created one-party states, but Mao’s purges led to turmoil, while Castro’s regime stabilized by the 1970s. Counterargument: Mao’s structure enabled purges; Castro prioritized institutional continuity.

Compare economic policies

Mao’s Great Leap caused famine; Castro relied on Soviet aid. Counterargument: Mao’s failures were more severe, but Castro’s model lacked long-term sustainability.

Compare social reforms

Both improved education and healthcare. Mao promoted gender equality but disrupted education; Castro maintained reforms longer. Counterargument: Mao’s reforms were more ambitious but undercut by political chaos.

Compare use of propaganda

Mao used extreme personality cult; Castro used charismatic speeches and controlled media. Counterargument: Mao’s strategy incited radical loyalty and instability; Castro maintained more public order.

Compare foreign policy impact

Mao’s actions made China more isolated but globally revolutionary; Castro gained Soviet support but became dependent. Counterargument: Mao’s independence came at a cost; Castro’s alliance had short-term benefits but long-term consequences.

Compare fulfillment of ideological goals

Both reduced inequality and promoted education. Mao pursued utopian revolution; Castro emphasized stability and social programs. Counterargument: Mao’s failures undermined ideology more visibly; Castro compromised but achieved more lasting reforms.