Global Studies: Mao Zedong

Qing Dynasty

collapsed in 1912, the last empirical dynasty of China, replaced by the nationalist party in China

Nationalist Party

In charge of China from 1912-1949, they wanted more western and modern politics, favored the college-educated youth in cities, Many people did not like the shift from traditional Chinese values to more westernized ones

Communist Party of China

Led by Mao Zedong, attracted the peasants of China and they were the vast majority of the Chinese people at the time, he promised wealth and prosperity for all the people including peasants

Mao Zedong

he came from a peasant family, majority of his platform was about uplifting peasants and having them become a part of Chinese society

Chinese Civil War

War between two parties: the communist party-lead by Mao Zedong, and the Nationalist Republicans- lead by Chiang Kai-Shek: in favor of the modernized, westernized China without communism

WWII

Japan invades China, the two parties joined together to fight against the Japanese, the nationalist republicans had to fight since they were the military of China and they exhausted the majority of their resources during the war the Communist party gained a lot of volunteers and supporters

Civil War Continues: 6,000 Mile March

The Chinese communists marched 6,000 miles showing how great they are to the peasants to gain support-it works
A lot to the women start dying on the march
A lot of people start thinking that they should support this cause because others are dying for it and they think it is worth dying for

End of Civil War

Mao Zedong is victorious
Chang Kai-Shek is exiled to Taiwan
The Nationalist Republicans are now the current government of Taiwan

Political Status of Taiwan

Americans view: Taiwan is its own country
Extreme anti-communist: believe that the Nationalist Republicans government was the original government/Republic of China and now it is just a government in exile
Pro communists view: Taiwan is a part of China and there is an illegal government operating there

Video Notes

Liberal Revolution
Mao Zedong wanted a social revolution but it never happened
Wanted a massive overhaul of Chinese society so there would be social justice

Why did it happen?

Happened because China had a tradition of peasant rebellions-wanted peasants to get an equal share and not be exploited, Drew revolutionary ideas from the Soviet Union and their ideas -their ideologies like communism from Karl Marx, Stalin, Ingles-didn’t follow the workforce uprise part of communism because peasants were not really apart of the workforce also drew inspiration from their flag

Why did the communists win?

The Communists won because they had the organization to be able to get through to those in rural areas and the vast majority of the people-peasants, they gave dignity to the poor, the rural area people, and peasants who were the majority found the communist party relatable and liked them, they could not find the Nationalist Republicans relatable

What did it achieve?

Achieved Human development indicators-a measure of health, education, and well-being of the people, provided basic health services, basic education to the illiterate, gave women more roles in society, gave property to the poor, more respect to the rural society of China

How did it fail?

Failed with the cost of revolution, including human lives, made farms communal (give me your land or pay with your life-many people chose life) these farms has quotas and that caused a famine because they had the reach a high number and they couldn’t take any for themselves, killed people that we considered traitors or didn’t believe in that religion

Deng Xiao Ping

Leader that comes after Mao Zedong
Makes agricultural, industrial, and social reform

Agricultural Reform

Great Leap forward failed-communal farms, quotas
Xiao Ping fixed the Great Leap Forward
Farmers rented land but owned crop
Keep or sell the crops they wanted
Created a surplus of food in China

Industrial Reforms

Zedong was always focused on the peasants and not really on the industries
Xiao Ping expanded industries
Created special economic zones in coastal cities
Under Zedong, factories were not allowed to produce what they wanted to produce, it was government-mandated
With Xiao Ping, factories were allowed to produce what they wanted
Allowed foreign companies to use factories in China

Social Reforms

Xiao Ping put into effect the 1 child policy (currently it is 3)
Men are prioritized for their one child
Women may be forced to get an abortion, give the child up for adoption, or leave the child if that child turns out to be a girl

Tiananmen Square Massacre

Peaceful protest from college students
Demanding more rights for self-expression and speech
The Chinese government's military was brought to the square to stop the massacre
No one knows how many people were killed because the government refused to talk about it
Many protests stemming from the massacre happened in Hong Kong