Mao's China: History, Policies, and Political Structure

Mao Zedong

Chairman of the People's Republic of China (1949-1976)

People's Republic of China

Established in 1949 after Communist victory

1.3 billion

China's population, most populous country

Huang He River

Also known as Yellow River, economic heart

Chang Jiang River

Also known as Yangtze River, economic heart

Han Chinese

90% of China's population, homogenous group

Confucianism

Philosophical system influencing Chinese culture

Shang Dynasty

Beginning of Chinese civilization around 1700 B.C.E.

Qin Dynasty

Unified China in 221 B.C.E., meritocracy established

Han Dynasty

206 B.C.E. to 220 C.E., trade and science flourished

Ming Dynasty

1368-1644 C.E., known for isolationism and Zeng He

Opium Wars

1839-42 C.E., conflict with Great Britain

Qing Dynasty

Overthrown in 1911, ending imperial rule

May Fourth Movement

1919, rejection of foreign powers and Confucianism

Kuomintang (KMT)

Nationalist Party led by Sun Yat-sen and Chiang Kai-shek

Civil War

Conflict between CCP and KMT after 1921

Long March

1934-35, Mao's strategic retreat covering 3700 miles

World War II

KMT and CCP ceasefire to fight Japan

Communist Party

Founded in 1921, led by Mao Zedong

Land Reform

Redistribution of land from rich to poor peasants

Peasant Revolution

Mao believed peasants were key to revolution

Industrialization

Post-1949 strategy influenced by Soviet methods

Great Leap Forward

1958-60, Mao's unique industrialization approach

Chiang Kai-shek

Leader of KMT after Sun Yat-sen's death

Taiwan

KMT retreated here after Communist victory

Mass Trials

1949-51, execution of former elite in China

Russian Engineers

Assisted in building factories during industrialization

Economic Heart

Refers to Huang He and Chang Jiang rivers

Isolationism

Ming Dynasty's policy limiting foreign contact

Meritocracy

System based on ability, established by Qin Dynasty

Great Leap Forward

Mao's campaign for rapid industrialization in China.

Backyard Steel Furnaces

Decentralized steel production method, largely ineffective.

Peasant Mobilization

Millions diverted from agriculture to industrial projects.

Drought Consequences

Severe drought led to 30 million deaths.

Collectivization

Mao's policy of consolidating small villages into larger towns.

Cultural Revolution

Mao's campaign to enforce communist ideology in culture.

Confucianism Attack

Mao opposed traditional Confucian values during Cultural Revolution.

Sino-Soviet Dispute

Ideological conflict between China and the Soviet Union.

Nikita Khrushchev

Soviet leader advocating peaceful coexistence with the West.

Revolutionary Situation

Mao's belief in imminent revolution from impoverished peasants.

Deng Xiaoping

Leader post-Mao, initiated economic reforms towards capitalism.

Township and Village Enterprises (TVEs)

Local enterprises allowed to operate like capitalist firms.

Chinese Communist Party (CCP)

Ruling party in China, separate constitution from government.

General Secretary

Top official in the Chinese Communist Party.

Politburo

Key decision-making body within the CCP.

Central Committee

Main governing body of the CCP.

National People's Congress

China's legislative body, elects President and Vice President.

Executive Branch

Includes President, Vice President, and Premier.

President of PRC

Head of state, power from CCP, not office.

Premier of PRC

Day-to-day governance leader, appointed by NPC.

Chairman of CMC

Leader of the Central Military Commission of CCP.

Standing Committee of Politburo

Top decision-making group within the CCP.

Unicameral Legislature

National People's Congress consists of 150 members.

Political Regime

Structure of governance in China under CCP.

Cultural Modernization

Mao's movements aimed to modernize rural economy.

Social Disruption

Cultural Revolution caused significant societal upheaval.

Mao's Leadership Assessment

Mixed views on Mao's impact in China.

Collective Farms

Farms operated collectively, later reformed by Deng.

National People's Congress

Unicameral legislature with 3,000 delegates.

Standing Committee

150-200 elite policymakers from NPC.

Xi Jinping

Current President and General Secretary of CCP.

Premier

Head of State Council, oversees government departments.

Central Military Commission

Oversees People's Liberation Army (PLA).

People's Liberation Army (PLA)

Military force under CCP control.

Legislative Power

NPC passes laws but checked by CCP.

Indirect Election

People elect representatives at provincial level.

Term Limit

Executives serve two 5-year terms.

Bureaucracy

State Council implements NPC decisions.

Judiciary

No rule of law; party leaders control law.

Human Rights Abuses

Amnesty International cites severe violations in China.

Liu Xiaobo

Nobel Peace Prize winner, jailed for human rights advocacy.

Guanxi

Patron-client relationships in Chinese politics.

Civil Law Changes

Development of contract and labor laws in China.

Political Power Quote

Mao: 'Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun.'

Amnesty International

Reports on China's human rights violations.

Political Prisoners

Approximately 50,000 held in China.

Swift Criminal Justice

Harsh penalties, including capital punishment.

NPC Meeting Frequency

Meets once a year for 2 weeks.

NPC Legislative Role

Legislates for 1.3 billion people.

Executive Nominations

Nominated by CCP, elected by NPC.

Health Reasons Parole

Liu Xiaobo paroled due to health issues.

PLA Economic Activities

Historically ran businesses to fund itself.

CCP General Secretary

Leader of the Communist Party.

Political Control

PLA used against citizens for state control.

Minority Representation

Minimal representation in NPC from regions.

State Council

Composed of ministers executing NPC decisions.

Political Dissent

Suppressed through harsh legal measures.

Nobel Prize for Peace

Awarded to Liu Xiaobo in 2010.

Tiananmen Square

Site of 1989 pro-democracy protests in China.

Estimated deaths

China reports 241; Amnesty estimates 500-1000.

Internal Security

Government branch focused on espionage and intelligence.

Ministry of State Security

Handles national security and intelligence operations.

People's Armed Police

Force for public safety and unrest control.

Ministry of Public Security

Maintains law, order, and oversees surveillance.

Labor reform camps

Facilities for detaining and reforming offenders.

Habeas corpus rights

Legal right to challenge unlawful detention.

Local Governments

Limited power in China's unitary state structure.

Devolution

Transfer of power to local governments for policies.

Corruption

Abuse of power leading to land confiscation.

Pollution

Environmental degradation from rapid industrialization.