15.2 – Communists Take Power in China

What two groups were fighting a civil war in China when Japan invaded in 1937?

Nationalists and Communists

Who was the leader of the Communists?

Mao Zedong

Where was the Communists' stronghold in China?

Northwestern China

What strategy did the Communists use against the Japanese?

Guerrilla war

How did the Communists win the peasants' loyalty?

1. promoting literacy

2. improving food production

By 1945, what part of China did the Communists control?

Much of northern China

Who was the leader of the Nationalist forces?

Jiang Jieshi

Where did the Nationalist forces dominate?

Southwestern China

What country sent aid to the Nationalists during World War II?

The United States

What was a major problem with the U.S. aid sent to the Nationalists?

It often ended up in the hands of corrupt officers.

Did Jiang's army fight many battles against the Japanese?

No, they saved strength for the coming battle against Mao's Red Army.

When did the Chinese Civil War resume after Japan surrendered?

1946

What advantage did the Nationalists initially have in the resumed civil war?

Their army outnumbered the Communists' army.

What continued to weaken the Nationalist cause during the civil war?

1. China's collapsing economy

2. lack of popular support

In what year did China's major cities fall to the Red forces?

Spring 1949

What promise of Mao's troops made them enthusiastic?

To return land to the peasants.

In October 1949, who gained control of the country?

Mao Zedong

What did Mao Zedong proclaim the country?

The People's Republic of China

Where did Jiang and other Nationalist leaders retreat to?

The island of Taiwan (Formosa)

How did Mao Zedong's victory affect U.S. anti-Communist feelings?

It fueled them.

What event in 1950 further intensified U.S. anti-Communist feelings?

The Chinese and Soviets signed a treaty of friendship.

Central purpose of the Chinese Revolution

1. break down existing class structure

2. provide more economic and political opportunity (e.g. land ownership)

Role of peasants in the Chinese Revolution

A key role.

The 'Two Chinas' that intensified the Cold War

1. Nationalist China (Taiwan)

2. People's Republic of China (mainland)

Aid the United States gave to Nationalist China (Taiwan)

Helped set up a Nationalist government (Republic of China).

Aid the Soviets gave to Communist China

1. financial

2. military

3. technical

Countries Chinese troops expanded into in early years of Mao's reign

1. Tibet

2. India

3. southern (Inner) Mongolia

When China took control of Tibet

1950 and 1951.

Religious leader of Tibetans

The Dalai Lama.

Law Mao launched in 1950 to redistribute land

The Agrarian Reform Law.

What happened to landlords who resisted the Agrarian Reform Law

More than 1 million were killed.

What did the government force peasants to join later to further Mao's socialist principles?

Collective farms.

What happened to private companies under Mao's rule

They were nationalized (brought under government ownership).

Plan Mao launched in 1953 for industry

A five-year plan.

What was the 'Great Leap Forward' in 1958

A plan for still larger collective farms, or communes.

Why the Great Leap Forward was considered a 'giant step backward'

1. poor planning

2. inefficient 'backyard' industries

3. lack of peasant incentive

Devastating consequence of the Great Leap Forward

Crop failures caused a famine that killed about 20 million people.

Main goal of the Cultural Revolution

1. establish a society of peasants and workers in which all were equal

2. stamp out intellectual and artistic activity

What were the 'Red Guards'

Militia units of high school and college students who led the Cultural Revolution.

Who restored order after the chaos of the Cultural Revolution

Zhou Enlai.