Spread of Communism After 1900

Land Reform: redistribution or change of laws/regulations surrounding land.

Communism in China

• In 1927 Chinese nationalists and communists were fighting over control of the country, but the two agreed to both fight Japan when they invaded China.

• Once WWII was over, the Chinese Civil War continued with the communists gaining popular support as they implemented nationalist policies like land reforms, hospital and educational improvement, and stronger justice system.

  • Peasants saw the communists as more nationalist and less corrupt.

• Mao Zedong: Leader of the Chinese Communists and founded the People’s Republic of China.

• China started to reform the economy into a industry heavy one like the Soviets.

• Great Leap Forward: Policy promoting many land reforms in China.

  • Communes: large agricultural communities owned by the state, where peasants were moved into. Protesters were killed or sent to reeducation camps.

  • Reeducation: Places of brainwashing, torture, hard labor, and punishment for those not loyal to the Chinese Communist Party.

• Mao continued to export grain to Africa and Cuba to create strong economic image, while about 20 million Chinese died from starvation.

• Cultural Revolution: Mao Zedong’s effort to strengthen China’s commitment to communism and solidify his power.

• Red Guards: Chinese revolutionary students, sent by Mao to bring people to reeducation camps.

• Although both communist, China and the Soviet Union competed for influence around the world like in Albania, and the two had border disputes.

Turmoil in Iran

• Britain and Russia fought for control over Iran and competition grew when oil was discovered early 20th century.

• During WWII Russia and Britain invaded Iran to prevent them from helping the Nazis.

  • Muhammad Reza Pahlavi was put in power by the Allies, and in 1951 Iranian nationalists kicked him out the country as they saw him as a western puppet.

  • Iran put in Mohammad Mosaddegh, vowing to nationalize oil production.

  • U.S. and Great Britain took back control and the shah ran a ruthless authoritarian regime.

• White Revolution: Period Iranian progressive reforms.

  • Government bought land from landlords and resold to peasants at a cheaper price.

  • Peasants who were not helped and landlords forced to sell opposed the land reforms.

• In 1979, The Iranian Revolution overthrew the shah and emerged was a new government that complied with the Islamic law (shariah).

• Theocracy: form of government where religion is supreme authority.

Latin American Land Reforms

• In Venezuela, the government redistributed large land-owner’s land in addition to some state owned land, in total ~5 million acres.

  • Citizen support was split as those who benefited were happy, but landowners were not.

• In Guatemala, Jacob Arbenz attempted land reforms. The US Fruit Company was threatened and forced the US government to overthrow Arbenz.

Asian and African Land Reforms

• Independent and Communist Vietnam redistributed land to peasants, making them supportive, yet with violent strategies.

• In South Vietnam, the government was slow on land reform, making them unpopular with the people.

• Haile Selassie aligned Ethipoia with western powers, and prospered from coffee trade.

  • As he was unable to redistribute land, citizens saw him as pawn of U.S. imperialism.

• A new socialist government took control of Ethiopia led by Mengitsu Haile Mariam, and received help from the Soviet Union, but he was very unsuccessful and failed by 1991.

• After WWII, India became independent and partitioned into Pakistan (Muslim) and India (Hindu) in 1947.

• In Kerala, progressive land reforms and wage fixes went through, but were undone by the Indian Central Government, despite being popular.