Communism Spreads

Chinese Communism

Background:
- Dynastic rule ended in 1911, replaced by a republic.
- Tensions arose against the Nationalist Party due to dependence on Western powers.
- Chinese Communist Party formed under Mao Zedong.
Chinese Civil War:
- Conflict between Communists and Nationalists began in 1927.
- Interrupted by Japanese invasion in 1931; united front formed by 1935.
- Communists won in 1949 with Soviet support. Mao Zedong established the People's Republic of China.
Mao's Policies:
- Nationalized industry and redistributed land through collectivization.
- Collectivization was relatively peaceful compared to the Soviet Union's experience.
- Implemented the Great Leap Forward to rapidly industrialize China.
  - Focused on rural, small-scale industrialization.
  - Led to poor-quality goods and widespread famine (20-50 million deaths).
  - Mao refused foreign aid and continued grain exports.

Egypt (Gamal Abdel Nasser):
- Overthrew the British in 1952 and declared independence.
- Implemented socialist reforms, including nationalization of the Suez Canal.
- British, French, and Israeli forces invaded in response.
- Soviet Union threatened nuclear retaliation; U.S. pressured withdrawal.
Vietnam:
- Declared independence from Japan and France after World War II.
- Two governments formed: Communist in the north, anti-communist in the south.
- Communist government redistributed land from wealthy landowners to peasants.
Cuba (Fidel Castro):
- Led a revolution in 1956, establishing a communist state.
- Aimed to remove Cuba's dependence on the U.S.
- Implemented land distribution and wage increases, transferring wealth from rich to poor.
- Nationalized U.S. corporation-owned land with Soviet support.
- CIA's failed overthrow attempt strengthened Castro's ties with the Soviet Union.