Communist Revolution in China

Causes and Effects of the Communist Revolution in China

Setting the Stage

  • During WWII, China fought with Allies, suffered devastation due to Japanese occupation.

  • Civilian deaths estimated between 10-22 million.

  • After Japan's defeat in 1945, conflict between Communists and Nationalists resumed.

Communists vs. Nationalists

  • Civil war ongoing since 1937, paused during WWII.

  • Mao Zedong led Communists, mobilizing peasants.

  • Communists gained peasant loyalty by promoting literacy, improving food production, controlling northern China by 1945.

  • Jiang Jieshi led Nationalists, dominating southwestern China.

  • U.S. sent Nationalists 1.5 billion in aid (1942-1945), much lost to corruption.

  • Nationalist army avoided direct conflict, preserving strength for Mao's Red Army.

  • After Japan's surrender, civil war resumed (1946-1949).

Civil War Resumes

  • Nationalists had numerical advantage, U.S. support of nearly 2 billion in aid.

  • Nationalists failed to gain popular support, leading to desertions to Communists.

  • By spring 1949, cities fell to Red forces, Mao promised land redistribution.

  • October 1949, Mao gained control, proclaimed People's Republic of China. Jiang Jieshi retreated to Taiwan.

  • Mao's victory heightened anti-Communist sentiment, fueled by Sino-Soviet treaty.

The Two Chinas Affect the Cold War

  • China split: Taiwan (Nationalist) and mainland China (Communist), intensifying Cold War.

  • U.S. supported Jiang Jieshi in Taiwan, Soviets aided Communist China.

  • U.S. aimed to contain Soviet expansion, as in Korea.

China Expands under the Communists

  • Early years, Chinese troops expanded into Tibet, India, Inner Mongolia.

  • 1950/51, China gained control of Tibet, Dalai Lama fled to India in late 1950s.

  • Resentment grew between India and China, border conflict in 1962.

The Communists Transform China

  • Communists aimed to consolidate power, restore China's status.

Communists Claim a New "Mandate of Heaven"

  • Communist party (1% of population) established parallel structures, Mao heading both until 1959.

Mao’s Brand of Marxist Socialism

  • Mao sought to reshape China's economy based on Marxist socialism.

  • Agrarian Reform Law of 1950: seizing land from landlords, redistributing to peasants.

  • Over a million landlords killed for resisting.

  • Peasants forced to join collective farms.

  • Private companies nationalized, five-year plan in 1953 set high production goals.

  • By 1957, China's output of coal, cement, steel, electricity increased.

“The Great Leap Forward”

  • Launched in 1958, aimed to create larger collective farms/communes.

  • By 1958, approximately 26,000 communes established.

  • Peasants lived/worked communally, owning nothing, removing work incentive.

  • Program ended in 19