China
Mao Zedong (1883-1976)
Mao Zedong was born on December 26, 1983 into a peasant family. Once older, he began to read Marxist literature which led to him becoming one of the founding members of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
In 1923, the Kuomintang (KMT) allied with the communist party to defeat warlords ruling the northern China. But in 1927, the leader of the KMT, Chiang Kai-shek launched an anti-communist attack. Mao and other communists fled to the south east of China and ended up establishing a new base 6,000 miles away towards the northwest. This journey was called the Long March.
Although the Communists and the KMT had previously disagreed, they somehow managed to join together again for a short eight years to fight against Japanese forces during World War II. After World War II was over, a civil war broke out between the two Chinese forces. This time the Communist party was successful and Mao created the Peoples Republic of China on October 1, 1949. As for the leader of the Kuomintang, Chiang Kai-Shek, he abandoned his rule and left for the island of Taiwan.
Mao and his followers wanted to reshape China and in doing so created the Chinese form of Communism. At first, China received help from the Soviet Union but that began to fade after a while. Mao created the "Great Leap Forward." It was intended to make a large labor force of citizens to improve agricultural and production labor. But that backfired and it caused less agricultural production which created famines and many deaths. This also weakened Mao's power and trust from the people.
After the disaster of his first attempt to reshape China, Mao set up what was called the "Cultural Revolution" which was designed to cleanse the nation of its impurities and spark the spirit within the people. Over one-and-a-half million people died and so did much of the culture. This technique was much more successful than the first attempt and order was finally restored after army troops were sent in September of 1967.
Even though he had finally been successful, his health was deteriorating and towards the end of his life he started to build relationships with the United States, Japan, and Europe in 1972. Mao died of natural causes on September 9, 1976 and is still considered a hero to the people of China.
In 1923, the Kuomintang (KMT) allied with the communist party to defeat warlords ruling the northern China. But in 1927, the leader of the KMT, Chiang Kai-shek launched an anti-communist attack. Mao and other communists fled to the south east of China and ended up establishing a new base 6,000 miles away towards the northwest. This journey was called the Long March.
Although the Communists and the KMT had previously disagreed, they somehow managed to join together again for a short eight years to fight against Japanese forces during World War II. After World War II was over, a civil war broke out between the two Chinese forces. This time the Communist party was successful and Mao created the Peoples Republic of China on October 1, 1949. As for the leader of the Kuomintang, Chiang Kai-Shek, he abandoned his rule and left for the island of Taiwan.
Mao and his followers wanted to reshape China and in doing so created the Chinese form of Communism. At first, China received help from the Soviet Union but that began to fade after a while. Mao created the "Great Leap Forward." It was intended to make a large labor force of citizens to improve agricultural and production labor. But that backfired and it caused less agricultural production which created famines and many deaths. This also weakened Mao's power and trust from the people.
After the disaster of his first attempt to reshape China, Mao set up what was called the "Cultural Revolution" which was designed to cleanse the nation of its impurities and spark the spirit within the people. Over one-and-a-half million people died and so did much of the culture. This technique was much more successful than the first attempt and order was finally restored after army troops were sent in September of 1967.
Even though he had finally been successful, his health was deteriorating and towards the end of his life he started to build relationships with the United States, Japan, and Europe in 1972. Mao died of natural causes on September 9, 1976 and is still considered a hero to the people of China.
- Though China is still Communist, it has been leading towards Socialist ideas.
- China is one of the largest communist nations still running.
- Without Mau Zedong causing urprisings from the peasant class in China, Communism would not exist in China today. Thanks Mau.