China’s Communist Revolution 1946-1949

Political Changes under Mao

• Mao Tse-tung (Mao Zedong)– Chairman Mao –and

leader of China – 1949-1976

Mao Zedong毛泽东

Reasons for Mao/Communists’ Success

• Mao won support of peasants

• Mao won support of women

• Mao’s army used guerilla war tactics

• Many saw the Nationalist government as corrupt

• Many felt that the Nationalist allowed foreigners to dominate China

Geographical Changes

• Communist China gained control over:

PRC = People’s Republic of China (Communists) / ROC = Republic of China (Nationalists)

Economic Changes under Mao

• First Five-Year Plan (1953-1957)– Advances in agriculture and coal, electricity, iron,

and steel production

• Second Five-Year Plan (1958-1962)– “Great Leap Forward” *Backward*– Leading industrial country– Communes – Widespread catastrophe – famine – at least

14,000,000 deaths

Propaganda Poster for the Great Leap Forward

Foreign Relations

• Russia (Soviet Union) and China are allies when Mao comes to power– Split begins between USSR and China due to

a territorial disagreement. 1960 – end of Soviet economic aid

• China supported Communist efforts in Korea and Vietnam (US Supported Democracy in both Wars)

Cultural Revolution (1966-1969)

• “Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution”– Effort to revive interest in

Mao’s ideas (and for Mao to regain power)

– Call for youths to engage in post-revolutionary class warfare

– Red Guards enforce equality