Rise of the People’s Republic

“A revolution is not a dinner party, or writing an essay, or painting a picture, or doing embroidery; it cannot be so refined, so leisurely and gentle. A revolution is an… act of violence by which one class overthrows another.”--Mao Zedong, 1927

Communist Victory

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• 1930s & 1940s – Mao rallies supporters to free China from forces of oppression—greedy landlords, corrupt officials, foreign imperialists• During WWII, Nationalists & Communists team up against Japan• Still don’t like each other

• USA help the Nationalists in struggle against Mao’s Communists• Didn’t work

• 1949 — Mao takes over Beijing, declares birth of People’s Republic of China• Nationalists flee to Taiwan• Set up gov’t, vow to regain control of China

Appeal of Communism

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• Mao promised to end years of oppression of China’s poor by landlords & gov’t officials• “Dictatorship of the people!”• Mao denounced imperialism & promoted industrialization

Marxism & Maoism

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• Karl Marx, German “father of communism” shaped Mao’s idea of communism• Mid-1800s – Marx predicted the proletariat, or the industrial working class, would rise up against the bourgeoisie, or the ruling class• Proletariat revolution would spread worldwide• Create a classless society

• 1917— Communist revolution takes place in Russia• Inspires Mao

Creating a New Order

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• 1954 – Communists set up a constitution• Sets up a “people's congress”• Permitted free elections• Protected other democratic rights

• In practice, China became a one-party dictatorship.• Communists held all important jobs• Communists controlled the economy• Silenced critics• Enforced own views

• To restore order in China, Communist turn China into a totalitarian state• Gov’t controls every aspect of people’s lives

Mao’s Leadership

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• Mao becomes popular hero through propaganda campaigns• Chinese taught that Chairman Mao had all the answers to Chinas problems• Memorized Mao’s sayings from Quotations

from Chairman Mao, or “the Little Red Book”• Mao restored order, ended foreign influence• Insisted China become self-sufficient• Increase food production• Extended basic health care services to huge

population• Built Chinese schools• Great Leap Forward• Cultural Revolution

New Directions

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• 1979 – Mao dies, Deng Xiaoping takes over• Turns away some of Mao’s ideas• Eased control of gov’t’s strict controls• Sent Chinese students abroad• Welcomed foreign investment

• 1989 — Policies almost backfired.• Tiananman Square protests for democratic

reforms• Initially, gov’t allows protests, then orders

students to go home• Students refuse• Army kills/wounds thousands• Gov’t arrests, tortures, and kills leaders

Life After Mao

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GqnFbKAOkE