Communist Triumph in China

Communist Triumph in China

Main Idea

After WWII, Chinese Communist defeated Nationalist forces and two separate Chinas emerged.

Why it Matters Now?

China remains a Communist country and a major player of the world stage.

Setting the Stage

In WWII, China fought with the allies.During the war Japan’s occupation

destroyed China’s major cities.China’s civilian death toll was in the

millions.This was second only to Russia.

Civil War In China

When the Japanese invaded in 1937, China was in a Civil war between Nationalist and Communist.

During WWII they fought together against Japan.

Once the war ended the Civil war continued.

Internal Struggles

The Communist under leader Mao Zedong, held northwestern China.

The Chinese peasants helped them mobilize and create guerrilla war against the Japanese.

The efforts to teach literacy and provide food production gave the Chinese the loyalty of the peasants.

Internal Struggles

Jiang Jieshi controlled the national forces and they were in southwestern China

The Nationalist Army was protected by a Mountain from the Japanese.

Jiang gathered an army of 2.5 millionThe US gave them $1.5 billion to fight

Japanese.

Internal Struggles

Instead of using the Money to support the army it went into the hands of corrupt officers.

Jiang’s army fought few battles against the Japanese, instead it resources for the coming battle against Mao’s Red Army.

As soon as the Japan surrendered the civil war resumed.

Chinese Political Opponents 1945

NationalistsLeader: Jiang JieshiArea Ruled: Southern ChinaForeign Support: United StatesDomestic Policy: Defeat of Communist.Public Support: Weak b/c inflation/econ.Military Organization: Ineffective, Corrupt

Chinese Political Opponents 1945

CommunistsLeader: Mao ZedongArea Ruled: Northern ChinaForeign Support: Soviet UnionDomestic Policy: National LiberationPublic Support: Strong, promised land reformMilitary Organization: Experienced, motivated

guerrilla army

Involvement of the United States

The Civil War lasted from 1946-49.At first the Nationalist enjoyed all the

advantages.They outnumbered the Communist

soldiers 3 to 1, and the US gave them $2 billion more in aid.

The Nationalist However, did nothing to help their cause with the people of china.

Involvement of the United States

1000’s of Nationalist soldiers began to desert to the Communist.

China’s major cities were falling to the Red Army.

Mao’s Army was better trained and motivated at the promise of returned land to the people.

In October 1949 Mao controlled the country. Jiang’s army fled south.

Involvement of the United States

He called the new county the People’s Republic of China.

Mao’s victory fueled the US’s anti-communist feeling.

Then China/USSR sign treatyUS Viewed this as Communism trying to

take over the world.

Two Chinas and the Cold War

China had split into two nationsNationalist China or Taiwan.People’s Republic of China or Mainland

china.These two china’s and the difference

between land masses only fueled the flames of the cold war.

The Superpowers React

The US supported Taiwan and the Soviets supported China, both with money, military, and technology.

The US and USSR also divided up Japan (US getting more) and Korea into Soviet supported North and US supported South.

Communist China Continues to Expand

Under Mao, China expanded into Mongolia, Tibet, and India.

The religious leader in Tibet, the Dalai Lama was forced to flee to India were he was welcomed.

1962 China/India Border dispute. China was able to maintain and holds it border.

Transformation and Revolution

China for decades had either been at war or occupied by Japan, so Mao moved to get fast control over the 550 million people in China.

Transformation Under Mao Zedong

The Chinese Government set up two parallel organizations.

These were the Communist partyAnd the National Government.Until 1959 Mao ruled both as chairman

of the Communist party and head of State.

Mao’s Marxist Socialism

Mao determined to reshape China’s economy based on Marxist socialism

10% of the rural population owned 70% of the land, so Mao took it away and gave it to the peasants and killed over a million people who resisted.

He installed collective farms, gave women equality at work and home.

Mao’s Marxist Socialism

He created state sponsored child care.He brought all private business and

industry under the Government control.1953 Set us a Soviet style 5 year plan.The plan succeeded, China’s output of

coal, cement, and electricity had doubled, steel had quadrupled.

Mao’s Communes

1958 Mao proclaimed the “great leap forward,”

This plan called for even larger collective farms, or COMMUNES.

By the end of 1958 they had created about 26,000 Communes.

The avg. Commune spread over 15,000acres and supported 25,000 people.

Mao’s Communes

The great leap forward, was really a great leap backwards.

The peasants were organized into “production battalions,” and under the leadership of a squad leader they had to eat, sleep, and raise their children in a communal situation.

Most peasants hated this situation.

Mao’s Communes

Worst of all between 1958 and 1961 crop failures killed around 20 million people.

The Government officially discontinued the program in 1961.

New Policies and Mao’s Response

China’s and USSR’s relationship began to fade.

Both countries sought to led the worldwide communist movement.

They shared the world’s longest border and had many disputes about it.

In 1960 the Soviets had ended economic aid to China

New Policies and Mao’s Response

After the split with USSR and the failure of the “Great leap forward,” Mao reduced his role in government.

The new leaders move away from the strict commune rules.

Farm families could live in a house, sell crops they grew, and compete for wages and promotions.

New Policies and Mao’s Response

Mao was not happy about the new economic policies.

In 1966 Mao launched a new revolution campaign.

He urged young people to, “learn revolution by making revolution.”

Millions of high-school and college responded and formed the militia called the Red Guards.

The Cultural Revolution

The Red Guards led a major uprising known as the Cultural Revolution.

The goal was to establish a society of peasants and workers in which all were equal.

The new hero was a peasant who worked with his hands.

Intellectuals were considered dangerous.The Red Guards shut down schools and

colleges.

The Cultural Revolution

Exiled intellectuals had to “Purify,” themselves by doing hard labor in remote villages.

1000’s were killed or died in jail.There was widespread violence.The Chaos closed down factories and

stalled farm productions.Civil War seemed possible.

The Cultural Revolution

By 1976, even Mao admitted the Cultural Revolution had to stop.

With Mao’s permission the Army dissolved the Red Guards.

Zhou Enlai began to restore order in China. He had been premier since 1949.