Slide 1

Revolution in China

and Communist China

(How does this compare with the

Russian Revolution and Stalin’s

Soviet Union)

This presentation relies heavily on a power point created by Dan

McDowell. Teaching Point, ©2003

Slide 2

Chinese Economic

Development

• Foreign economic influence was eliminated – most foreigners were kicked out of China

• A Soviet style 5 year plan was implemented to encourage industrialization.

• Large pieces of land were redistributed to peasant farmers.

• (These efforts had limited success.)

Slide 3

Great Leap Forward

• 10 years later, Mao’s government took back all land through collectivization

• State-controlled collective farms were created

• Some city-dwellers were moved along with peasants onto collective farms.

Slide 4

Great Leap Forward

• Mao’s gov attempted industrialization through “backyard steel mills”

Slide 5

Great Leap Forward

• The plans failed miserably – famine caused over 20 million deaths, steel production dropped drastically, the program ended early, and Mao’s power was reduced

Slide 6

Chinese Social Class Changes

• Wealthy upper class

(including ruling

families) was

removed.

• Landowning class

was destroyed.

• Intellectuals attacked

• Working class

officially the only

class

Slide 7

Social Class

Communist Party Leaders

• Became the new upper

class

Military Leaders

• Continued to be in the

upper class

Workers (especially rural

workers

• Gained status (yet

economic conditions

deteriorated)

Slide 8

Women’s Status Improved“Women hold up half the sky.”

• Foot-binding ended

and arranged

marriages were

limited

• Women could hold

professions, join the

army, and serve in the

government.

• “Legal equality” with

men.

Slide 9

Women’s Status Improved?

• Women were working outside of the home

AND still responsible for the home and

childcare.

• Traditional emphasis on men as “superior”

continued.

Slide 10

Cultural Revolution

1960s

• Mao wished to regain power he lost in the Great Leap Forward and create another revolutionary movement.

• Created The Red Guard from the Chinese youth – students, peasants, & soldiers

Slide 11

Slide 12

Slide 13

Cultural Revolution

• Red Guard attacked

people in positions of

power or privilege

who publicly

disagreed with Mao.

• Any “suspects” were

imprisoned or forced

into labor in rural

areas.

Slide 14

Cultural Revolution

• Traditional culture and education were destroyed.

• Cult of personality formed around Mao

• Eventually military leaders supported ending cultural revolution in fear that it would get out of control.