Communists Take Power Communists Take Power in Chinain China

From Chp 17.2 in TextBookFrom Chp 17.2 in TextBook

Communists vs. NationalistsCommunists vs. Nationalists

Background InfoBackground Info: :

Remember China was invaded by Japan in Remember China was invaded by Japan in 1937. During this time, China was in a Civil 1937. During this time, China was in a Civil War between the Nationalists and the War between the Nationalists and the CommunistsCommunists

The CommunistsThe Communists Mao ZedongMao Zedong -leader of the Chinese Communist -leader of the Chinese Communist

PartyParty

1. Communists had a stronghold in 1. Communists had a stronghold in Northwestern Northwestern ChinaChina

2. They mobilized peasants for 2. They mobilized peasants for guerilla warfare guerilla warfare against the Japanese.against the Japanese.

3. Due to the efforts to 3. Due to the efforts to improve food productionimprove food production, the , the Communists won support in NW China by 1945Communists won support in NW China by 1945

The NationalistsThe Nationalists

Jiang JieshiJiang Jieshi –leader of Nationalist China –leader of Nationalist China

1.1. Dominated southwest ChinaDominated southwest China and protected from and protected from the rugged mountain ranges.the rugged mountain ranges.

2.2. With an army of 2.5 million and aided by the U.S. With an army of 2.5 million and aided by the U.S. to fight Japan, they did little WWII.to fight Japan, they did little WWII.

3.3. Instead, the saved up their strength to fight Mao’s Instead, the saved up their strength to fight Mao’s Red ArmyRed Army after WWII ended after WWII ended

http://users.erols.com/mwhite28/chin-cw2.htmhttp://users.erols.com/mwhite28/chin-cw2.htm

The Chinese Civil WarThe Chinese Civil War

The The renewed Civil Warrenewed Civil War lasted from 1946- lasted from 1946-19491949

Nationalist ArmyNationalist Army outnumbered the outnumbered the Communists and they were Communists and they were supported by the supported by the U.S.U.S.

But Nationalists could not win popular supportBut Nationalists could not win popular support As China’s economy collapsed as a result of As China’s economy collapsed as a result of

WWII, thousands of soldiers and civilians WWII, thousands of soldiers and civilians switched to the Communist Partyswitched to the Communist Party

The Chinese Civil WarThe Chinese Civil War By 1949, China’s major cities fell to the Red ArmyBy 1949, China’s major cities fell to the Red Army Jiang’s army and government fled south to Jiang’s army and government fled south to TaiwanTaiwan Mao’s PromisesMao’s Promises

Give land back to the peasantsGive land back to the peasants China became the People’s Republic of ChinaChina became the People’s Republic of China Signed Treaty of Friendship with RussiaSigned Treaty of Friendship with Russia

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Two ChinasTwo Chinas1. 1. Taiwan or Nationalist ChinaTaiwan or Nationalist China

13,000 square miles13,000 square miles Aka Republic of ChinaAka Republic of China Supported by the U.S.Supported by the U.S. Militarily weak and corruptMilitarily weak and corrupt Weak public supportWeak public support

2.2. Communist or People’s Republic of ChinaCommunist or People’s Republic of China- 3.5 million square miles3.5 million square miles- Supported by the SovietsSupported by the Soviets- Soviet-Chinese Alliance to support each other if Soviet-Chinese Alliance to support each other if

attacked by the Westattacked by the West- Experienced motivated guerilla armyExperienced motivated guerilla army- Strong Public SupportStrong Public Support

Communist China ExpandsCommunist China Expands

The Chinese Red Army expanded into Tibet, The Chinese Red Army expanded into Tibet, India, and MongoliaIndia, and Mongolia

1950-1951, 1950-1951, brutally took control of Tibet brutally took control of Tibet and the Dalai Lama fled to Indiaand the Dalai Lama fled to India

India harbored Tibetan refugees which India harbored Tibetan refugees which increased tension between China and Indiaincreased tension between China and India

Communist Transformation in Communist Transformation in ChinaChina

1. 1. Set up two political organizationsSet up two political organizations, both , both headed by Mao until 1959.headed by Mao until 1959. The Communist PartyThe Communist Party National GovernmentNational Government

2. 2. Agrarian Reform Law of 1950-Agrarian Reform Law of 1950- Mao seized Mao seized land of owners and returned it to peasants. He land of owners and returned it to peasants. He killed over a million people in the process.killed over a million people in the process.

3. 3. Established a 5 Year Economic PlanEstablished a 5 Year Economic Plan to to boost industry and business and increased boost industry and business and increased output in steel, concrete, coal, and electricityoutput in steel, concrete, coal, and electricity

Communist Transformation in Communist Transformation in ChinaChina

4.4. The Great Leap ForwardThe Great Leap Forward (1958)- called for (1958)- called for larger collective farms, larger collective farms, communes, communes, where where peasants worked, lived, dined, and slept peasants worked, lived, dined, and slept together and they owned nothing. Was together and they owned nothing. Was considered a failure after crop famines killed considered a failure after crop famines killed 20 million people.20 million people.

5.5. China and USSR began to competeChina and USSR began to compete to lead to lead the worldwide Communist Movement by the the worldwide Communist Movement by the late 1950’s.late 1950’s.

The Cultural RevolutionThe Cultural Revolution Led by the Red Guards, Led by the Red Guards, militias of Communist militias of Communist

supporterssupporters.. GoalGoal: To establish a society of peasants and workers in : To establish a society of peasants and workers in

which all were equal.which all were equal. Anything intellectual and artistic were considered uselessAnything intellectual and artistic were considered useless Red guards shut down Red guards shut down colleges and schoolscolleges and schools.. Intellectuals had to “purify” themselves by doing hard laborIntellectuals had to “purify” themselves by doing hard labor Thousands were Thousands were executed and imprisonedexecuted and imprisoned.. The chaos threatened The chaos threatened farm production and industryfarm production and industry.. The The Communist National ArmyCommunist National Army was told to suppress the was told to suppress the

Red Guards and end the revolutionRed Guards and end the revolution