Communists Take Power in China

Background Info China was invaded by Japan in 1937. During this time, China was in a Civil War (Nationalists and the Communists.) They fought together against the Japanese during WWII. Civil War (1946-1949) resumed at the end of WWII

The Communists Mao Zedong (1893-1976)- NW China Influenced by Lenin/Marxism and became Leader of the CCP in 1921 Mobilized a guerilla army supported by Soviet Union Mao’s Promises (food and land) gained him peasant loyalty Took control of in 1949 & China became the People’s Republic of China Feb. 1950- signed a treaty of friendship with the Soviet Union.

The Nationalists Jiang Jieshi- Southern China (AKA: Chiang Kai-shek) Nationalist Army outnumbered the Communists and were supported by the U.S. Did not gain public support Lost to the Red army and Mao in 1949 - Nationalists fled to Taiwan - Led to U.S. anti-communist sentiment and intensified the Cold War

Two Chinas 1. Taiwan or Nationalist China 13,000 square miles Aka- Republic of China Supported by the U.S. Militarily weak and corrupt Communist or People’s Republic of China 3.5 million square miles Supported by the Soviet Union Soviet-Chinese Alliance to support each other if attacked by the West

Communist Transformation in China 1. Set up two political organizations, both headed by Mao until 1959. The Communist Party and the National Government 2. Agrarian Reform Law of 1950- Mao seized land of owners and returned it to peasants. He killed over a million people in the process. 3. Established a 5 Year Economic Plan to boost industry and business and increased output in steel, concrete, coal, and electricity

Communist Transformation in China 4. The Great Leap Forward (1958)- called for larger collective farms, communes, where peasants worked and lived together. They owned nothing. It was considered a failure after crop famines killed 20 million people. 5. China and USSR began to compete to lead the worldwide Communist Movement by the late 1950’s.

The Cultural Revolution 1966- Led by the Red Guards (militias of Communist supporters). Goal: To establish a society of peasants and workers in which all were equal. Intellectual and artistic ideas were considered useless Red guards shut down colleges and schools. Intellectuals had to “purify” themselves by doing hard labor Thousands were executed and imprisoned. The chaos threatened farm production and industry. The Communist National Army was told to suppress the Red Guards and end the revolution.