China 1945-1989

World War II China was brutally occupied by the Japanese army throughout the war Allied victory in 1945 led Japanese troops to withdraw Civil war between Nationalists and Communists resumed

Competing Chinese visionaries… Chiang Kai-shek Mao Zedong

The Communist Victory Mao’s forces triumphed over the Nationalists in 1949 Peoples Republic of China became the world’s second communist nation Nationalists forces escaped to the island of Taiwan and established the Republic of China

Mao’s China Chinese communists looked to the Soviet Union as a model Five Year Plan would develop factories and industry Chinese intervention in the Korean War (1950-1953) mobilized much of the country

Failure of Great Leap Forward (1958-1961) caused Mao to temporarily lose influence in the party

A “backyard” furnace

Mao visits peasants in the countryside, encouraging them to collectivize

Some of the Great Famine victims, 1958-1961

Mao staged a comeback in 1966, leading to the Cultural Revolution

“Counter-revolutionaries” are humiliated in front of a crowd

Statues of the Buddha and other religious objects are burned

Poster demonstrating the “personality cult” of Mao created during the Cultural Revolution

Reform Begins Mao died in 1976 Deng Xioping set out to modernize the country Free market reforms were adopted Communist Party retained a monopoly on political power