Communist China

China During WWII Who remembers: Allied nation or Axis? Japanese invasion and control: 10-22 million civilian deaths. What happened to Japan AFTER WWII?

Refresh Our Memory! Who was Jiang Jieshi? Who was Mao Zedong? What political group was he the leader of? Who was Mao Zedong? What group was he the leader of? What did the nationalists do to Mao and the communists?

Mao & Jiang During WWII Mao lived in the N. and won support of peasants. Promoted literacy & increased food production. Jiang – took over a billion $ from U.S. (to fight Japanese), but gave most to officials, or saved for future fights with Mao.

Civil War Returns Mao’s forces defeat nationalists more skilled, more dedicated, more popular support. But why? “The People’s Republic of China” Nationalists fled to Taiwan & China was split in two. Increased U.S. anti-communist feelings. U.S. Supported Nationalists… Soviets supported Communists…

Mao – Leader of Communist China First 5 – Year Plan: Reformed farming – killed many landlords and forced collective farming. 200-300 families in one farming group. Increased production of coal, cement, steel, electricity.

“Great Leap Forward” - 1958 Commune living for farmers. No one owned property = no incentive to work hard Famine killed 20 million people. Backyard industry = steal supply was destroyed. Mao Broke off relations with USSR

The Cultural Revolution – 1966-1968 Mao’s political power weakened. Called on the youth to form a revolution = red guards Red guard led a revolution to create a society of workers in which all people were equal. The peasants and workers were the “heroes” of China. Colleges shut down, intellectuals forced to work fields. Thousands executed or imprisoned. Mao called for an end to the Revolution and they army put it down. Zhou Enlai = new communist leader, restored order.