Communist Revolution

The End of Emperors In 1911, after thousands of years of being ruled by emperors, the last of China’s royal dynasty’s was overthrown In 1911, after thousands of years of being ruled by emperors, the last of China’s royal dynasty’s was overthrown Over the next years, China was in chaos as different groups struggled to control the country Over the next years, China was in chaos as different groups struggled to control the country By the 1930s, China entered a period of civil war between 2 main political parties to determine who would control the country By the 1930s, China entered a period of civil war between 2 main political parties to determine who would control the country

2 Political Parties Fight for Control Nationalist Party (KMT) led by Chiang Kai-shek led by Chiang Kai-shek wanted democratic gov’t wanted democratic gov’t Communist Party (CCP) led by Mao Zedong led by Mao Zedong wanted communist gov’t wanted communist gov’t

Communists Win After years of civil war, the Communist Party wins the fight with the Nationalists for control After years of civil war, the Communist Party wins the fight with the Nationalists for control In 1949, China becomes a communist nation lead by Mao Zedong In 1949, China becomes a communist nation lead by Mao Zedong Chiang Kai-shek and his nationalist party were forced to flee to the tiny island of Taiwan Chiang Kai-shek and his nationalist party were forced to flee to the tiny island of Taiwan (What is it?) (cause)

Chairman Mao Mao Zedong = head of Chinese Communist party & government Mao Zedong = head of Chinese Communist party & government Communist party set all government policies, giving Chairman Mao nearly absolute power Communist party set all government policies, giving Chairman Mao nearly absolute power

Communism’s Goal The goal of communism is to make everyone as equal as possible, to have a “classless” society The goal of communism is to make everyone as equal as possible, to have a “classless” society There is no private ownership of property (ex. land, businesses) There is no private ownership of property (ex. land, businesses) Everything is run by the gov’t, like factories, schools, hospitals Everything is run by the gov’t, like factories, schools, hospitals The gov’t provides jobs for everyone and pays everyone the same amount of money, no matter what their job or how well they do it The gov’t provides jobs for everyone and pays everyone the same amount of money, no matter what their job or how well they do it (effect)

The Chinese Communist Party... took land from the wealthy and gave it to the poor took land from the wealthy and gave it to the poor took control over China’s factories and businesses, determining what and how much should be made took control over China’s factories and businesses, determining what and how much should be made forced peasant farmers to combine all their land together into “collective farms” and work together to grow food forced peasant farmers to combine all their land together into “collective farms” and work together to grow food

Why does all this matter? China is still a Communist nation today China is still a Communist nation today (importance)

Great Leap Forward (1958) A program meant to speed up China’s economic development A program meant to speed up China’s economic development All small farms were combined into larger farms All small farms were combined into larger farms All farm & factory ownership and decisions were in the hands of the gov’t All farm & factory ownership and decisions were in the hands of the gov’t Goals were set for farm and factory production Goals were set for farm and factory production (what is it?)

Propaganda poster of the steel production objective. The text reads: "Take steel as the key link, leap forward in all fields",

Cultural Revolution (1966) A program to increase support for and remove opposition to the Communist party A program to increase support for and remove opposition to the Communist party Chinese poster saying: "We'll destroy the old world and build new." Classical example of the Red art from the early Cultural Revolution. Worker crushes the crucifix, Buddha and classical Chinese texts with his hammer (what is it?)

Cultural Revolution cont. All parts of life suppose to be about communism All parts of life suppose to be about communism Red Guards (groups of students) patrolled for “uncommunist” people Red Guards (groups of students) patrolled for “uncommunist” people (what is it?)

Causes Large gap still existed between the educated elite (rich) and peasants (poor) Large gap still existed between the educated elite (rich) and peasants (poor) Renewed support for the communist party. Renewed support for the communist party.

Effects Red Guards mistreated many people Red Guards mistreated many people Anything connected to foreign ideas and old Chinese ideas were destroyed. Anything connected to foreign ideas and old Chinese ideas were destroyed. People were sent out to the countryside to do hard labor. People were sent out to the countryside to do hard labor. People told on each other for “crimes” against communism People told on each other for “crimes” against communism

Importance Time of Chaos Time of Chaos Many were killed Many were killed

Chinese poster showing Jiang Qing, saying: "Let new communist culture conquer every stage."

Tiananmen Sqaure (1989) student protests in Tianamen Square against the corruption & repression of the Communist party student protests in Tianamen Square against the corruption & repression of the Communist party (what is it?)

Tiananmen Square Effects “Goddess of Democracy” was destroyed. Communist Party sent in tanks to break up the protests and arrested thousands of people

One of the most famous examples of communist cruelty