Context

Establishment of the PRC

The Chinese Civil War was borne from an ideological split between the Nationalist party and the Communist Party of China.  The two factions fought for control of the whole of China, which eventually led to its division into the ROC and the PRC (Taiwan). It is marked by a series of both foreign and domestic engagements.The war began in 1927 and ended around 1950. The last three years of the war is often called the War of Liberation, and it focused on the conflict between the Communists and the Nationalists. The Communists, led by Mao and Lin bao eventually defeated the Nationalists, led by Jiang Jishei. 

PLA enters Peking 

Cultural Revolution

The Cultural Revolution 

Summary: 

The Cultural Revolution was a series of policies implemented by Mao from 1966-76. The purpose of these was to enforce Mao's brand of Socialism throughout the country by ridding the PRC of Capitalist, historical/traditional and cultural elements from society, and to strengthen the unity of the Party by reinforcing dogmatic Maoist ideals. He was able to assert himself into a position of control after the failure of The Great Leap Forward by discrediting Bourgeois "revisionists" and engaging the youth. Soon his efforts spread to the military, the working class, and into the Communist Party leadership.

This led to the persecution of millions. Beginning with a mass purge of senior officials, who had enough power and knowledge of China's past to challenge the newly formed status quo. Public humiliation, sustained harassment, beatings, imprisonment, and torture were all used to combat dissenters or perceived opposition. Additionally, there were large-scale property seizures, and millions were displaced.

The largest group of displaced persons were the Urban Youth, as part of Mao's "re-education" policy. In a program that has become known as the "Down to The Countryside Movement". As a part of this effort, educated, privileged urban children were sent to rural areas in order to learn from the workers there the Communist way of life. These young people, known as the "Rusticated Youth of China" were forced out of their homes and exiled to remote areas. Many were abused, fell ill, and nearly all lost the opportunity to attend University. It's often said that this group of people represents the lost generation of China.


Youths in Shanyang, mainly high schoolers, were forcibly relocated to remote areas of China.


Cultural Revolution propaganda poster. Shows unity amongst members of the Proletariat and visually represents this idea of party unity.

 Cause: 

Mao implemented this policy in order to strengthen party loyalty and eliminate latent opposition to the Communist cause. It was also an effort to secure his own power following the disastrous failure of the Great Leap Forward.

Effect:

While the Communist party of China has officially condemned the Cultural Revolution, some cite it as a beneficial policy, freeing China from Capitalist dogma and outdated traditions, setting the course for modernization. Many lower class workers in China benefitted from the policy. However, thousands of historical relics were destroyed, academics were purged, education was limited, and economic growth continued to be stunted.

Great Leap Forward

The Great Leap Forward

Summary: 

From 1958-61, Mao implemented an economic and social reform known as the Great Leap Forward. The goal was to utilize China's manpower, stemming from a massive population, to convert the economy from an agriculturally based one, to a more industrialized, modernist society. 

Mao based this policy off of Theory of Productive Forces, which emphasized productivity and technical progress in a de facto Socialist society. In other words, progress was a priority over actual Socialist policies, and that this technical progress could catalyze social change. Mao introduced gradual, mandatory agricultural collectivization. Private farming was outlawed. 

Farm workers showed working on a collective farm. 

Chinese Peasant family showed during the Famine eating in a communal dining space. Such communes were common during the Great Leap. 

Cause: 

After the defeat of the KMT, there was a need to exact a policy of wealth redistribution. The best way, they theorized, was for government to control agriculture in order to monopolize distribution and supply. In order to raise funds for their industrial ambitions, the Communist government bought the crops at a low price and sold them at a much higher one, all in an effort to fund industrial projects needed to modernize China.

Effect:

This put an immense strain on the economy. People were unable to buy crops, farming efficiency and yield dropped dramatically. Food shortages ensued, leading to a great Famine, and the death toll of this effort reached anywhere from 18-32 million. Part of this was due to coercion and terror when policies were not followed. The economy showed initial signs of growth. Iron production grew, but then plummeted after only a few years. Destruction of real estate and private property was another major part of the policy.  Several resistance efforts were quashed, but the vandalism and violence aided in destabilizing China. 

Structure/Form of Government

Structure/Form of Government

-Single-party state (obv.) led by Communist Part of China

-Nominally, a Soviet Federal Republic

     >Modeled their system after Russia

However, this autonomy diminished under Mao, and eventually ended completely (around 1954).

-Structure of the Communist Party

     >Central Committee comprised of various arms, including the Politburo was dismantled by Mao during the Cultural Revolution. Structure of party later rebuilt under Deng.

-Dictatorship with a parliamentary body--- mainly provided support. Everybody answered to Mao

-Totalitarian 

     >Strives to control every aspect of public and private life

     >Propaganda: state controlled media

     >Political repression

     >Personality cult

     >Centrally controlled economy

     >Restriction of speech 

     >Surveillance

     >Use of terror 

     Generally totalitarian regimes subscribe to a particular ideology. In this case, Mao uses socialism to      support his own power and secure popular support for the party

  Ain't no party like a Communist Party...

Cult of Personality

Cult of Personality 

Mao succeeded in establishing a wide-reaching Cult of Personality in which he portrayed himself as infallible, the benevolent source of all good things in China, even a floating head. Though Communism officially rejects Religions, Mao was as close to deity as one could get. His unwavering authority was supported by terror, surveillance, and massive propaganda campaigns. However, there was a basis in genuine popularity. Mao was a champion of the poor, China's largest demographic, and maintained that support throughout his rule. After his death, reforms were made to deconstruct his cult status.

Mao Propaganda Spam:

Rise to Power

Mao's Rise to Power

After the credit he received from helping to lead The Long March. He commanded the Second United Front of the Red Army, which saw successes in the defeat of the Japanese invasion and the wiping out of regional warlords. Mao successfully staved off the KMT and enacted land reform by using violence and terror to overthrow and seize the estates of feudalistic landlords, which he then divided into people's communes. 

A major accomplishment was the reunification of China, which brought together all of the territories controlled by the PRC under a single government entity. He achieved this through The Campaign to Suppress Counterrevolutionaries. Essentially, those with dissenting viewpoints were targeted and publicly discredited in mass show trials. Others were imprisoned, executed, and sent to work camps. 

A young Mao Zedong

Legacy

Mao's Legacy

Mao is revered by the Chinese people today, who recognize his contribution in the advancement of China. Many of his less successful policies are glossed over. He's often compared to a strict father who knew what was best for his children, but maybe used a little tough love in the process. Indeed, he's often referred to as the "Founding Father of Modern China".  

He succeeded in bringing unity and stability to a divided country ravaged by warlords and foreign invaders. He raised the life expectancy from 35 to 63 over just twenty years. He promoted the status of women, rid China of its feudal tendencies, which benefitted the poor, achieved some industrialization, and improved literacy rates. Also, he established many of the powers still used by the PRC today. 

In the West, he is often viewed negatively, associated with tyranny and terror. The failures of the Great Leap Forward and Cultural Revolution are often cited by those who oppose his policies. Additionally, many Capitalists, particularly during the Cold War, reviled his Socialist policies.

Portrait of Chairman Mao in Tiananmen Square.

Role of Women and Minorities

Treatment of Women and Minorities

Women:

Under Mao, women were seen as valuable members of the labor force. Additionally, they played a key role in providing manpower through high birth rates. Mao promoted these roles during his reign, believing women to be beneficial, even instrumental in China's progress. However, they were not allowed to participate in the military, and few were ever given positions of power, or allowed to serve in public office. It was clear through many propaganda campaigns that the main function of women in Chinese society was that of housewife, child-rearer, or laborer. One notable exception to this was Mao's wife, Jing Qiang, who was very politically ambitious and was the leader of the Cultural Committee within Central Committee, and whose ambition would later be shown through her involvement in the Gang of Four.

Propaganda poster showing women working on a collectivized farm


Propaganda poster showing an idyllic Chinese family. Clearly illustrates gender roles.

Minorities: 

Initially Mao, in an effort to preserve the newly unified China, allowed minority groups such as the Tibetans, Hui, Mongols, and the Manchus to have regional autonomy and, more or less determine their own affairs. In the process, these groups established their own autonomous regions. However, during the Cultural Revolution, minority groups faced severe persecution. Violence included destruction of Tibetan monasteries, burning of Q'urans, public execution of imams, language schools destroyed. A massacre of the Hui Muslims at the hands of the People's Liberation Army even resulted. This policy was enacted by radical assimilationists, who wished to create cultural homogeny in China. They also viewed these minorities as a part of the Four Olds, representing old culture and old customs.

Foreign Policy

Mao and The Arts

During the Cultural Revolution in particular, censorship was very widespread. All forms of artistic expression had to follow the party's vision. More significant than this was the commissioning of politicized art in propaganda. These pieces featured Mao as the focal point. Thousands of images, poems and songs were composed for Mao as the "Chairman Mao is the red sun in our hearts". 

The Long March

Summary:
It's exactly what it sounds like. Members of the Communist party of China (CCP) were literally chased by the KMT, or the Chinese nationalist party... for a year... through some of the harshest terrain in China. They crossed swamps, deep gorges, flowing rivers. They travelled through mountains, on rickety suspension bridges, All of this with hostile enemies on their heels. It is characterized as a military retreat executed by members of the Red Army, with various factions escaping to the North and West. Due to fatigue, sickness, cold, hunger, and violence at the hands of the KMT, the Red Army sustained heavy losses. It is estimated that of the original 100,000 party members who began the March, only 7,000 original members survived. The March lasted from October of 1934-October of 1935. 

This map shows the route that the Chinese Communist party members took from Jiangxi, probably the most famous route.

This image shows the Red Army, led by Mao, heading Westward out of Jiangxi.


Cause: This retreat came about after years of tension and several unsuccessful offensive military operations attempted by the Red Army against the KMT.


Effect:
The retreat allowed the army to regroup, and recruit new members. It also improved public opinion of the Communists, particularly among the peasants. This is due to Mao's policy of the Eight Points of Attention, effectively forbidding the Communists from stealing from or harming the peasants. The most notable effect of the March, in terms of party politics, was the part it played in establishing Mao as a leader of the Communist party. During the March, he gained much support from members of his party and various peasant factions. It is not an exaggeration to say that, as a survivor of the March, Mao became something of a living legend.