Mao Essay

Mao Zedong led the people of China through a revolution, transforming the old China into the new, Communist China, however can it really be said that he was a revolutionary hero? A revolutionary hero must posses certain skills and qualities; they must lead their people through violence, have their own ideology, and be able to inspire others. Mao met each of these requirements. Mao demonstrated the use of violence many times throughout his rule, however the most important were the Long March, the Great Leap Forward, and the Cultural Revolution. The Long March lasted from the 18th of October 1934, until the 29th of October 1935; it was a six thousand mile retreat from Chiang Kai-Shek's Nationalist forces.12. Prior to the Long March, the Communists had been losing to Chiang very badly in the province of Jiangxi, they were severely outnumbered and had were lacking proper equipment for everyone, Mao and the other leaders of the Communist Party decided that a retreat would be best to save the party from total ruin.3 At the beginning of the Long March there were approximately one hundred thousand people, including women and children, however by the time they finished only twenty thousand were left, the others had died along the way of cold, sunstroke, hunger, disease, and exhaustion.4 Despite the huge loss of life along the way, the Long March was deemed to be a success,

  • Word count: 1841
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: History
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Why Mao won the civil war in China.

Why Mao won the civil war On 1st October 1949 Mao Zedong declared the People's republic of China, after his victory over the Guomindang (GMD). The justifications for the Communist Party of China (CPC) prevailing over the Guomindang (GMD) lay within their leaders as well as other factors. The civil war began in 1946, but the real tension began in 1927 after the Shanghai massacre and ended in the declaration of China in 1949. The reasons for Mao's victory over the GMD began long before the civil war. They begin with the establishment of the CCP in May 1921 by Chen Duxiu and Li Dazhao. The nationalist party in China, GMD, soon recognised the CCP as a threat but were forced to work together with them in the first united front in 1926. The GMD and CCP had formed a United Front and set out on the northern expedition to eradicate the warlords from China. Cooperation on the ouside seemed to be working well as the national revolutionary army won victory upon victory against the warlords, until April 12th 1927, the United Front had lasted a year and was half complete when Field Marshall Jiang Jieshi ordered the purging of the communist troops. This event for many historians marked the begin of the civil war. It resulted in the in the Shanghai massacre and showed that the cooperation didn't work that well afterall. The true goals of the two parties had for one been the defeating of the

  • Word count: 1416
  • Level: International Baccalaureate
  • Subject: History
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How has Chinese FP change since Mao and how important are economics…?

How has Chinese FP change since Moa and how important are economics...? Blakeley Nixon FIR 224 Throughout History, China and her foreign policy has been the focus of much controversy and debate in the fields of History and International Relations. The size, geographical position, culture and politics of China make it, and have made it one of the most important actors in regional and international affairs. The aims and nature of Chinese foreign policy have been through a number of important changes in the twentieth century. This essay will examine the principles of Chinese Foreign Policy after the death of leader Mao Tse Tung and will discuss the importance economics has on the formulation of post Mao foreign Policy. This essay will first discuss the principle aims and practises of Chinese foreign policy under Mao as a basis to compare the post Mao characteristics. The essay will then examine the major aspects of China's foreign policy that occurred during and after Mao's leadership in terms of the relations with the west, relations with the Soviet bloc, relations with third world revolutionary groups and the so called opposition to hegemonism. Through studying these factors the essay will examine the importance of economic factors in china's foreign policy since Mao. As an example of how China works in the international system the essay will discuss the relations

  • Word count: 2634
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: History
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Cold War Revision

Cold War Revision A war short of full scale war because of the development of the Atomic bomb. CAUSES OF THE COLD WAR [BARE] . Beliefs: Russia was a Communist country, ruled by a dictator who cared little about human rights. America was a capitalist democracy, which valued freedom. 2. Aims: Stalin wanted reparations from Germany/ a buffer of friendly states. Britain and the USA [led by President Truman] wanted to help Germany recover/ to prevent large areas of Europe from coming under Communist control. 3. Resentment about history: The USSR did not trust Britain and the USA - They had tried to destroy the Russian Revolution in 1918/ Stalin thought they had not helped the USSR enough in WW2. Britain & USA did not trust USSR - Stalin had signed the Nazi-Soviet pact in 1939. 4. Events turned the mistrust into war: Yalta/ Potsdam/ Salami tactics/ Fulton/ Greece/ Truman Doctrine/ Marshall Plan/ Cominform/ Czechoslovakia YALTA CONFERENCE (February 1945) . Churchill, Stalin and Roosevelt agreed to Divide Germany into 4 zones (France, Britain, USA, USSR)/ to hold free elections in Eastern European countries./ to set up the United Nations./ to set up a government of Communists and non Communists in Poland. 2. On the surface, everything seemed friendly, but there was tension behind the scenes POTSDAM CONFERENCE (July 1945) . At Potsdam the tensions surfaced.

  • Word count: 1587
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: History
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Origins of the Cold War.

Chapter 29 Cold War Salil Shah Per 3 I. Origins of the Cold War A. Sources of American Soviet Tension Had difference in view of post war world. US supported the view in which nations gave up traditional military alliances, and dealt with each other in a democratic process, with an international org. as mediator. Britain and Soviets favored view where system of traditional European balance of powers would reemerge. B. War time Diplomacy By Jan 1943 a strain in relations with soviets was evident as Stalin refused to meet with Churchill and Roosevelt. The 2 refused Stalins'most immediate demand to have a 2 european fronts, but assured him that they would have unconditional surrender of Axis powers and they would not leave soviets out of peace negotiations. In Teharan Conference relations between Stalin and Roosevelt became better as Stalin agreed to enter Pacific once hotstilities in Europe died down, and US agreed to 2 front western war. However there was tension on who would lead Poland once war was over. They avoided the issue by leaving it unresolved. C. Yalta In Feb. 1945the big three met in Soviet Union. Stalin was promised some territory lost in Jap Soviet war of 1904, in pacific. Also agreed to UN charter with a security council, with members from 5 major powers. Issue of Polish government was compromised. Soviets had occupied Poland and installed the pro

  • Word count: 2532
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: History
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The Death of Mao

The Death of Mao Following the Cultural Revolution * Three main power groups emerged - Lin Biao and the PLA - Jiang Qing and the Shanghai radicals - Zhou Enlai and bureaucracy Lin Biao * Despite being named as Mao's successor he was one of the first casualties after the Cultural Revolution's violent phase ended by 1969. * Marx had taught Mao to be wary of strong military leaders. * Mao wanted to abolish the post of President but Lin disagreed, Mao thought Lin wanted it himself. * In 1970 Mao began to undermine Lin's position in the PLA. Lin Biao * In February 1971 it was clear that Lin no longer carried Mao's favour and he decided to fight back with the help of his son. * However when Mao became aware of the plan they decided to flee to southern China instead. Lin Biao * Zhou Enlai found this out and tried to stop them. The plane was forced to take off before being fully fuelled and so plans were made to go to the USSR instead. * However the plane crashed in outer Mongolia killing all 8 people on board. After Lin Biao * Who would succeed Mao? * Zhou Enlai was too old. * Jiang Qing was Mao's wife, but hated. After Lin Biao * Zhou Enlai - Wanted to increase contact with the west and organised a visit from President Nixon in 1972. - This began a relaxation of cultural policy and western orchestras were allowed to visit. - In 1973 exams were

  • Word count: 776
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: History
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The Cold War [1945-1991]

The Cold War [1945-1991] Europe has had its fair share with wars and battles. However most of them were of two peculiar and stand out types of war. They were either Wars of Ideology: what other men and women were allowed to believe, or Wars of Succession, and the balance of power. The cold war for the first time combined both of these characteristics of the European modes of wars. The cold war was fought to determine the fate of Europe which was divided between two great superpowers of the European tradition, the market economy driven United States of America, and the Old Russian autocracy reborn as the Soviet Union through the ideology of communism. "The history of the cold war has been the history of the world since 1945"1. It wasn't a confrontation between two empires, it was, "a total war between economic and social systems, an industrial test to destruction"2. Nevertheless it was also a fight between two conflicting values. The West believes in the ideas of a market economy, free enterprise and a multi party democracy. These qualities were cherished as a necessity. The scenario in the East was quiet contrasting. While the west believed in free enterprise, market economy and democracy the East was driven, by a command economy and single part statism, a.k.a, Dictatorship. The obvious conflict in beliefs, ideas and values, and the stubborn nature of those who defended

  • Word count: 2889
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: History
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Mao Zedong: Dictatorship of a Single Party State

By: Melissa D., Danise F., Prashanth R., Jonathan T. Mao Zedong: Dictatorship of a Single Party State . How did Mao come to power? a. By force, through officially legitimate channels, or by cheating peacefully? A combination of these? * combination (force, legitimate channels) o 1911 revolution, Mao enlisted as soldier in local regiment in Hunan; fought along side revolutionaries o participated in May 4th Movement of 1919 (anti-imperialist protests) o introduced to Marxism at Beijing University o 1921, co-founded Communist Party of China (CPC) o 23 July 1921, Mao attended first session of National Congress of the Communist Party of China o 1926-1928, Northern Expedition, military campaign by Kuomintang (Chinese Nationalist Party) (KMT) * intended to speed up revolution against feudalism + imperialism o early 1927, Chinese Civil War sparked by peasant uprisings in wake of Northern Expedition o 1 August 1927, People's Liberation Army formed by Zhu De o 7 September 1927, Autumn Harvest Uprising in Changsha, lead by Mao * defeated by KMT o People's Liberation Army joined CPC + Mao's movement o 1931, Soviet Republic of China formed by Mao in Jianxi province * challenged by Jianxi branch of CPC * Mao suppressed them * 186,000 killed; Mao's version of Red Terror * destroyed by KMT, 1934 o loss of Jianxi province lead to Long March * large-scale retreat

  • Word count: 2056
  • Level: International Baccalaureate
  • Subject: History
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Did Mao Create A Cruel Dictatorship ?

There are no two ways about it, in the later years of Mao's rule, he did create a cruel dictatorship. However when considering the overall opinion of him, to make a judgement, we must look at his entire reign and weigh up the good and bad. For example before Mao china had very little economy, and the poor were getting ever poorer and the rich were getting richer. During the period October 1949 until his death in 1976 china grew, in leaps and bounds socially, economically and agriculturally. Mostly down to the work of Mao. When Mao first took over and announced his vision for a new peaceful china in October of 1949, China was a war-torn, starving and backwards country. And re-building china after foreign occupation and civil war was to be a huge challenge. Unemployment was high, and there were mass food shortages. Life expectancy was only 40 years, and there was also raging inflation. Mao had the support of the peasants, and although they disliked change, he felt he could achieve his aim. In 1950 Mao introduced the agrarian reform law, where he sent party workers out to share land between peasants, a privilege they had never had before. The next problem Mao was faced with was, the food shortage. He created Co-ops, and although this helped it did not solve the problem of the quickly rising population, but slowly rising food production, Mao's next step in combating this was to

  • Word count: 1713
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: History
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CHINA UNDER MAO, 1945-C.1976

The Bolitho School: 53825 Candidate name and number: Vanessa Clarke, 0729 G.C.S.E. HISTORY COURSEWORK Assignment 1: COURSEWORK UNIT 4: CHINA UNDER MAO, 1945-C.1976 Qa 7 marks. Explain the nature and purpose of "The Hundred Flowers Movement". The Five-Year Plan put Chinese society under a terrific strain. The city population rose by around 40 million, causing overcrowding, food shortages and housing problems, while many peasants found plenty to complain about in the new higher-stage cooperatives. The Communist party was losing some of its early popularity, and many people had harsh words to say about its leaders. Mao Zedong needed to find a way to revive his authority, which had plummeted with China's economy. So by 1956, Mao decided to relax the restrictions that his people were under, to let them vent their anger and used the old saying "let a hundred flowers bloom", to invite criticism. The saying comes from a traditional Chinese saying "Let a hundred flowers bloom; let a hundred schools of thought contend". 'The Hundred Flowers Movement' started initially as a small campaign aimed solely at local bureaucrats and non-communist-affiliated officials to speak out about the policies and the existing problems within the central bureaucracy. Despite continuous efforts by prominent central officials, this small campaign failed. No one spoke openly at all. Mao then took

  • Word count: 1802
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: History
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