Communists Take Power in China

Communists vs. Nationalists

• Remember China was invaded by Japan in 1937.

• During this time, China was in a Civil War between the Nationalists and the Communists

The Communists• Mao Tzedong was leader1. Communists had a

stronghold in Northwestern China

2. They mobilized peasants for guerilla warfare against the Japanese.

3. Due to the efforts to improve food production, the Communists won support in NW China by 1945

The Nationalists• Jiang Jieshi was leader1. Dominated southwest

China and protected from the rugged mountain ranges.

2. With an army of 2.5 million and aided by the U.S. to fight Japan, they did little during WWII.

3. Instead, they saved up their strength to fight Mao’s Red Army after WWII ended

Chinese Civil War• The renewed Civil War

lasted from 1946-1949• Nationalist Army

outnumbered the Communists and they were supported by the U.S.

• But Nationalists could not win popular support

• As China’s economy collapsed as a result of WWII, thousands of soldiers and civilians switched to the Communist Party

Chinese Civil War• By 1949, China’s major

cities fell to the Red Army• Jiang’s army and

government fled south to Taiwan

• Mao’s Promises– Give land back to the

peasants– China became the

People’s Republic of China– Signed Treaty of

Friendship with Russia

Two Chinas

1.Taiwan or Nationalist China– 13,000 square miles– Aka Republic of China– Supported by the U.S.– Militarily weak and

corrupt– Weak public support

2. Communist or People’s Republic of China

- 3.5 million square miles- Supported by the Soviets- Soviet-Chinese Alliance

to support each other if attacked by the West

- Experienced motivated guerilla army

- Strong Public Support

Communist Transformation in China

1. Set up two political organizations, both headed by Mao until 1959.– The Communist Party– National Government

2. Agrarian Reform Law of 1950- Mao seized land of owners and returned it to peasants. He killed over a million people in the process.

• 3. Established a 5 Year Economic Plan to boost industry and business and increased output in steel, concrete, coal, and electricity

Communist Transformation in China

4. The Great Leap Forward (1958)- called for larger collective farms, communes, where peasants worked, lived, dined, and slept together and they owned nothing. Was considered a failure after crop famines killed 20 million people.

5. China and USSR began to compete to lead the worldwide Communist Movement by the late 1950’s.

The Cultural Revolution• Led by the Red Guards,

militias of Communist supporters.

• Goal: To establish a society of peasants and workers in which all were equal.

• Anything intellectual and artistic were considered useless

• Red guards shut down colleges and schools.

The Cultural Revolution• Intellectuals had to

“purify” themselves by doing hard labor

• Thousands were executed and imprisoned.

• The chaos threatened farm production and industry.

• The Communist National Army was told to suppress the Red Guards and end the revolution