Mao Zedong
China was falling apart when Mao Zedong was born.
Mao was born during the Qin dynasty, and it was about to collapse due to social and economical unrest.
This allowed Mao to become its leader, and some called him a leader, others called him a dictator and murderer.
Mao unified China. He created the Republic of China, and was the leader of the greatest social revolution in history. He took land and property, destroyed the landlord class, weakened the middle class and raised the peasants and industrial workers.
Mao’s belief was that peasants and workers could organize and rule. Civil war between the Communists and Nationalists lasted for over 20 years. Communists won finally in 1949. Mao forced millions to work on government farms and factories, and if they didn’t he sent them to jail.
The Great Leap Forward was to rapidly grow the industry and agriculture sectors. Mao wanted to get rid of the last privately held property. The programme failed, causing famine and food shortages. Millions died because of this. There was bad weather, and natural disasters, but it was overall Mao’s and the Communist’s Party fault. He lost a lot of power. There was the Cultural Revolution in 1966, Mao influenced the army and students to revolt and unseat his enemies. He needed the chaos to gain control, and many people suffered and died. Mao received a visit from the U.S. President Richard Nixon in 1972, to separate ties to the USSR.
Mao Zedong died in 1976, and his revolutionary potential of the peasantry are still an influence today.
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This site displays information well with one picture of Mao. This site has all of its sources cited, except tbe date it was published.
Michael. Peace Makers and Brakers: Mao Zedong. 28 February 2010 <http://library.thinkquest.org/TQ0312702/maozedong.htm>.
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