Seth Newby
IB World History
3/19/2012
Mao Zedong
(pronunciation:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fe/ZhMao_Zedong.ogg )
Birthday- December 26th, 1893
Occupation: Leader of Communist China March 20, 1943 –
September 9, 1976 ; 1st Chairmen of the People’s Republic of
China: September 27, 1954 – April 27, 1959; Member of National
People’s Congress - 15 September 1954 – 18 April 1959 and 21
December 1964 – 9 September 1976
Relationship status: Its complicated with
Karl Marx<3
Political Beliefs: Maoist; Anti-revisionist form (very conservative
communism) Marxist Communism, Cultural Revolution
Friends:
Interests: Mobilization of the masses for certain causes; Revolution
Wall:
Karl Marx:
Josef Stalin:
Liu Shaoqi:
Zhou Enlai:
Mao - “Rose to power today! Finally triumphed after years of struggle
against these aristocratic pigs. The KMT (United Front with Kuomintang)
has finally fallen and I’m glad we won. THE COMMUNIST PARTY SHALL RULE
ONCE AGAIN!”
Date: October 1949
Mao – “ Enacted the Five Year Plan Today, hopefully it will re-energize
China’s industrial output and economic activity to keep up with our friends
in Russia and the Americans. We will attempt to target steel, coal, and iron
production”
Date: 1953
Comment: Stalin – “Sounds great Mao. Say we could provide you
with the engineers and economic stimulus that you need! Our engineers
are great at starting heavy industry improvement. Give me a call, bro.
Mao- “Five year plan was a huge success! China is on it’s way to becoming a
world super power. Now for my next move, I call it the Great Leap Forward!
It infuses Marxist Communist ideals with the hard work of the Chinese
people. All Chinese will now report to a commune. You will work with your
community as one, and live as a family, depending on the output of others.
The government will determine how much you must produce and we will
supply you with the necessary tools. Hope it works!
Date: 1958
Seth Newby
IB World History
3/19/2012
Wall:
Comment on Mao about Great Leap forward:
Farmer Chin: “I guess it sound good when you say it like that… But what happens when we
can’t keep up with your demand. Also all of the production seems to be focused on steel and coal. My
“backyard burner” can only take so much. What about emphasis on food production?”
Mao (Foreign Policy) – “Just a status about my foreign policy for all those who were wondering. China’s
closest ally is the U.S.S.R without a doubt, as there are our neighbors as well as our Communist brothers.
The western countries do not share our ideals, and therefore we do not have spectacular foreign
relations with them. However I do find it necessary to trade with the U.S for certain goods. I, along with
the PPR, support any country aspiring to become Communist such as Cambodia and Burma. My wish,
although a bit lofty, is to start a world revolution alongside the Soviets and introduce the benefits of
Communism to the entire world.”
Mao – “Bad news everyone, seems like the Great Leap Forward actually took us backward. I expected
too much out of the workers of China, and take full responsibility for any deaths I may have caused. I
didn’t think the food output would drop so low due to my emphasis on steel and coal – looks like you
were right Farmer Chin. I hereby step down from sole leader of China.
Date: April 27th, 1959
Comment: Liu Shaoqi “Tough news Mao. Disappointed that you caused the deaths of 20-30
million Chinese. At least you still have some power in Chinese government still.”
Mao – “That’s it! I’ve had enough of these damn liberals trying to retake China from my Communist
Hold. It’s time for a Revolution – A Cultural Revolution. I call upon the youth of this country to band
together and censor those who contradict my communist Marxist beliefs. Red Guards to arms!! My goal
is to re-establish the Communist dream, a class-less society which does not distinguish the engineers
from the peasants; the doctors from the farmers. Restore China to her former glory with me!
Date: 1965
Comment: Liu Shao –chi “Not cool Mao, thanks for kicking me out of office as a result of your
damn ‘Cultural Revolution’.”
Mao – “Glad I regained a lot of power in China. Unfortunately I’m not feeling well and if I think I might
die today. I predict that I will leave a lasting legacy in China and that the People’s Republic of China will
continue to rule until at least 2012. Long live communism!”
Date: September 9th 1976
Seth Newby
IB World History
3/19/2012
Research:
Mao Zedong
Birthday: December 26, 1893
Occupation:
Resume:
Leader of Communist China March 20, 1943 – September 9, 1976
1st Chairmen of the People’s Republic of China: September 27, 1954
– April 27, 1959
I
Political Beliefs: Maoism: Anti - Revisionist form (very conservative, take literally, form of
Marxism). Believed in textbook Communism.
Relationship status: Its complicated with Karl Marx
Interests: Mobilization of masses for certain causes. Revolutions
Criteria A: Emergence, Success and rule


Emergence: Mao rose to power by commanding the Long March (overthrow of
current nationalist government), forming a United Front with Kuomintang (KMT)
during the Second Sino-Japanese War to repel a Japanese invasion. After
overthrowing the government, Mao took power of the broken Chinese provinces and
united them (except Taiwan) under Communist Rule.
Success: After his mini coup, Mao set about revolutionizing China he..
o Gave land previously owned by lanlords to the people via land communes
(divided up land among the people). A clear sign of marxist communism
o The Five Year Plan: was an attempt by China to boost her industry and set
her on the path to become a world class power. Plan to re-energize China’s
industrial and economic outpoot and industry. Influenced by the Russian
engineers, and also by the success of Stalin’s Five Year Plans, China
introduced her own Five Year Plan in 1953. Heavy industry was targeted as
being in need of major reform. The Five Year Plan attempted to tackle steel,
coal and iron production. As in the Russian model, each factory or mine was
given a target to achieve
o Great Leap Forward: The Great Leap Forward was Mao’s attempt to
modernise China’s economy so that by 1988,China would have an economy
that rivalled America started in 1958. Targeted industry and agriculture.
Seth Newby
IB World History
3/19/2012


The commune was created: People in a commune gave up their
ownership of tools, animals etc so that everything was owned by the
commune. People now worked for the commune and not for
themselves. Practical Communism at its finest. The figures for steel,
coal, chemicals, timber, cement etc all showed huge rises though the
figures started at in 1958 were low. Grain and cotton production also
showed major increases in production.
o Consequences of Great Leap Forward: Mao’s vision of massive full scale
industrialization began to crumble. Workers could not keep up with impossible
demand from the government. Food production also minimized as emphasis
was put on steel production. Between 1959 and 1962, it is thought that 20
million people died of starvation or diseases related to starvation. Great Leap
eventually caused Mao’s demise, leading to his stepdown of sole leader of
China in 1959 (he still held a considerable amount of power)\
o Cultural Revolution (1965-1968): The Cultural Revolution is the name given to
Mao’s attempt to reassert his beliefs in China and regain the power he lost
due to the failure of his Great Leap Forward. Large scale censorship took
place as Mao tried to get rid of anyone who contradicted his beliefs. Red
Guards (groups of youths who banded themselves together) encouraged all
the youth in China to criticise those who Mao deemed untrustworthy with
regards to the direction he wanted China to take. Mao wanted to re-establish
a classless society. In October 1968, Liu Shao-chi was expelled from the
party and this is generally seen by historians as the end of the Cultural
Revolution.
Rule: Mao Ruled as supreme leader of China (leader of PPR) from September 27,
1954 – April 27, 1959. He held a position of power and influence all the way to his
death in 1976). Mao’s communist party still rules in China and he has had a lasting,
mostly positive influence on the Chinese. Even today people still highly regard Mao.
o
o
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Works Cited:
http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/china_five_year_plan.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mao_Zedong