Mao Zedong
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Mao Zedong (Mao being the family name) was a Chinese chairman. He worked with the political party, Communist Party of China. He led the party to victory against the Kuomintang during the Chinese Civil War. He was the leader of the People's Republic of China from its start in 1949, until his death in 1976. He is commonly thought to be one of the most influential people of the 20th Century and is thought of to the Chinese to be a great leader. Though many people believe he is to blame for a lot of problems in China and the starvation of over 50 000 000 people.
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Early Life
- Main article: Mao Zedong's early life
Mao was th eldest child of his family. He was the son of Mao Jen-sheng, a peasant farmer, and Wen Chi-mei, a very religious Buddhist. His family were relatively wealthy, and therefore he was sent to school, and from then onto further education.
In the 1911 Revolution, Mao fought on the side of the revolutionaries, fighting against the Qing Dynasty. Close to the end of the war, he left the army and went back to schooling.
In 1927, Mao returned home due to a meeting of the Communist Party, he reported on his investigations of the peasant uprisings. This is considered the first and most important move towards Mao's revolutionary theories.
War Times
- Main article: Mao Zedong War and Revolution
In 1927, Mao led the Revolutionary Army of Workers and Peasants to defeat and scattering. Later, Mao rearranged the remaining troops using an alternative strategy. This arrangement is believed to have had the biggest effect on the Chinese revolution.
In 1928, Mao married He Zizhen and was his second wife. Two years later, in 1930, his first wife, Yang Kaihui, was arrested and executed. In 1931, and the following three years, Mao helped start the Soviet Republic of China, and elected chairman of the mountainous areas of Jiangxi. Mao was thought to have raised a strong army, and built up many allies. However, many people thought the opposite.
After World War II, the US started to support Chiang Kai-shek, the opposing army of Mao's during the Chinese civil war for control of the country. Chiang was against world communism. During the war, the Soviet Union gave support to Mao, and gave them some supplies. In the beginning of 1949, Mao won the war, his opponents taking massive damage.
Leadership
The People's Republic of China was formed in 1949, after fighting for decades. From 1954 to 1959, Mao was the chairman. The party took control of the country's media and used it to promote Mao and his party. Mao's first campaigns after the start of the People's Republic were land reform and the suppression of counter-revolutionaries. This starting mass executions in front of organized crowds. He claimed the killing of millions were needed to secure power.
In 1958, Mao attempted to increase agricultural and industrial production. This involved big communities, containing up to 75 000 people. Each family got a share of the profits, and they had their own small land space. This ended in 1962 where they used a traditional form of agriculture and industrial production. As it failed, Mao resigned from his position. He however retained a major role of determining the policy. In 1968, Mao was succeeded by Liu Shaoqi.
Mao gave his support to the Gang of Four. They were Jiang Qing (Mao's fourth wife), Wang Hongwen, Yao Wenyuan and Zhange Chungqiao.
Death
In 1976, Mao suffered a severe heart attack. His fourth wife, Jiang Qing heard the news and sprinkled powder on Mao while he was sleeping and moved his limbs. The doctors protested to this due to it being bad for Mao's lungs. However, Jiang Qing instructed nurses to do the same as she. Th next day, she returned and told the staff to alter Mao's position as he had spent too long on his left side. Knowing Mao could only breathe on his left side, the doctor declined, however she still moved him. When Mao stopped breathing, she left the room. He survived. It was several years later when he finally died.
