Overview
This lecture traces the life and rule of Mao Zedong, highlighting his rise to power, brutal policies, and the devastating impact of his leadership on China.
Early Life and Rise to Power
- Mao Zedong grew up witnessing the harsh conditions under imperial rule and violent peasant rebellions.
- Influenced by Marxist and European philosophy, Mao became a committed communist in 1917.
- He saw support from Russia as key to the Communist Party's power in China.
- Mao believed revolution in China should come from the peasantry, not urban workers.
- Appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Red Army in 1927, he used violence to incite peasant uprisings.
Civil War and Consolidation of Power
- The Chinese Civil War began in 1927 between Nationalists and Communists, marked by mass violence.
- Mao's guiding principle: "All power grows out of the barrel of a gun."
- The Long March of 1935 elevated Mao as the Communist Party leader after many rivals were eliminated.
- He built a cult of personality and enforced ideological control within the party.
The Great Leap Forward
- Mao launched the Great Leap Forward in 1958 to rapidly industrialize China using collectivized agriculture.
- Private property was abolished, and peasants were forced onto collective farms with unrealistic production targets.
- Policies led to widespread famine; millions died from starvation, worsened by campaigns like the extermination of sparrows.
- Mao ignored reports of mass death, viewing it as an acceptable sacrifice.
Power Struggles and the Cultural Revolution
- When challenged by Liu Shaoqi about the famine, Mao sought revenge and eventually destroyed him.
- The Cultural Revolution (1966–1976) was an attempt to purge "old ideas" and consolidate Mao's control.
- Mao empowered the Red Guards, youth loyal to him, to attack teachers, officials, and "bourgeois" elements.
- Massive violence, purges, and destruction ensued; two million educated people were killed, and many more imprisoned.
Mao's Final Years and Legacy
- Mao's health declined in the 1970s but he remained unopposed due to fear.
- He died in 1976, leaving a legacy of terror, famine, and millions of deaths.
- While officially revered, Mao's policies are now widely repudiated, though his image endures as a symbol of modern China.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Communist Party of China — Political party founded on Marxist principles aiming to establish a communist state.
- Great Leap Forward — Mao's policy for rapid industrialization and collectivization from 1958–1962, resulting in mass famine.
- Cultural Revolution — Mao-led political movement (1966–1976) targeting traditional and capitalist elements, leading to widespread violence.
- Red Guards — Youth militia mobilized during the Cultural Revolution to enforce Maoist ideology.
- Collectivization — Forcing peasants to work on large, state-run farms, abolishing private property.
- Personality cult — Excessive public admiration and glorification of a leader.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review the definitions and main events for upcoming quizzes.
- Read further on impacts of the Great Leap Forward and Cultural Revolution.
- Prepare questions for class discussion on the ethical implications of Mao's rule.