Mao Zedong

Mao Zedong was a political leader, a revolutionist, and murderer who led China to a communist revolution following decades of Civil War. Mao led China to a series of victories that drove Kuomintang and its troops to the island of Taiwan. Mao is considered to be the father of Communist China. On October 1, 1949, Mao announced the establishment of the Peoples Republic of China in Tienanmen Square.

Mao wanted to build a strong and prosperous China and a new functional government. He wanted to relieve the poverty of the peasants that made up the majority of China’s population. To do this Mao started the Great Leap Forward. The Great Leap Forward was begun to quickly establish economic development in China. To accomplish Mao’s goals, he and his colleagues pushed for the construction of steel plants across the country.

The rural society had to keep pace with Mao’s dreams by producing enough food to feed the country plus enough to export helping pay for the industrialization. The changes were supposed to improve the conditions for everyone by collecting food and establishing communal eating facilities for the peasants. In pursuit of Mao’s goals the government would execute anyone who disagreed with his goals. The government put the country into great debt by spending so much on the industry. Many people were competing for profits from industrialization that the agriculture got forgotten causing a huge famine killing about 40 million.

Mao started the Cultural Revolution in 1966 to overturn established structures and to challenge old ways of thinking. Mao’s main goal of the revolution was to stabilize Mao’s rule as the leader of China. The Red Guards caused most of the damage done during the Cultural Revolution. These were young people that were dedicated to Mao’s cult. The Red Guards traveled the country targeting supposed enemies of socialism and Mao Zedong. Tens of thousands were killed and millions had their lives and reputations ruined.

In all Mao had been the cause of about 70 million people’s deaths. This is an important event in history because even though Mao is an evil person he did a lot of things to make Chinese people have a better life. He helped China win and end the wars that went on for decades. His policies laid the groundwork for China’s economy.