Mao
Rise to power (up to 1949)
Mao was elected to Central
Committee of CCP in 1924
When GMD broke its relations
with CCP in 1927, Mao
developed his own branch of
communism in rural areas
(beginning of ideological shift)
1927 he led the Autumn
Harvest Uprising, the first
peasant uprising
1927 together with Zhu De,
Mao formed The Jiangxi Soviet
1930 Li Lisan was dismissed
from his leadership of the CCP;
Mao was in charge (his methods:
guerrilla warfare; failed GMD
Encirclement campaigns)
1934-35 the KMTs campaign
against the CCP resulted in The
Long March Mao was the
leader
Mao proved himself as a leader
during events such as the GMDs
attacks on the Yanan Soviet
(1935-45); the Japanese invasion
of China (1937-45) and the War
of Liberation (1945-49)
On 1st October 1949 Mao
proclaimed the establishment of
the Peoples Republic of China
Establishing a single-party
state (after 1949)
Land reform (1950)
redistribution, millions of
landlords died
The First Five Year Plan (1953-
57) aimed to imitate the Soviet
model, new industrial centres,
more employment, urbanisation,
industrial output rose by 70%,
infrastructure improvements,
nationalisation of private in
industries and businesses
Stalin
Rise to power (1924 -29)
1924 Lenin dies, criticised
Stalin; Stalin was present at his
funeral and made a speech; had
influence in the party; believed
in socialism in one country (no
need for external help)
1922-29 The Battle for
Dominance
- Stage 1 the defeat of Trotsky
-Stage 2 the defeat of the left
(Zinoviev and Kamenev)
-Stage 3 the defeat of the right
(Bukharin, Tomsky, Rykov)
1927-28 Crisis, domestic
problems (industrial population
threatened by starvation),
foreign problems (war scare, no
support, isolation)
1928 Second Revolution
industrialisation and
modernization of the USSR, no
NEP collectivisation would
enable Stalin to emerge as the
dominant figure
Establishing a single party
state (1924-38)
Collectivization the Urals-
Siberian method; forced
collectivization; dekulakization;
famine resulted in
consolidation in 1935 (rules for
payments of kolhozniks were
introduces, legalized private
plots, allowed a household to
have some animals)
1928-32 First 5 Year Plan
expectations didnt meet the
reality, propaganda
1933-37 Second 5 Year Plan
Purges (and show trials)
escalated in 1936-38 (the Great
Purge or Ezhovschina, about 1
 (however still not all of them) million killed), gulags, terror
The Hundred Flowers Campaign (secret police), Stalin signed
(1957) designed to prevent death sentences personally
accumulation of frustration, can
also be seen as a trap for
opposition
The Great Leap Forward (1958)
abandoned the Soviet model,
more emphasis on agriculture
and light industry, set up
communes, intended to stop the
distinction between peasant and
worker, backyard factories
made poor quality products,
poor harvest, famine, CCP
officials failed to deal with the
challenges, terminated in 1961
as China was in a state of crisis
The Cultural Revolution (1966-
76) Mao wanted to re-assert
power over the CCP, cult of Mao,
purges, education abandoned,
hysterical masses, Red Guards
killed both in cities and villages
1976 Mao dies

How Mao consolidated his power after the Chinese Civil War?

Complete authority over the Politburo which had authority over the whole
China
Reforms land, 5 Years Plans
Campaigns (anti-American and pro-Korean; anti-spies; corruption; waste;
obstruction; bureaucracy)
1950 a series of reunification campaigns three separate PLA armies
were dispatched to Tibet, Xinjiang and the southern province of western
Guangdong, unofficially to repress any kind of opposition
The anti-movements (campaigns against the remnants of the bourgeoisie
class) were designed to create an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty
Korean War (1950) unified Chinese people under Maos command
1957 100 Flowers Campaign can be seen as a purge almost complete
consolidation of power
1958 The Great Leap Forward its failure did not consolidate his power,
but proved his position as no one dared to criticise despite millions of
deaths
1966-76 The Cultural Revolution by the mid-1960s, Mao held the status
of almost a God (due to skilful propaganda by PLA leader Lin Biao), millions
loved him and his Little Red Book
The nature of opposition that Mao faced and how he dealt with it.

Early rule land reform public beatings, killing landlords

Atmosphere of fear and uncertainty precautions
Labour camps, forced labour
The Anti Campaigns often false accusations, against corruption,
bureaucracy, waste, theft, tax evasion
Hundred Flower Campaign apparent relaxation followed by a purge
Cultural Revolution one elite replaced by another, Red Guard purged
Appealing to youth, indoctrination, encouraged to inform on elders
Appeal to popular demand the desire to own land
Societal benefits