About the Spread of Communism in China
For thousands of years China was ruled by different imperial dynasties. In the early 20th century the downfall of the last imperial dynasty of China brought about political mayhem as the nation attempted to come to terms with its burgeoning population and its completely unmodernized, peasant existence. These conditions were ripe for the spread of communism in China, and Chinese intellectuals looked to their Soviet neighbors as a communist example.
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Time Frame
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The Chinese Communist Party was founded in 1921 by a group of Chinese intellectuals inspired by the 1917 Russian Revolution. For the next two decades the spread of communism in China experienced a few setbacks, but mostly huge gains as the Chinese Communist Party converted masses to their peasant-based communist ideology. In 1949 the spread of communism in China reached its pinnacle as the People's Republic of China was established. Communist government, centered around totalitarian state control, has remained entrenched in China to the present day.
History
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The Chinese Communist Party allied itself with the Nationalist Party of Chiang Kai-shek to gain control of China in the 1920s. Chiang and the nationalists began their rule of China in 1928 and the communists, led by Mao Zedong, retreated to southeastern China. While there the Chinese communists began to gain followers in rural China that were attracted to the message of equality inherent to the communist ideology. The spread of communism in southeast China evidenced itself when the area declared itself the independent Jiangxi Soviet Republic. The nationalist government forced the Chinese Communists to flee to north-central China where they established a new stronghold in 1936. After World War II the communists and nationalists continued to fight each other, but the Chinese Communists with the support of much of the peasant population and bolstered spirits defeated the nationalists in 1949. The spread of communism in China was then made official as Mao established the People's Republic of China.
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Features
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While Mao used Soviet Communism as a model, he adapted to Chinese conditions and built his party around the huge peasant base of the country instead of the traditional Marxist urban worker base. Mao believed that the peasants should be at the center of the Chinese Communist revolt and that the ensuing communist government should be built around them. This emphasis on the peasant population won the Chinese Communists many supporters throughout the vast countryside, helping the spread of communism to reach most rural areas.
When Mao and the communists came to power they immediately took control of industry and trade and outlawed government criticism and individual freedoms. While many had supported the spread of communism in China, there were still many who opposed the regime and Mao would be plagued by disapproval of his communist state, from within and without, throughout his rule.
Effects
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The spread of communism in China and the ensuing rule of Mao Zedong has completely governed China's modern history and its place in the international community. When the communists took over in 1949 the nationalists under Chiang Kai-shek fled to Taiwan and established a democratic state. China and Taiwan have had unstable relations ever since.
Much of the Chinese population remained uneducated and impoverished due to the spread of communism in China. Inept government programs including the implementation of agricultural communes brought about famine and the death of millions. Student protesters were massacred in Tiananmen Square in 1989 because of their desire for modernization and personal liberties.
Most of the industrialized world sanctioned China because of their communist government and its inherent abuse of power and its effects on its people.
Size
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China is the most populated country in the world and one of only five traditional communist governments. China has more than 1.3 billion inhabitants.
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