Mao Zedong: Difference between revisions
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==Villainy== | ==Villainy== | ||
The People's Republic of China was established on October 1, 1949. It was the culmination of over two decades of civil and international wars. From 1943 to 1976, Mao was the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chairman_of_the_Communist_Party_of_China Chairman of the Communist Party of China]. During this period, Mao was called Chairman Mao (毛主席, ''Máo Zhǔxí'') or the Great Leader Chairman Mao (伟大领袖毛主席, ''Wěidà Lǐngxiù Máo Zhǔxí''). Mao famously announced: "The Chinese people have stood up." | The People's Republic of China was established on October 1, 1949. It was the culmination of over two decades of civil and international wars. From 1943 to 1976, Mao was the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chairman_of_the_Communist_Party_of_China Chairman of the Communist Party of China]. During this period, Mao was called Chairman Mao (毛主席, ''Máo Zhǔxí'') or the Great Leader Chairman Mao (伟大领袖毛主席, ''Wěidà Lǐngxiù Máo Zhǔxí''). Mao famously announced: "The Chinese people have stood up." | ||
Mao took up residence in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhongnanhai Zhongnanhai], a compound next to the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forbidden_City Forbidden City] in Beijing, and there he ordered the construction of an indoor swimming pool and other buildings. Mao's physician [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Li_Zhisui Li Zhisui] described him as conducting business either in bed or by the side of the pool, preferring not to wear formal clothes unless absolutely necessary. | Mao took up residence in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhongnanhai Zhongnanhai], a compound next to the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forbidden_City Forbidden City] in Beijing, and there he ordered the construction of an indoor swimming pool and other buildings. Mao's physician [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Li_Zhisui Li Zhisui] described him as conducting business either in bed or by the side of the pool, preferring not to wear formal clothes unless absolutely necessary. Li's book, ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Private_Life_of_Chairman_Mao The Private Life of Chairman Mao]'', is regarded as controversial, especially by those sympathetic to Mao. | ||
In October 1950, Mao made the decision to send the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People%27s_Volunteer_Army People's Volunteer Army] into Korea and fight against the United Nations forces led by the U.S. Historical records showed that Mao directed the PVA campaigns in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_War Korean War] to the minute details | In October 1950, Mao made the decision to send the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People%27s_Volunteer_Army People's Volunteer Army] into Korea and fight against the United Nations forces led by the U.S. Historical records showed that Mao directed the PVA campaigns in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_War Korean War] to the minute details<span style="font-size:11px;line-height:0px;">.</span> | ||
Along with [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three-anti_and_Five-anti_Campaigns land reform], during which significant numbers of landlords and well-to-do peasants were beaten to death at mass meetings organized by the Communist Party as land was taken from them and given to poorer peasants, | Along with [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three-anti_and_Five-anti_Campaigns land reform], during which significant numbers of landlords and well-to-do peasants were beaten to death at mass meetings organized by the Communist Party as land was taken from them and given to poorer peasants, there was also the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Campaign_to_Suppress_Counterrevolutionaries Campaign to Suppress Counterrevolutionaries], which involved public executions targeting mainly former Kuomintang officials, businessmen accused of "disturbing" the market, former employees of Western companies and intellectuals whose loyalty was suspect. The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Department_of_State U.S. State department] in 1976 estimated that there may have been a million killed in the land reform, and 800,000 killed in the counterrevolutionary campaign. | ||
Mao himself claimed that a total of 700,000 people were killed in attacks on "counter-revolutionaries" during the years 1950–52. | Mao himself claimed that a total of 700,000 people were killed in attacks on "counter-revolutionaries" during the years 1950–52. However, because there was a policy to select "at least one landlord, and usually several, in virtually every village for public execution",<span style="font-size:11px;line-height:0px;"> </span>the number of deaths range between 2 million and 5 million. In addition, at least 1.5 million people,<span style="font-size:11px;line-height:0px;"> </span>perhaps as many as 4 to 6 million, were sent to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laogai "reform through labour"] camps where many perished. Mao played a personal role in organizing the mass repressions and established a system of execution quotas, which were often exceeded. He defended these killings as necessary for the securing of power. | ||
Starting in 1951, Mao initiated two successive movements in an effort to rid urban areas of corruption by targeting wealthy capitalists and political opponents, known as the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three-anti/five-anti_campaigns three-anti/five-anti campaigns]. While the three-anti campaign was a focused purge of government, industrial and party officials, the five-anti campaign set its sights slightly broader, targeting capitalist elements in general.< | Starting in 1951, Mao initiated two successive movements in an effort to rid urban areas of corruption by targeting wealthy capitalists and political opponents, known as the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three-anti/five-anti_campaigns three-anti/five-anti campaigns]. While the three-anti campaign was a focused purge of government, industrial and party officials, the five-anti campaign set its sights slightly broader, targeting capitalist elements in general.<span style="font-size:11px;line-height:0px;"> </span>A climate of raw terror developed as workers denounced their bosses, spouses turned on their spouses, and children informed on their parents; the victims often were humiliated at [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Struggle_Session struggle sessions], a method designed to intimidate and terrify people to the maximum. Mao insisted that minor offenders be criticized and reformed or sent to labor camps, "while the worst among them should be shot." These campaigns took several hundred thousand additional lives, the vast majority via suicide. | ||
In Shanghai, suicide by jumping from tall buildings became so commonplace that residents avoided walking on the pavement near skyscrapers for fear that suicides might land on them. | In Shanghai, suicide by jumping from tall buildings became so commonplace that residents avoided walking on the pavement near skyscrapers for fear that suicides might land on them. Some biographers have pointed out that driving those perceived as enemies to suicide was a common tactic during the Mao-era. For example, in his biography of Mao, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Short Philip Short] notes that in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yan%27an_Rectification_Movement Yan'an Rectification Movement], Mao gave explicit instructions that "no cadre is to be killed," but in practice allowed security chief [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kang_Sheng Kang Sheng] to drive opponents to suicide and that "this pattern was repeated throughout his leadership of the People's Republic." | ||
Following the consolidation of power, Mao launched the First [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five-year_plans_of_the_People%27s_Republic_of_China Five-Year Plan] (1953–58). The plan aimed to end Chinese dependence upon agriculture in order to become a world power. With the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_Union Soviet Union]'s assistance, new industrial plants were built and agricultural production eventually fell to a point where industry was beginning to produce enough capital that China no longer needed the USSR's support. The success of the First-Five Year Plan was to encourage Mao to instigate the Second [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five-year_plans_of_the_People%27s_Republic_of_China Five-Year Plan], the Great Leap Forward, in 1958. Mao also launched a phase of rapid [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collectivization collectivization]. The CPC introduced price controls as well as a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simplified_Chinese_character Chinese character simplification] aimed at increasing literacy. Large-scale industrialization projects were also undertaken. | Following the consolidation of power, Mao launched the First [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five-year_plans_of_the_People%27s_Republic_of_China Five-Year Plan] (1953–58). The plan aimed to end Chinese dependence upon agriculture in order to become a world power. With the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_Union Soviet Union]'s assistance, new industrial plants were built and agricultural production eventually fell to a point where industry was beginning to produce enough capital that China no longer needed the USSR's support. The success of the First-Five Year Plan was to encourage Mao to instigate the Second [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five-year_plans_of_the_People%27s_Republic_of_China Five-Year Plan], the Great Leap Forward, in 1958. Mao also launched a phase of rapid [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collectivization collectivization]. The CPC introduced price controls as well as a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simplified_Chinese_character Chinese character simplification] aimed at increasing literacy. Large-scale industrialization projects were also undertaken. | ||
Programs pursued during this time include the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hundred_Flowers_Campaign Hundred Flowers Campaign], in which Mao indicated his supposed willingness to consider different opinions about how China should be governed. Given the freedom to express themselves, liberal and intellectual Chinese began opposing the Communist Party and questioning its leadership. This was initially tolerated and encouraged. After a few months, Mao's government reversed its policy and persecuted those, totalling perhaps 500,000<sup class="Template-Fact" style="white-space:nowrap;">[''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed citation needed]'']</sup>, who criticized, as well as those who were merely alleged to have criticized, the party in what is called the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-Rightist_Movement Anti-Rightist Movement]. Authors such as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jung_Chang Jung Chang] have alleged that the Hundred Flowers Campaign was merely a ruse to root out "dangerous" thinking.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-181">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mao_Zedong#cite_note-181 [ | Programs pursued during this time include the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hundred_Flowers_Campaign Hundred Flowers Campaign], in which Mao indicated his supposed willingness to consider different opinions about how China should be governed. Given the freedom to express themselves, liberal and intellectual Chinese began opposing the Communist Party and questioning its leadership. This was initially tolerated and encouraged. After a few months, Mao's government reversed its policy and persecuted those, totalling perhaps 500,000<sup class="Template-Fact" style="white-space:nowrap;">[''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed citation needed]'']</sup>, who criticized, as well as those who were merely alleged to have criticized, the party in what is called the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-Rightist_Movement Anti-Rightist Movement]. Authors such as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jung_Chang Jung Chang] have alleged that the Hundred Flowers Campaign was merely a ruse to root out "dangerous" thinking.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-181">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mao_Zedong#cite_note-181 []</sup> | ||
Li Zhisui, Mao's physician, suggested that Mao had initially seen the policy as a way of weakening those within his party who opposed him and was surprised by the extent of criticism and the fact that it began to be directed at his own leadership. | Li Zhisui, Mao's physician, suggested that Mao had initially seen the policy as a way of weakening those within his party who opposed him and was surprised by the extent of criticism and the fact that it began to be directed at his own leadership. It was only then that he used it as a method of identifying and subsequently persecuting those critical of his government. The Hundred Flowers movement led to the condemnation, silencing, and death of many citizens, also linked to Mao's Anti-Rightist Movement, with death tolls possibly in the millions. | ||
===Great Leap Forward=== | ===Great Leap Forward=== | ||
In January 1958, Mao Zedong launched the second [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five-year_plans_of_the_People%27s_Republic_of_China Five-Year Plan], known as the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Leap_Forward Great Leap Forward], a plan intended as an alternative model for economic growth to the Soviet model focusing on heavy industry that was advocated by others in the party. Under this economic program, the relatively small agricultural collectives which had been formed to date were rapidly merged into far larger [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People%27s_commune people's communes], and many of the peasants were ordered to work on massive infrastructure projects and on the production of iron and steel. Some private food production was banned; livestock and farm implements were brought under collective ownership. | In January 1958, Mao Zedong launched the second [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five-year_plans_of_the_People%27s_Republic_of_China Five-Year Plan], known as the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Leap_Forward Great Leap Forward], a plan intended as an alternative model for economic growth to the Soviet model focusing on heavy industry that was advocated by others in the party. Under this economic program, the relatively small agricultural collectives which had been formed to date were rapidly merged into far larger [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People%27s_commune people's communes], and many of the peasants were ordered to work on massive infrastructure projects and on the production of iron and steel. Some private food production was banned; livestock and farm implements were brought under collective ownership. | ||
Under the Great Leap Forward, Mao and other party leaders ordered the implementation of a variety of unproven and unscientific new agricultural techniques by the new communes. Combined with the diversion of labor to steel production and infrastructure projects, these projects combined with cyclical [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_disasters natural disasters] led to an approximately 15% drop in grain production in 1959 followed by a further 10% decline in 1960 and no recovery in 1961. | Under the Great Leap Forward, Mao and other party leaders ordered the implementation of a variety of unproven and unscientific new agricultural techniques by the new communes. Combined with the diversion of labor to steel production and infrastructure projects, these projects combined with cyclical [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_disasters natural disasters] led to an approximately 15% drop in grain production in 1959 followed by a further 10% decline in 1960 and no recovery in 1961. | ||
In an effort to win favor with their superiors and avoid being purged, each layer in the party hierarchy exaggerated the amount of grain produced under them. Based upon the fabricated success, party cadres were ordered to requisition a disproportionately high amount of the true harvest for state use, primarily in the cities and urban areas but also for export. The net result, which was compounded in some areas by drought and in others by floods, left rural peasants with little food for themselves and many millions starved to death in the largest [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Famine famine] known as the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Chinese_Famine Great Chinese Famine]. This famine was a direct cause of the death of some 30 million Chinese peasants between 1959 and 1962 and about the same number of births were lost or postponed.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-184">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mao_Zedong#cite_note-184 [184]]</sup> Further, many children who became emaciated and malnourished during years of hardship and struggle for survival died shortly after the Great Leap Forward came to an end in 1962.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Spence1999_p553_183-1">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mao_Zedong#cite_note-Spence1999_p553-183 [183]]</sup> | In an effort to win favor with their superiors and avoid being purged, each layer in the party hierarchy exaggerated the amount of grain produced under them. Based upon the fabricated success, party cadres were ordered to requisition a disproportionately high amount of the true harvest for state use, primarily in the cities and urban areas but also for export. The net result, which was compounded in some areas by drought and in others by floods, left rural peasants with little food for themselves and many millions starved to death in the largest [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Famine famine] known as the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Chinese_Famine Great Chinese Famine]. This famine was a direct cause of the death of some 30 million Chinese peasants between 1959 and 1962 and about the same number of births were lost or postponed.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-184">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mao_Zedong#cite_note-184 [184]]</sup> Further, many children who became emaciated and malnourished during years of hardship and struggle for survival died shortly after the Great Leap Forward came to an end in 1962.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Spence1999_p553_183-1">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mao_Zedong#cite_note-Spence1999_p553-183 [183]]</sup> | ||