"Mao Zedong [and] Deng Xiaoping Characters"
http://slideplayer.es/slide/22060/
Mao's Legacy
"Termed as the most controversial figure of China, Mao Zedong was a Chinese communist revolutionary, politician and socio-political theorist. Founder of the People’s Republic of China, he converted the nation into a single-party socialist state, with industry and business being nationalized under state ownership and socialist reforms implemented in all areas of society. He governed the country as Chairman of the Communist Party of China until his death. His Marxist-Leninist ideology, together with his political and military strategies and policies are today known as Maoism."
-The Famous People
"The Leap engendered great enthusiasm around the country, with Chinese in rural and urban areas alike taking part in mass campaigns that were not just economic but cultural and artistic as well. The breakdown of traditional family structures during the Leap helped to redefine women’s roles, stressing their status as workers of equal standing to men."
-Rana Mitter, Modern China: A Century of Revolution
Mao's Pros and Cons | |
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Pros | Cons |
". . . Chinese Communist Revolutionary . . . " | ". . . due to his policies, millions of people died." |
"[Mao] Zedong capitalized the opportunity to serve as the military leader and fought against the Japanese forces." | ". . . Zedong [Mao] who expected positive response was shocked to find harsh criticism and rebuke." |
". . . [Mao] Zedong sought complete control and went into a civil war which ended only in 1949 with the emergence of People’s Republic of China." | "Fearing the loss of control, he crushed millions of folks, tagging them as rightist and imprisoning the rest." |
"Founder of the People's Republic of China . . ." | ". . . agriculture and industrial production . . . turned into a major disaster . . . a famine hit the nation which . . . took lives of about 40 million people." |
". . . converted the nation into a single-party socialist state . . . " | ". . . starvation, forced labour, suicide [,] and execution." |
". . . taking the country on road to development and . . . responsible for the rise of modern China . . ." | ". . . dictator under whose administration human rights [were] abused . . ." |
"He [Mao] uplifted the status of women, promoted education, made healthcare facilities accessible and raised life expectancy." | "The Revolution caused disruption of the traditional heritage of China." |
"He [Mao] promised to provide each of the family [sic] a share of the profits and a small plot of land." | "The groups of young people known as the Red Guards struggled against authorities at all levels of society . . ." |
". . . industry and business being nationalized . . . and socialist reforms implemented . . ." | "Schools were closed during the Cultural Revolution . . ." |
"He [Mao] promptly launched the Cultural Revolution and organized rallies with hundreds of thousands of young supporters." | ". . . millions of people died during Cultural Revolution . . ." |
"He [Mao] governed the country as Chairman of the Communist Party of China until his death." | ". . . responsible for the loss of about 70 million lives . . ." |
"While his supporters honor him for taking the country on road to development and claim him to be responsible for the rise of modern China [,] his critics rebuke him for being a dictator under whose administration human rights abuses were as common as muck. They even think him responsible for the loss of about 70 million lives through starvation, forced labour, suicide [,] and execution."
-The Famous People
Leadership
Leadership is the quality that can lead
people to their goal. It can be found in national
leaders, as well as in theorists, inventors, and the common
people.
"Mao Zedong was one of the historic figures of the twentieth century. A founder of the CCP ([Chinese] Communist Party), he played a major role in the establishment of the Red Army and the development of a defensible base area in Jiangxi province during the late 1920s and early 1930s. He consolidated his rule over the Party in the years after the Long March and directed overall strategy during the Sino-Japanese War and the civil war. He formally assumed the post of Party Chairman in 1945. His reliance on the peasantry (a major departure from prevailing Soviet doctrine) and dependence on guerrilla warfare in the revolution were essential to the Communist triumph in China."
-Asia For Educators. Mao Zedong: Biographical and Political Profile
"Mao Zedong Timeline" | |
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Dates | Events |
"1893" | "-Born Dec 26th, 1893 in Hunan Province -Served in 1911 Chinese Revolution in the Revolutionary Army -1921 Mao is introduced to Marxism while working at Peking University" |
"1921" | "-Mao is one of the founders of the CPC [Communist Party of China] -Follows the ideas of Lenin and the Russian Revolution" |
"1949" | "-Announced on October 1st, 1949: Mao is Chairman -4.9 million members: Workers, peasants, lower-middle class, national-capitalists -90% peasants 'People's democratic dictatorship'" |
"1958" | "-Modernize agriculture and industry: 700 million people placed in communes, 5,000 families in each one -Propaganda was played over speakers and was plastered everywhere -20 million people died: 15 million due to starvation, about 9 million died in 1960" |
"1964" | "-About 427 quotes of Mao's: In every home, school, hotel, factory and university -5 billion copies printed during The Cultural Revolution: 500 different editions" |
"1966" | "-Students and young people: used in support of Mao -Attacked "the Four Olds" Ideas, cultures, manners, customs: anyone with Western or traditional things -Street signs had name changes to revolutionary names (Traffic lights changed, red became go)" |
"1976" | "-Mao Zedong dies September 9th 1976 due to Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) -Mao honored for uniting China, creating [the PRC] and leading one of the greatest social revolutions in history -Mao is also responsible for one of the worst genocides of the 20th Century: 40-70 million dead between Tibet and China" |
Likewise, Mao's leadership during the GLF was ultimately flawed when he rushed straight to the goal of ultimate Communism. This rush cost thirty to forty million lives, and is considered the worst genocide in history. Mao's legacy was darkened with this mass killing of the Chinese. He was forced out as PRC Chairman; on the contrary, he eventually rose back to cause more deaths and suffering. With this in mind, Mao is still significantly honored for liberating China with the establishment of the PRC.
"Mao Zedong continues to be a major force in Chinese political and cultural consciousness. His tomb is still in the political heart of the People's Republic of China, in Tiananmen Square, and his massive portrait still hangs in the square."
-Jeremy A. Murray, History Department, CSU San Bernardino
Deng's Legacy |
"[Deng believed his own legacy was] approximately [thirty] percent negative and [seventy] percent positive."
-Whitney Stewart, Deng Xiaoping: Leader in a Changing China
"[Deng was] merely . . . one of the Communist Party elders, a Long March veteran, [and] a colleague of Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai, and all the other heroes of the party."
-Lucian W. Pye, The Leader in the Shadows: A View of Deng Xiaoping |
"We [the people of China] have given the highest priority to socialist modernization. Our economy has grown more vigorously than ever before and achievements in all areas are acknowledged. Today our people are full of joy and pride."
-Will Lyman. "China: A Century of Revolution"
"China: A Century of Revolution" Part III/(00:08)Narrator: Will Lyman Director: Sue Williams
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"China: A Century of Revolution" Part III/(00:18)Narrator: Will Lyman Director: Sue Williams
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"The times of Mao Zedong was hard; those times were the toughest for the Chinese people. Our family struggled in many difficult situations, such as the famines and revolutions that occurred throughout China. It was a very chaotic time for us . . . Of course, after Mao died, it was getting much better. Everything changed after Deng Xiaoping became leader. Because of Deng Xiaoping, we left China in 1979 and reunited with my husband’s mother who lived in the United States of America. We also heard that in the 1980’s, China let its citizens sell their own crops and build their own businesses. There was no more poorness and starvation since Deng came to power."
-Shui Chow, Retired, 68 years old
People leave their legacies behind after their deaths. Their legacies, whether good or bad, would continue to affect the world for a prolonged period of time. Mao led the Chinese people into the disaster of the GLF, causing millions of deaths, yet his philosophies still live on. Deng, despite leading China out of poverty and into paradise, would continue to be overshadowed by Mao.