Changes

The Japanese devastated China during World War II.  The Nationalist Chinese led by Chiang Kai-shek received aid from the United States to fight against the Japanese, but in reality they needed that money to prepare for civil war against the communists led by Mao Zedong.  After the war, the communists  attempted to conquer the Nationalists.  Civil war raged from 1946 to 1949.  Due to many desertions by soldiers from the Nationalist army to the communists, Mao prevailed by October 1949.  Mao had promised land for the peasants and renamed the country the People’s Republic of China.  Chiang fled with Nationalists to the island of Formosa, and renamed it the Republic of China (Taiwan), which the United States supported.  By February 1950, the communists in the Soviet Union signed a friendship pact with the Chinese communists.  Fear gripped the free world.

The Japanese devastated China during World War II.  The Nationalist Chinese led by Chiang Kai-shek received aid from the United States to fight against the Japanese, but in reality they needed that money to prepare for civil war against the communists led by Mao Zedong.  After the war, the communists  attempted to conquer the Nationalists.  Civil war raged from 1946 to 1949.  Due to many desertions by soldiers from the Nationalist army to the communists, Mao prevailed by October 1949.  Mao had promised land for the peasants and renamed the country the People’s Republic of China.  Chiang fled with Nationalists to the island of Formosa, and renamed it the Republic of China (Taiwan), which the United States supported.  By February 1950, the communists in the Soviet Union signed a friendship pact with the Chinese communists.  Fear gripped the free world.

Chairman Mao quickly extended communist control to Inner Mongolia and Tibet in 1950-51, causing the Daili Lama to flee to India in 1959.  Tibet attempted a revolution that year, but the Chinese brutally repressed the revolution and Buddhism.  India received many refugees and, after a 1962 border dispute, has been on tense terms with China ever since.

Chairman Mao quickly extended communist control to Inner Mongolia and Tibet in 1950-51, causing the Dalai Lama to flee to India in 1959.  Tibet attempted a revolution that year, but the Chinese brutally repressed the revolution and Buddhism.  India received many refugees and, after a 1962 border dispute, has been on tense terms with China ever since.

Life under Chairman Mao included an Agrarian Land Reform Law of 1950, when Mao seized property and distributed it to peasants, and a policy of forcing peasants to work on collective farms from 1952 to 1957.  Women were treated like men.  Mao imitated the five-year plans of the communist Soviet Union.

Life under Chairman Mao included an Agrarian Land Reform Law of 1950, when Mao seized property and distributed it to peasants, and a policy of forcing peasants to work on collective farms from 1952 to 1957.  Women were treated like men.  Mao imitated the five-year plans of the communist Soviet Union.