How Did Mao Zedong and the Communists take over China in 1949 Terms

Why was communism so feared in the west due to the theory that it was a monolithic movement?

(without division, cannot be broken up, large + powerful) Communist states would be natural allies with each other- always join together Key in motivating U.S policy during Cold War- belief that communism was a movement- once it started, other countries would fall(domino effect)

What was the USSR China Treaty of Friendship? How did the U.S respond?

1950- USSR China Treaty of Friendship- Soviets gave millions in financial, military, + technical aid(technology) + each side promised to come to the other's defense if either was attacked U.S responds by doing same thing with Taiwan- gave millions in financial, military, + technical aid(technology) + each side promised to come to the other's defense if either was attacked

Why did the U.S side with Chiang Kai-shek?

Btwn 1946-1949, sent nationalists $2 billion fearing Mao's rising power(on top of $1.5 bil during WWII) Sig: If China had a CR, would become close ally of USSR- neighbors would also become communist(Japan, Korea, Indochina, Singapore, India) Panic motivation that Communism is bad + will spread

Why did China in early 50's + 60's stir fear of communism?

Btwn 1950-51, invaded + took control of Tibet Dalai Lama had to flee to India Chinese troops expanded into southern Mongolia Btwn 1950-53, Mao intervened in Korean War(helped North Koreans bc disliked idea of U.N forces on his border) 1962- China invaded areas of India Loss of China to communism weakened containment strategy in Asia + U.S labeled as a "paper tiger"- harmless threat

Why was a communist victory frightening?

China wasn't simply a poor agrarian state Huge pop.- 500 million people Lot of resources Sig: had potential to be dominant military, economic, + political power in Asia Japan had been defeated after WWII, opening Fear that it would spread throughout Asia

Why was WWII a turning point for China?

During WWII, Japan occupied China Two sides(communists + nationalists) existed during war, but couldn't fight against each other bc allied against Japan After war, Japan defeated + civil war resumes(previously had polarized sides in 1920)

Why were the nationalists defeated in 1949?

Lose even though have manpower advantage(3:1) bc have poor military(many soldiers deserted + sided w/Mao) + political leadership Inflation, backwards economy Many people deserted Nationalist army + peasants sided w/Mao

Why was Chiang-hai-Shek so disapproved of? Where did he go after the communist rev.?

Lost support of middle class bc unable to solve China's economic problems + put down all dissent Goes w/Nationalists to Taiwan to establish the Government for the Republic of China- claimed he was still the ruler of China False bc had no loyalty to him + Chinese mainland is huge + has large pop. + Chiang Hai-shek fled to Taiwan

What did Mao hope to achieve in the 1949 CR?

Mao- wanted to bring communism to an agrarian + feudal country Thought that peasants could act as proletariat 80% of China's pop. lived in rural areas, but in 1930s, 10% of China's pop. owned 70% of the land

How did Mao gain the support of the workers and middle class?

Offered to clean up corruption within gov + fix economic issues Slows rate of inflation Kick Europeans out- Chinese feel threatened by trade + their economic influence

Why was communism so feared in the west on an ideological level?

People feared communism undermined basic principles of Western civilization Democracy, capitalism, religion, family/morals, + faith in individual(people lose incentive to work hard)

Why was communism so feared in the west on a military level?

Soviet expansion into western Europe + rest of world would alter global balance of power Main reason WWII had been fought was to conserve this balance of power

How did Mao gain the support of peasants?

Under Chiang Kai-shek, a lot of corruption + bc of feudal system were war lords, century old problems---> poverty, depression, + brutality by Europeans Offered mass line policy- promises to take care of all immediate demands + needs of masses Redistribute property Reduce rents