POLITICAL setbacks
With a new government instated, Mao Zedong was bound to bring prosperity to China. However, his strict political campaigns that were launched throughout the 1900's has drastically declined China's growth by the lives of people he negatively affected.
The Cultural Revolution
In 1966, Mao launched the Cultural Revolution to establish equality between the people of China. High school and college students who left their classrooms for a militia unit were commonly known as Red Guards. Working with the government, they targeted anyone who seemed to have “special privileges.” Once the Cultural Revolution was inaugurated, Mao aimed to eliminate old traditions of Chinese culture, such as literature and religion. As a result of Mao's imperious campaign, his domineering hand led to the deterioration of Chinese culture and their faith towards Communism.
Although the ideas driving the Cultural Revolution would seem to contribute in transforming Chinese society, their approach in executing this goal ended up working in the opposite direction. Correspondingly, China was operating under a weak system where Chinese civilians were prosecuted for their status in society. Considering Mao's ineffective political proposal, the people were losing their faith in Communism. In this event, Mao could not successfully reform Chinese culture but significantly left their society with many obstacles.
Although the ideas driving the Cultural Revolution would seem to contribute in transforming Chinese society, their approach in executing this goal ended up working in the opposite direction. Correspondingly, China was operating under a weak system where Chinese civilians were prosecuted for their status in society. Considering Mao's ineffective political proposal, the people were losing their faith in Communism. In this event, Mao could not successfully reform Chinese culture but significantly left their society with many obstacles.
The sunlight of Mao Zedong illuminates the road of the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution (above, 1966).
March on amid the great storms following the leadership of Chairman Mao (below, 1969). Both were published by the Shanghai People's Fine Arts Publishing House Propaganda Group. |
As the main influencer in China at the time, Mao came to dominate the propaganda art during the first half of the Cultural Revolution. In a number of cases, identical posters dedicated to Mao were published in different years bearing different slogans so he could serve different propaganda causes. Mao's portrait would typically be found in common households and portrayed as a God-like figure. However, unlike the image on the right, resources were scarce due to closed factories and many civilians were living in fear due to the persecution and consequences of those who possessed any bourgeois values. The images on the left idolizes Mao's leadership and their efforts to advance the Cultural Revolution. Throughout this campaign, propaganda existed to benefit Mao's unsuccessful cause.
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Xin Liliang demonstrates the happy life that Mao Zedong has given them. This propaganda art reveals a spacious home, an abundance of food and long with three healthy children.
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The Red Guards were young people who were committed to Mao's doctrines and remained active throughout the Cultural Revolution. They followed the “Little Red Book ” which compiled a collection of Mao's writings and speeches. This popular book was considered a necessity since it was a source of propaganda to disrupt government operations. Essentially, the Red Guards were guided by the "Little Red Book" to eliminate schools, factories, farms and state institutions.
Propaganda was popular throughout the Cultural Revolution and common among posters, literature and even through radio stations. Mao mislead the Red Guards due to the fact that this event caused many complications. From this campaign, developed economical and social hardships that only impaired China's growth.
Propaganda was popular throughout the Cultural Revolution and common among posters, literature and even through radio stations. Mao mislead the Red Guards due to the fact that this event caused many complications. From this campaign, developed economical and social hardships that only impaired China's growth.
How did mao impact china? for better or worse?
Due to Mao’s failed attempt to modernize China’s society, his political stance and the entire Communist Party were being questioned by Chinese society. Mao’s decisions on reforming Chinese culture were likely what hurt him the most: The ideas Mao had were not all bad, but the unjust way he went about them is what ended up leading to the questioning of Communism and Mao Zedong.
The long march
Pictured above is Mao Zedong and other men/women during the Long March.
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China was rooted between either the Nationalists or the Communists to witness which victorious political power would lead a country that was riddled with instability and weakness. During the bloody civil war between these opposing superpowers, the Long March in 1933 emerged as a detrimental effect on the Communists because of the lives they lost. In an attempt to finally end the civil war, Jiang Jieshi surrounded Mao’s Red Army with 700,000 men, outnumbering Mao’s from six to one.
Mao’s persistence to fight in the hills of the countryside did not help build his otherwise strong military character. As a result, his army was unprepared for the disastrous endeavor that followed. At the time, many people threw their faith towards the Communists, yet the Nationalists continued to have a considerable advantage over them. |
After they fled and escaped possible death, they faced worse conditions during their expedition back to their safety base in northwestern China. Besides the major battles fought between contact with Jiang Jieshi’s persistent forces, the Red Army trekked through rivers, mountains, marshes and swampland. For over the next year, the Red Army travelled a 6,000 mile long journey which resulted in approximately 50,000 deaths.
This brutal march to Yenan brought many hardships upon these foot soldier. Despite the guerilla warfare that was taught to the soldiers, they were busy surviving under harsh conditions. The efforts Mao brought wasn’t enough to support the army that was perishing under his administration. |
The dark line that expands throughout China is the area covered by the Red Army during this treacherous journey.
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How did mao impact china? for better or worse?
Although Mao rightfully earned his nickname, “The Great Helmsman,” the Long March was an event that contradicted his impressive military skills. Out of this battle between the Nationalists and the Communists, Mao managed to create a greater obstacle by creating a grueling journey that brought a year of pain and death. During this time of great chaos, Mao only contributed to it by being responsible for 50,000 deaths. This not only questions Mao's credibility and his title it explains and shows how Mao impacted China in a serious, deathly matter.