Maggie,Christina+&+Daniel+-+Chinese+Political+History

Chinese Political History

1. What is communism and how did it begin in China? Communism is a political theory eliminating 'classes' within society, leading it to where all property is publicly owned in the community and each person are employed and paid equally to their abilities and needs. Communism first came into China when Mao Zedong came into power on 10 October, 1949, vowing to create a 'new China'. After the Chinese Civil War (1946 - 1949) and WWII, the Chinese communists under Mao Zedong were able to overtake Chiang Kai Sek and the Guomingdang (the Chinese Nationalist Party).

2. Who is Chairman Mao? Mao Zedong (Chairman Mao), born in 1893, December 26, dying in 1976, September 9, was a Chinese Communist revolutionary, a Marxist political philosopher, guerrilla warfare strategist and the leader of the Chinese Revolution. Being the founder and architect of the People's Republic of China (PRC) from its establishment in 1949, Chairman Mao is very well known for introducing Communism to China, creating significant changes to China's political history.

3. What was life like for the Chinese people between 1930 - 1980? Life for the Chinese between 1930 - 1980 was litted with times of strife and harsh poverty. Due to the introduction of communism by Chairman Maos' dictatoship, the living standard of China lowered dramatically. Due to the scarcity of various resources in China, everything had to be thinly rationed to each person. This ration was far below what is required for a healthy lifestyle, leading to widespread disease and a high rate of mortality. 4. What is The Long March? The Long March was a massive retreat by the three Red Armies of China between the years 1934 and 1936, taking place during the Chinese Civil War. The Chinese Communist forces were threatened by the Nationalist Kuomintang and fled west and north. The Red Armies set out in October 1934 with 85, 000 troops from their base in Jiangxi Province in southern China, from where they marched 8, 000 miles through difficult terrain on a route that ended in Shaanxi. The Long March helped Mao Zedong's position as the leader of the Communist forces. Only 7, 000 made it to Shaanxi, and was therefore catastrophic in terms of human loss.

5. What was the ruling structure in China before communism? Before communism took over China, emperors ruled the country. The last dynasty was the Qing Dynasty, which began in 1644 and ended in 1912. The empower was the only person permitted to wear yellow, and lived in the forbidden city. The emperor overlook many decisions, etc. Under him were his wives and children. Underneath them were the councilmen and noblemen. Scholars came under them, then peasants, craftsmen, and merchants.

6. Outline historical Chinese achievements. Many of China's historical achievements have comprised of cultural and political achievements for example the Great Wall of China, however some of the most notable achievements that have originated from China have been the inventions that have been breakthroughs in the modern world. Some of these inventions include porcelain, the abacus and the mechanical clock as well as the four great inventions which are the compass, gunpowder, papermaking and printing. The Chinese also made significant advances in the fields of science, technology, mathematics and astronomy. These innovations and discoveries have progressed the world in terms of new improvements and advances.

7. How has China changed today? What is life like in China now? Whilst there are still many people living in the country today in China, the majority of Chinese citizens reside in major cities such as Beijing, Guangzhou, and Shanghai. The development of technology has also resulted in an increase of transportation. Nowadays, it is rare for someone to see a clear blue sky not littered with gases in the atmosphere. These days, China has become a superpower country. Even though they have kept their communism, they have opened up a bit more to the world, by trading with many countries, and developing relationships with others. Life in China today is a lot more different to ancient China. Whilst families used to have up to 13 children, each family is only permitted to have 1 child now, due to the population expanding too quickly to retain sustainability.