A. The Era of Mao Zedong - 1949-1976

In 1949 China emerged from a period of ninety-nine years of war to a new power in the form of Mao Zedong and the Communist Party of China (CPC). Mao emerged victorious after many years of war. He had to fight both the Japanese and the Nationalist Chinese. Chiang Kai-shek, the leader of the Nationalist, had the support of the United States. Mao declared victory on October 1, 1949 proclaiming the new People's Republic of China. The nation was ecstatic and looked forward to a new beginning.

The Chinese people hoped for something better, some peace and possibly, some prosperity. The new regime radically changed the structure of Chinese power and tried to put the power back into the hands of the people. The old warlords and landlords were deposed and the peasants were given land to farm for themselves and the state. The central government asserted itself in every aspect of centralized planning of the nation's economy. It soon asserted itself into the international scene with its intervention in the Korean conflict, and as a result showed the world it was a power to be reckoned with.

Mao felt it necessary to purge the country of those he felt were the enemies of the Party and the people. Mao Zedong believed there must be destruction before there can be construction. Mao also believed that a "correct" thought must precede a new institution. This "destruction" involved destroying and/or discrediting groups and institutions that had ideas contrary to the aims of the Communist party.

In succeeding waves of purges and reforms the people were subjected to "The Great Leap Forward," "The Cultural Revolution" and others. Many millions of Chinese people suffered and many died and uncertainty plagued the land. No one felt safe from the purges. Mao seemed happiest when a campaign was in progress.

At the end of each campaign an old institution and the social group connected with it, such as landlords, urban businessmen, liberal intellectuals, labor unions, and the Christian church were either destroyed or totally discredited.