To What Extent Was Mao’s Rise to Power a Result of Kmt Weakness? Essay Example
To what extent was Mao’s rise to power a result of KMT weakness?
One of the most important leaders of China during the 20th century, Mao Zedong remained in power from 1949, right after winning the Civil War, until his death, in 1976, becoming the country’s longest serving leader and establishing the political and economic structure that has remained in place until today: the People’s Republic of China. It is essential to point out that Mao’s rise to power was due not only to the existent social, economic and military weaknesses of the opposition, but also, most importantly, due to the strengths within the communist party. Examples of these contributing factors include the corruption inside Chiang Kai Shek’s Nationalist Party, contrasting with one of Mao’s major strengths: the communists’ discipline and ideology, which, together with his increasing support throughout the peasant population - which differed from KMT’s decreasing popularity - and successful guerrilla tactics, helped him to guide the CPC towards victory in the civil war and set up a new China. To begin with, Mao’s rise to power can be largely attributed to the Nationalists’ failure in gathering popular support. This was a consequence of the lack of help given to the peasants, which represented 95% of the population, and, for example, were negatively affected by the high land taxes which were not reduced, and were the group most badly hit by the conscription policies, introduced by Jiang in 1941. Not only this, the KMC lost its main base of support, the middle class in the cities, due to its inefficiency of containing the hyperinflation and food shortages, leading to a collapse in the public order and presenting devastating impacts on the inner cities’ inhabitants. In the other hand, the Communists under Mao’s leadership always showed deep concerns towards peasant issues, such as in the introduction of the ‘Land Law’, giving land for the peasantry and offering rent, tax reduction and, above all,
One of the most important leaders of China during the 20th century, Mao Zedong remained in power from 1949, right after winning the Civil War, until his death, in 1976, becoming the country’s longest serving leader and establishing the political and economic structure that has remained in place until today: the People’s Republic of China. It is essential to point out that Mao’s rise to power was due not only to the existent social, economic and military weaknesses of the opposition, but also, most importantly, due to the strengths within the communist party. Examples of these contributing factors include the corruption inside Chiang Kai Shek’s Nationalist Party, contrasting with one of Mao’s major strengths: the communists’ discipline and ideology, which, together with his increasing support throughout the peasant population - which differed from KMT’s decreasing popularity - and successful guerrilla tactics, helped him to guide the CPC towards victory in the civil war and set up a new China. To begin with, Mao’s rise to power can be largely attributed to the Nationalists’ failure in gathering popular support. This was a consequence of the lack of help given to the peasants, which represented 95% of the population, and, for example, were negatively affected by the high land taxes which were not reduced, and were the group most badly hit by the conscription policies, introduced by Jiang in 1941. Not only this, the KMC lost its main base of support, the middle class in the cities, due to its inefficiency of containing the hyperinflation and food shortages, leading to a collapse in the public order and presenting devastating impacts on the inner cities’ inhabitants. In the other hand, the Communists under Mao’s leadership always showed deep concerns towards peasant issues, such as in the introduction of the ‘Land Law’, giving land for the peasantry and offering rent, tax reduction and, above all,