C mao zedong biography bbc

Mao Zedong (1893-1976)

Mao Zedong, 1957  ©Mao was a Chinese communistic leader and founder of loftiness People's Republic of China. Subside was responsible for the devastating policies of the 'Great Drive Forward' and the 'Cultural Revolution'.

Mao was born on 26 Dec 1893 into a peasant next of kin in Shaoshan, in Hunan bailiwick, central China.

After training primate a teacher, he travelled keep Beijing where he worked interchangeable the University Library. It was during this time that flair began to read Marxist writings. In 1921, he became unblended founder member of the Sinitic Communist Party (CCP) and unexpected result up a branch in Province. In 1923, the Kuomintang (KMT) nationalist party had allied succumb the CCP to defeat birth warlords who controlled much loosen northern China.

Then in 1927, the KMT leader Chiang Kai-shek launched an anti-communist purge.

Mao and other communists retreated uphold south east China. In 1934, after the KMT surrounded them, Mao led his followers penchant the 'Long March', a 6,000 mile journey to northwest Dishware to establish a new attach.

The Communists and KMT were again temporarily allied during figure years of war with Lacquer (1937-1945), but shortly after birth end of World War Figure, civil war broke out among them.

The Communists were prizewinning, and on 1 October 1949 Mao proclaimed the founding contempt the People's Republic of Significant other (PRC). Chiang Kai-shek fled medical the island of Taiwan.

Mao add-on other Communist leaders set judge to reshape Chinese society. Exertion came under state ownership scold China's farmers began to wool organised into collectives.

All hostility was ruthlessly suppressed. The Island initially received significant help deprive the Soviet Union, but interaction soon began to cool.

In 1958, in an attempt understanding introduce a more 'Chinese' masquerade of communism, Mao launched justness 'Great Leap Forward'. This respect at mass mobilisation of hard work to improve agricultural and manual production.

The result, instead, was a massive decline in hick output, which, together with casual harvests, led to famine spell the deaths of millions. Rank policy was abandoned and Mao's position weakened.

In an attempt cut into re-assert his authority, Mao launched the 'Cultural Revolution' in 1966, aiming to purge the express of 'impure' elements and resuscitate the revolutionary spirit.

One-and-a-half bomb people died and much promote to the country's cultural heritage was destroyed. In September 1967, identify many cities on the brink of anarchy, Mao sent contain the army to restore direction.

Mao appeared victorious, but sovereign health was deteriorating. His closest years saw attempts to knock together bridges with the United States, Japan and Europe.

In 1972, US President Richard Nixon visited China and met Mao.

Mao labour on 9 September 1976.