-
Beginning of Korean War
In 1950, North Korean forces launched an offensive on South Koreans, which marked the beginning of the 3-year Korean War. Startled by UN victories and fearful of the United States securing a foothold in North Korea, Mao ordered PRC troops to reinforce North Korea. The communist forces launched a successful counterattack, which forced the UN troops to retreat. -
Dragon Attacks
China's People's Liberation Army invaded Tibet after taking the first step toward what had become fifty years of oppression. More than 87,000 were killed in the "Dragon Attacks," and the Dalai Lama, who was the leader of Tibet, eventually seeked political asylum in India, which led to even more conflict between the two nations. -
Hundred Flowers Campaign
Mao Zedong delivered his famous "Hundred Flowers" speech, where he encouraged Chinese citizens to openly express their views on the government. During a massive crackdown just one year later in 1957, citizens who had followed Mao's words of "let a hundred flowers bloom, let a hundred schools of thought contend" were arrested and/or sent to labor camps. -
Great Leap Forward
After the very successful economic restoration that had taken place under "The Five Year Plan" in the early 1950's, the Party leadership headed by Mao Zedong thought it was a perfect time to launch a "Great Leap Forward" for the nation of China. The Great Leap Forward also began because China wanted to prove to the Soviet Union that China's reconstruction of their economy had taken a better, more efficient approach than the Soviet Union had. -
Sino-Soviet Split
The "Sino-Soviet Split" was the gradual worsening of relationships between the Soviet Union and the nation of China. Bad relations started between the two countries as early as the 1930's, and went downhill from there ever since. By 1960, the nations had both started publicly criticizing each other in the press, which ultimately led to the split. -
Cultural Revolution
The Cultural Revolution began in August 1966 when Mao Zedong called for an attempt to purge the nation of China from the "Four Olds"; Old culture, old habits, old ideas, and old customs. This occurred after the Great Leap Forward (1958-1962) headed in the wrong direction and ultimately failed in the end. Mao feared that China was turning into an unprogressive nation, so he reinstated his beliefs by creating the Great Revolution to Create a Proletarian Culture, or Cultural Revolution, for short.
