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Mao Zedong is Born
On December 26, 1893, Mao Zedong was born on this day, in South-Central China. Unlike many other Chinese leaders of the 20th century, Mao was born 600 miles inland, rather than along the coast.
Poole p. 2 & p. 10
"Mao Zedong" -
Mao Put to Work in the Feilds
In 1898, at age 5, Mao Zedong was put to work in the fields of Shaoshan. Boys in his area had to wait until age seven to start their schooling, so this was Mao's life for 2 years. Working in child labor probably had some significant effect on him later in life.
Commire p. 1
Gale Biography -
Titanic hits Iceberg and Sinks
The titanic was at one point known to the world as "Unsinkable", and the largest boat of all time. This title was challenged on April 14, 1912, when the ship struck an iceberg on its first voyage. The next day, the ship sank, killing 1,500 people on board.
Rosenberg, p.1
ThoughtyCo -
Mao Studies at Provincial Teacher's Training College
From 1913, Mao spent this time studying at the Provincial Teacher's Training College in Changsha. He would study at this school until 1918. Here, he learned from Western works as well as radical Chinese works from the "New Culture Movement". Before his death, Mao stated that he wanted to be remembered as a teacher more than anything.
Commire p.1
Gale Biography -
Ford Opens Factory to Manufacture Model Ts
On December 1st, 1913, Henry Ford opened a factory in Highland, Michigan. The factory's purpose was to assemble and produce Model T's using the assembly line. Although he had already invented the Model T, this was the first use of the assembly line to mass produce a product.
p. 1
Thouhgtyco.com -
Czar Nicolas II and Family Executed
At 2 am on July 16, 1918, the Czar and his family were woken up and directed to move to the basement. After they arrived, eleven drunk men with bayonets and guns began to shoot at them. The czar and his wife died almost immediately. The children, however, were not killed outright. The men finished them off with bayonets and more shooting, which in total, took about 20 minutes.
Daniels, p.1
Thoughtyco.com -
Beginning of "Northern Expedition"
The Northern Expedition of the Chinese Communist Party began in 1926. This movement was immediately successful. The communists were able to gain lots of traction due to propaganda and their alliance with the KGB. The KGB's military power was very enticing to urban citizens.
Commire p. 1
Gale Biography -
Mao Moves Peasants to Hunani Mountains
In March of 1927 there was a massacre of Chinese radicals in Hunan. Mao had come back to Hunan just before the massacre, but he was able to survive. In July of the same year, he led a group of peasants to the mountains in order to establish a base.He had grown up reading romantic novels about leaders outlaw-groups, and this is the role that he began to play.
Poole p.22
"Mao Zedong" -
Flight from Base #1
In 1934, Mao and his subordinates were driven from their base in the mountains of Southern Hunan. The communists had to walk North to the province of Yenan to form another base. This migration covered 6,000 miles, and took about a year.
Commire p.1
Galegroup.com -
China Becomes a Theater of WWII
The Japanese started attacking China in 1895, and expanded their territory over many years. In 1937, the conflict between the rival nations escalated fully, and the Sino-Japanese war was started. In 1941, after Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, China was, by proxy, pushed into World War II and made a theater in the international conflict. -
Mao Officially Founds the Republic of China
There was great fighting between the Chinese KTB and the Communist party throughout the first half of the 20th century. In October of 1949, however, the conflict came to an end. Despite the KTB's superior weapons and American support, Mao's Communist party had the will of the peasants and good organization, which ultimately lead to their victory. In October of 1949, Mao officially founded the Republic of China, stating that the Chinese people had "stood up."
Commire p.1
Gale -
Korean War is Started
The Korean war began when 75,000 North Korean soldiers rushed into South Korea, invading the country. The South was given support from America and the North was supported by China. Although it only lasted about a year, the Korean War was the first military action taken during the Cold War, and its effects can still be seen today. South Korea gained 1,500 square miles of land from the ordeal, and there is a 2 mile wide DMZ still around to this day.
History.com Editors, p.1
History.com -
Mao starts the "Great Leap Forward"
In 1954, Mao began what he called the, "Great Leap Forward". This included a number of economic experiments, which were ill-advised.These plans put more emphasis on human will and mass-participation than planning, which turned out horribly. When this movement failed, causing mass death, many members of the Communist Party worked to lower Mao's power.
Commire p.1
Gale -
John F. Kennedy Inaugurated
After winning the 1960 presidential election, John F Kennedy was inaugurated on January 20, 1961. His campaign promised to "get this country moving again", and unsurprisingly, hope for a better future. His inaugural address went over current topics such as the Communist threat, a nuclear arms race, racial unrest, and economic distress. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
On October 22, 1962, President John F Kennedy denounced the Soviet Union for installing secret missile bases in Cuba. He ordered a blockade of the entire island, which caused immense tension between the Soviet Union and the USA. The threat of nuclear holocaust loomed over the heads of every American for just under a month, as the crisis ended on November 20th.
Infoplease editors p.1
Infoplease.com -
Mao Dies
Mao Zedong lived a long life, from 1893 to 1976. In his lifetime, he went from an insignificant farm-raised child to a murderous dictator. Although his actions were unforgivable, if there is one thing to be learned from Mao's life, it is that absolute power corrupts absolutely. Mao suffered from a heart attack on September 9, 1976, and after his death, the right-wing faction took control over China.
Amsel p. 99
"China"
