Mao Zedong, or commonly referred to as Chairman Mao, is one of the most influential and powerful figures in modern Chinese history. Since 1949, Mao Zedong has held an unassailable position in China, being not just the Chairman of the Chinese Communist Party, but also the leader of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). Mao Zedong is responsible for a variety of reforms which transformed modern China, some successful, and some controversial. In this essay, we will cover the rise of Mao Zedong, from his early political life to his eventual ascension to power in 1949.
Mao Zedong was born on December 26, 1893, to a peasant family in Shaoshan, Hunan Province, in central China. Born into poverty and the Confucian ways of his forefathers, Mao had little opportunity to impose himself on the world beyond his village. However, after developing an interest in politics, he studied and read extensively on revolutionary theories, eventually joining the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in 1921. With his strong commitment to the party, Mao gained popularity amongst other members and quickly made a name for himself.
In the same year, Mao began his ascent to power by forming a CCP base in Changsha, the capital city of Hunan province. Under his command, thousands of people joined the party and he became a powerful figure in the city’s communist movement. He soon established a network of military and political contacts throughout the province, enabling him to protect rural peasants from oppressive landowners. His success in Changsha attracted the attention of Moscow, who began to send him funds and supplies.
In 1923, Mao was appointed to the CCP’s Central Committee and was given responsibility for organizing military campaigns, a task for which he proved highly capable. As leader of the first Red Army, he led a series of raids against Nationalist forces in Jiangxi and Fujian Provinces, eventually conquering these regions. During this period, Mao developed a unique militancy and also established an impressive network of political allies in these newly conquered provinces.
In 1934, Mao conducted the legendary Long March, in which he and 90,000 of his troops embarked on a 10,000-mile journey to Yan’an, a remote mountain town in northern China. This 6,000-mile trek lasted for over a year and is remembered today as one of the most important events in Chinese history. Along the way, Mao reached out to the masses, encouraging them to join his cause, and establishing close ties with local warlords, as well as the northern provinces. By the time the Long March had come to an end, Mao was widely regarded as the “leader of the revolution”.
Throughout the 1930s and 1940s, Mao and the CCP engaged in what came to be known as “the War of Resistance Against Japan”. During this period, Mao used guerrilla warfare tactics and formed alliances with non-communists, nationwide. Meanwhile, the Nationalists under Chiang Kai-shek were driven out of mainland China and were based in Taiwan.
By late 1945, the Chinese Civil War was in full force. During the following three years, Mao led the CCP forces in a series of successful campaigns, eventually gaining control of much of northern and eastern China. On October 1, 1949, Mao declared the founding of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), a new form of government based on the communist ideals he had long advocated. On December 2, he was elected chairman of the CCP, an office he would hold until his death in 1976.
The rise of Mao Zedong to power was far from smooth and faced many obstacles. Despite this, Mao’s ambition and charisma allowed him to overcome every obstacle and emerge as a powerful leader at the head of the CCP. His immense popularity among the people helped him secure his position in power, with the PRC officially being established in 1949. It is largely due to Mao Zedong that modern day China exists in its current form, with many of the reforms he personally implemented still affecting the country today.