MAO ZEDONG

Who was Mao Zedong?

Born on December 26, 1893, in Shaoshan,
Hunan Province, China.
A Chinese communist revolutionary and
founding father of the People's Republic of
China.
Leader of the Chinese Communist Party
(CCP) from the 1930s until his death in 1976.
Known for his ideological beliefs in Marxism-
Leninism and Maoism.

How did he arise to power ?

1. Founding of the CCP: Mao played a key role in the
establishment of the CCP in 1921.
2. Long March (1934-1935): Mao's leadership during the
Long March solidified his position within the CCP.
3. Second Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945): Mao's guerrilla
tactics against the Japanese occupation further boosted
his popularity.
4. Chinese Civil War (1945-1949): Mao's forces defeated
the Nationalist Party (Kuomintang) and established the
People's Republic of China in 1949.

Persuasion + Coercion:
Mao combined persuasive rhetoric with
coercion to consolidate power.
He used propaganda and ideological
indoctrination to win over supporters
while ruthlessly suppressing dissent
through purges and campaigns like the
Cultural Revolution.

Role of Leaders:
Mao centralized power and maintained
control through a cult of personality.
He portrayed himself as the ultimate
authority, making all major decisions
within the party and state.
 IDEOLOGY:
Maoism, a variant of Marxism-Leninism,
emphasized the role of peasants in
revolution and the importance of
continuous class struggle.
Mao used ideology to justify his policies
and maintain loyalty among party
members.

02

USE OF FORCE:
Mao's regime employed force to
eliminate opposition and maintain
control.
This included the suppression of
counter-revolutionaries, intellectuals,
and perceived enemies of the state.

PROPAGANDA:
Mao utilized propaganda extensively to
promote his image and ideals.
Propaganda campaigns glorified Mao as
the savior of China and promoted loyalty to
the Communist Party.