Maos legacy [Wikipedia] The history of the Peoples Republic from 1949 to 1976 is appropriately accorded with the name Mao era - China. A proper evaluation of the period is in essence, an evaluation of Maos legacy. Since Maos death there has generated a great deal of controversy about the multi-dimensional man amongst both historians and political analysts. Supporters of Mao point out that the large number of deaths during the period of consolidation of power after victory in the Chinese Civil War paled in comparison to the number of deaths caused by famine, anarchy, war, and foreign invasion in the years before the Communists took power. Before 1949, for instance, the illiteracy rate in Mainland China was 80 percent, and life expectancy was a meager 35 years. At his death, illiteracy had declined to less than seven per cent, and average life expectancy had increased by twenty years. In addition, Chinas population which had remained constant at 400 million from the Opium War to the end of the Civil War, mushroomed more than 700 million as of Maos death. Under Maos regime, China ended its Century of Humiliation and resumed its status as a major power on the international stage. Mao also industrialized China to a considerable extent and ensured Chinas sovereignty during his rule. In addition, Mao wiped China free of restricting Confucianist and feudal norms and built a clean slate for future generations to build upon. Maos supporters contend that the amount of morality and empathy, the virtual non-existence of corruption, as well as general happiness with the populace were at levels unseen in the entirety of Chinese history. In addition, Maos assertion of communism becoming the guiding belief system of the people helped stabilize a China otherwise lacking of any national religion, spirituality, or guiding belief.
Posted on: Mon, 22 Sep 2014 17:49:18 +0000
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