Did Mao help the peasants of China?

Question

Mao and the socialist movement destroyed the wealthier Chinese, and much of the great things of Chinese culture. But, did Mao help the poor people of China? Did the communist government just put down the rich? Or did it put down the rich AND help the poor?

Answer 1

The answer to your question depends on who you want to believe.

While Mao was still alive, according to propaganda from China itself, he was personally responsible for everything good that had happened in China since 1940 or so; and everything that had happened in China under Mao was very good indeed, especially for the poor people. Even now, the official "party line" of China's Communist government about Mao is that he was "70% right, only 30% wrong".

On the other hand, you could look at facts instead of listening to Communist lies and re-writing of history. And, mostly, the facts are not kind to Mao. Under Mao, the Communist regime did not just "put down the rich"; it also terrorized, starved and dispossessed the poor of their minimal possessions.

Mao gained power by terror and force; and once he was in power, he continued to rely on terror and force to retain his position. A completely selfish and opportunistic man, he was guided by no doctrine of any kind (not even Marxism-Leninism-Stalinism) other than the pursuit of his own personal survival and power.

He used peasants for his own ends. But he always despised peasants, because he regarded himself as an intellectual.

Long before he came to power in China, the peasants in areas of China under Mao's control were subjected to Stalinist-style exactions. The wealthier peasants were dispossessed and killed. The poorer peasants gained nothing from this. Instead, they were forced to work for the benefit of the Reds, handing over the produce from their labors (some of which was then shipped to Russia in exchange for arms), and being left to starve.

Once in power, Mao's great attempt to "reform" Chinese agriculture came in his Second Five Year Plan, the Great Leap Forward, in 1958, which involved nationwide forced collectivization, and the replanting of fields with crops that were supposed to produce huge surpluses. (see link 2 below).

No doubt Mao believed that The Great Leap Forward would work as he intended; but it was based on a whole series of misconceptions. The results were disastrous. A terrible famine, probably the greatest in world history. The most commonly accepted reckoning is that about 30 million Chinese (mostly peasants) died from starvation and disease as a consequence of the Great Leap Forward. (see link 3 below).

It was left to Mao's successors to begin repairing the damage he had done. China's peasants remain, to this day, the poorest of its citizens. Mao's legacy, even for them, is almost 100% negative.

Answer 2

I don't know if Mao actually helped the peasants but he had a great interest in seeing them succeed so China would have a stronger Socialist government. The rich were prone to Capitalism which was a no-no; that's why they were brought down.

Answer 3

This is an interesting question, I have lived in China on and off for about 10 years, I have heard every kind of answer myself, I sometimes ask my Chinese friends and they have said the same thing all the people who answered this question, like others have already said he helped in some ways and hurt in others, I think he did more good at first and than lost it mentally and started the cultural revolution, it was the "brain death" of a nation as some have called it, he lost it like many other paranoid communist leaders and destroyed a great nation, China is still suffering from the effects of the Cultural Rev. people don't trust, they don't show a lot of love towards each other, it is every one out for themselves, it is sad to see sometimes

Answer 4

Mao, the other answers so far are right, as far as they go. An important fact is that the man is the number1 killer in the history of the world. He even exceeds Joseph Stalin, who was no slouch himself.

There is a very long but interesting bio of the man which as been recently published.

Answer 5

how she gain the status of being wealthy? by potential of advertising this e book approximately mao and married with wealthy husband, western media is making an attempt to create a effect of "nepotism " and "corruption" her husband is a businessman, mao grandson isn't wealthy,

Answer 6

mao helped mao and his cronies

Answer 7

Communisum helps nobody only thoose in power