Download Friday, March 23, 2012

CHINA SINCE MAO
After the Cultural Revolution:
• China reached agreements with the USA – less conflict
• Chairman Mao died
• Market Reforms: Allow people to make more money
Tiananmen Square (1989)
• Students asked for freedom – massive protests that threaten
government.
• Gov’t responds with military force: 2,000+ killed, thousands arrested
• Moment of great heroism
Capitalism, with a strong government :
• Government: “If you don’t ask for democracy, then we will stop
controlling the market & you can get rich.”
Today:
• Production: 2nd largest manufacturer in the world (after USA)
• Exports: China sells us $295BILLION more than we sell them.
• Wealth/Poverty:
DENG XIAOPING
Mao dies in 1976.
By 1979 Deng Xaioping
controlled the Communist
party.
Deng shifted the party back
towards encouraging
economic development.
DENG’S REFORMS
Deng called his reforms the Four
Modernizations—science, industry,
technology, and defense—and argued they
were necessary to modernize China.
Examples:
The Responsibility System: peasants could
sell crops from their private plots after
fulfilling the government quota.
Special Economic Zones: encouraged
foreign investment in specific areas.
THE REFORMS OF
DENG XIAOPING
During this economic reform, people also wanted political
reforms—many began to protest in the name of democracy.
The Communist government usually regained order by
arresting a few leaders.
TIANANMEN SQUARE
In 1989, students held protests
in Beijing for political freedoms
and also democracy.
After a month of these protests
and lots of international
attention, the communist
government ordered martial
law.
Between 700 and 3000 citizens
were killed before international
eyes.
Despite international outrage,
Deng remained in power and no
political reforms were made.
In 1989, student
protesters in China
also called for an end
to corruption and
demanded the
resignation of
Communist Party
leaders.
Thousands of
demonstrators for
democracy in
Tiananmen Square,
Beijing were crushed
by Chinese tanks and
troops.
China’s continued human rights violations,
and its growing military and economic power
have created strained relations with the West.
However, US trade with China is, and will continue to be, one of
the most important economic relationships in the 21st century.