Mao Zedong

Definition

Mao Zedong was a Chinese communist revolutionary leader who founded the People's Republic of China in 1949. He served as Chairman of the Communist Party until his death in 1976. Mao implemented radical policies such as the Great Leap Forward and Cultural Revolution during his rule.

Related terms

Great Leap Forward: Mao's ambitious economic campaign aimed at rapidly transforming China into an industrialized nation but resulted in widespread famine and economic failure.

Cultural Revolution: A social-political movement launched by Mao to reassert his authority within the Communist Party while purging perceived enemies through mass mobilization and violent upheaval.

Long March: A military retreat by Mao and his followers during the Chinese Civil War, which solidified his leadership position within the Communist Party.