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Creation of the People's Republic of China
After a complete victory by the Communist Party of China in the Chinese Civil War, Mao proclaimed the People's Republic of China from atop Tiananmen -
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Korean War
A war between the Republic of Korea, supported by the United Nations, and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, at one time supported by China and the Soviet Union. It was primarily the result of the political division of Korea by an agreement of the victorious Allies at the conclusion of the Pacific War at the end of World War II. The Korean Peninsula was ruled by the Empire of Japan from 1910 until the end of World War II. -
Taiwan becomes sovereign
Taiwan is now considered freed from Japanese control, after a law is passed by Japan recognizing that Taiwan is not under its control. -
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Hundred Flowers Campaign
A period in 1956 in the People's Republic of China during which the Communist Party of China encouraged its citizens to openly express their opinions of the communist regime. Differing views and solutions to national policy were encouraged. -
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Great Leap Forward
An economic and social campaign by the Communist Party of China from 1958 to 1961. The campaign was led by Mao and aimed to rapidly transform the country from an agrarian economy into a communist society through rapid industrialization and collectivization. The campaign caused the Great Chinese Famine. -
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Sino-Soviet Split
The worsening of political and ideological relations between the People's Republic of China and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics during the Cold War. In the 1960s, China and the Soviet Union were the two largest Communist states in the world. The divergence from Chinese and Russian national interests, and from the régimes' respective interpretations of Marxism: Maoism and Marxism–Leninism. -
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Cultural Revolution
A social-political movement that took place in the People's Republic of China from 1966 until 1976. Set into motion by Mao its stated goal was to enforce communism in the country by removing capitalist, traditional and cultural elements from Chinese society, and to impose Maoist orthodoxy within the Party. The Revolution marked the return of Mao to a position of power. -
Nixons visit to China
An important step in formally normalizing relations between the United States and the People's Republic of China. It marked the first time a U.S. president had visited the PRC, which at that time considered the U.S. one of its foes, and the visit ended 25 years of separation between the two sides. -
Special Economic Zones start to develop
Currently, the most prominent SEZs in the country of China are Shenzhen, Xiamen, Shantou, and Zhuhai. A geographical region that is designed to export goods and provide employment. SEZs may be exempt from laws regarding taxes, labour laws and other restrictive laws in order to make the goods manufactured in the SEZ at a globally competitive price. -
Death of Mao
Mao had been in poor health for several years and had declined visibly for at least six months prior to his death. A heavy smoker and drinker during most of his adult life, he was also overweight and had multiple lung and heart ailments during his later years. -
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One child policy
population control policy of the People's Republic of China. Many demographers consider the term "one-child" a misnomer, as the policy allows many exceptions: for example, rural families may have a second child if the first child is a girl or is disabled and ethnic minorities are exempt. -
Hong Kong to China
Hong Kong is handed over from the British, to Chinese control. -
Tiananmen Square
Student-led popular demonstrations in Beijing which took place in the spring of 1989 and received broad support from city residents, exposing deep splits within China's political leadership. The protests were forcibly suppressed by hardline leaders who ordered the military to enforce martial law in the country's capital.
