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Mao is born
Mao Zedong was born on December 26, 1893 in Shoashan, Hunan, China. Mao's father was a merchant and very small landowner but made enough money to get by. His mother was a Buddhist that didn't believe in killing or hurting animals. This event is important because Mao would eventually become the leader of China and make it a world power.(Mao Zedong) -
Wireless broadcast
December 12, 1901 was when Guglielmo Marconi received the first wireless broadcast in England. He invented this wireless broadcast, put it to the test and it worked. This was the first ever transatlantic broadcast too. This event is significant because it ended being alone out on the ocean and it saved many lives because people could communicate long distance and sailors knew where they were going.(history.com) -
The first plane and flight
On December 17, 1903, Wilbur and Orville Wright flew the first ever airplane. This was a controlled flight and it was controlled by the person inside the plane. Wilbur flew the plane for approximately 59 seconds and at 852 feet in the air. This event is significant because it changed the way people traveled and it got people to their destinations faster.(history.com) -
Birth of Communism in China
On May 4, 1919 Mao Zedong and other students met up at the University of Beijing to discuss political matters. They eventually came up with forming their own political party. This was communism. This communist movement swept over the nation and is called the May Fourth Movement. This event is significant because later in Mao's tenure as leader, he would officially form the Chinese Communist Party with ideas coming from this meeting.(profiles in world history) -
The Great Depression
On October 24, 1929, the Great Depression began with the crash of the stock market. This event is the worst economic downfall in the history of the industrialized world. It is significant because 15 million Americans had no job, companies had to keep laying people off and half of the country's banks failed during this time. (history.com) -
The Long March
On October 16, 1934 Mao Zedong and 120,000 Red Army troops started on the Long March. They broke free from an area surrounded by Chiang Kai-Shek and the nationalists. This long walk to a year and was 6,000 miles long. The destination was a hidden area in Northern China to hide from Shek. This event is significant because only 10,000 troops survived and now Mao needed an army in the middle of the war.(Asian Independence Leaders) -
End of the Mexican Revolution
November 22, 1934 marked the end of the Mexican Revolution. Lazaro Cardenas became the president of Mexico on this day and officially ended the revolution. One of the first things he did as president was reestablish the ejido system. This system was in favor of the people and the economy. This event is significant because Mexico had no more fighting, a fair government for the people and a president liked by the people of Mexico.(history.com) -
Second Sino-Japanese War
July 7, 1937 marked the beginning of the second Sino-Japanese War. Mao Zedong and the Red Army fought along side Chiang Kai-Shek and the Nationalists. They fought against the Japanese army. Japan eventually surrendered on September 9, 1945 following the nuclear attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. This event is significant because it led to China's civil war with Mao against Kai-Shek.(notablebiographies) -
Deafeat of Nationalists and Communism
On October 1, 1949 Mao Zedong stepped onto the podium in front of millions of Chinese citizens. Next to him was Chu Teh, Chou En-Lai and other war heroes. On the podium he announced the defeat of Chiang Kai-Shek and the Nationalist Party. Mao had just won the civil war. He also announced the formation of the People's Republic of China. This event is significant because China would now be a communist country to the day and Mao would be the leader. (Mao Zedong) -
Great Leap Forward
On January 20, 1958, Mao Zedong and the new communism government launched the Great Leap Forward. Mao wanted to increase industrial and agricultural production in China. At one time during this event, at least 75,000 people were at work on the fields. However, the Great Leap Forward failed a couple years later due to massive floods on the farms which led to starvation. This event is important because it led Mao to step down as leader of the government.(Biography.com) -
Mao steps down
On May 17, 1962, Mao Zedong officially stepped down as the leader of the government. Mao, however, would still control the Chinese Communist Party(CPC). He ended up stepping down because the Great Leap Forward failed and 45 million people. This event is significant because Mao did not have power for the first time since he became the leader.(profiles in world history) -
I Have a Dream
On August 28, 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. gave his famous "I Have a Dream" speech in Washington D.C. He wanted everybody to be equal no matter the color of their skin. His speech was a call for equality and for peace. This event is important because King Jr. won the Nobel Peace Prize for it and African Americans were treated more fairly after the speech was delivered.(history.com) -
Return of Mao Zedong
On August 2, 1966, Mao Zedong made his first appearance to the people of china in a little more than 5 months. Mao showed up in the city of Wuhan. Everywhere you looked there were news people and photographers waiting to get a picture of him. To prove he was back, Mao swam 9 miles down the Yangtze River. The people claimed he looked as healthy as ever. This event is significant because Mao took back power and became the leader of China until his death in 1976.(Mao Zedong) -
First ATM
On September 8, 1969 the first ATM(automated teller machine) was installed. It was installed by a Chemical Bank branch on Long Island. The ATM was invented by John Shepherd-Barron but Donald Wetzel engineered the first one in Long Island. This event is important because the ATM makes it easier cash and dispense cash.(history.com) -
Meeting Richard Nixon
February 2, 1972 marked the day United States president Richard Nixon met with Chairman Mao in China. This meeting made sure that China was now a world power and president Nixon went to recognize that. This event is significant because this meeting eased tensions between the United States and China. China also achieved balance in other foreign relations.(Biography.com) -
The death of Mao Zedong
On September 9, 1976 Mao Zedong passed away due to a series of heart attacks. He died in Beijing, China. A couple days later, Mao's death was announced to the people of China. Since late August of 1976, Mao had been in a coma and had been suffering from Parkinson's disease. This event is significant because China would need a new leader and Mao Zedong was a great leader for the people of China. He was 83.(Mao Zedong)
