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Establishment of the People Republic of China
The Communist Red Army defeats the Nationalists in a civil war. The People's Republic of China (PRC) is established. -
Signing of Sino-Soviet Treaty
China signs a treaty with the USSR and enters a war with Korea -
End of Korean War
Korean War armistice.
Inauguration of PRC's First Five-Year Plan, relying on Soviet model of industrial development. -
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Zhou Enlai
Zhou Enlai plays a major role at the Geneva Convention and the Bandung Conference, establishing a new diplomatic prominence for the PRC.
First constitution of the PRC is promulgated.
Collectivization of agriculture is stepped up. -
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Hundred Flowers Movement
In the wake of Khrushchev's denunciation of Stalin and political explosions in Poland and Hungary, Mao calls for a "Hundred Flowers Movement" to improve the relationship between the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) and the people.
Critics soon attack the legitimacy of CCP rule. The Party responds with an "anti-rightist campaign," suppressing the opposition. -
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Great Leap Forward
Mao promotes a "Great Leap Forward" in economic development, relying on mass mobilization, the commune system, and indigenous methods. The effort fails for the most part because of administrative weakness aggravated by bad weather.
PRC attacks offshore islands under Nationalist control (September, 1958).
In August, 1959, Defense Minister Peng Dehuai is ousted after he criticizes Mao's sponsorship of the Great Leap Forward; Peng replaced by Lin Biao. -
Soviet Technical Advisors Withdraw
Withdrawal of the Soviet technical advisors, widening the Sino-Soviet rift.
Return to more conventional economic development policies to deal with the post-Great Leap Forward depression. -
Widening of the Sino-Soviet rift
Withdrawal of the Soviet technical advisors, widening the Sino-Soviet rift.
Return to more conventional economic development policies to deal with the post-Great Leap Forward depression. -
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Division of CCP
The polity and economy recover, but the CCP becomes increasingly divided over how to pursue economic development, with Mao and his more radical associates pitted against Liu Shaoqi, Deng Xiaoping, and other moderate leaders.
Lin Biao, defense minister and one of Mao's allies, leads campaigns to increase political consciousness in the military by stressing the study of Mao's thought.
China detonates its first nuclear device (1964). -
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"Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution,"
Mao leads the "Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution," to attack the Party bureaucracy that was frustrating his initiatives and to revive revolutionary commitment.
Millions of youths (the Red Guards) are mobilized, the Party-state machinery is crippled and a host of Party veterans — most notably Liu Shaoqi and Deng Xiaoping — are purged. Mao is forced to call the army in to end the resultant disorder. -
New Party Constitution
The Ninth National Congress of the CCP issues a new Party Constitution that names Lin Biao as "Comrade Mao Zedong's close comrade-in-arms and successor." -
The beginning of a new Sino-American truce
The beginning of Sino-American rapprochement.
Death of Lin Biao after alleged coup attempt (September).
PRC succeeds to China's seat in the United Nations (October). -
Death of Mao Zedong
Mao Zedong dies along with Zhou Enlai and Zhu De