The Life and Times of the Most Honorable Chairman: May 2014

On December 26th 1893 in Shaoshan, Hunan Province, China a child was born that would create a new and powerful China. This child though wanting only to advance the country he loved so dear, would bring about decades of death and suffering on his fellow countrymen. This man was none other than the most honorable chairman of our hearts, Chairman Mao Zedong.

The most honorable chairman was the son of peasant farmer named Mao Yichang; who eventually made himself a man of wealth and power in their village. Mao stated that his father was strict and would often beat him and his siblings. The chairman had three siblings; two brothers and an adopted sister. In his early academic career Mao didn't appear to be chairman material. He enrolled in a soap production school, an economics school, a law school, and even a police academy. He dropped out of all of these and ended up applying to the Changsha middle school, which he also eventually dropped out of as well. Though Mao didn't seem to handle education well he was actually a dedicated reader. Because of this he ended up studying on his own accord through literature. He did most of this studying in the Changsha library reading works of classical liberalism and the works of western scientists such as Darwin. After this en devour Mao wished to teach so he enrolled in the Fourth Normal School of Changsha. Here he met and befriended a professor that introduced him to a radical newspaper that laid the foundation for Mao's eventual beliefs. Mao began submitting works to the newsletter encouraging the youth to physically train their bodies in preparation for a revolution that Society of the Study of Wang Fuzhi was planning. Shortly after this Mao traveled to Beijing. It was in Beijing where Mao gained more vigor for his revolutionary ideals. Mao played a significant role in the Student Rebellion. During such Zhang Jingyao, Governor of the Hunan providence, was protested by Mao and a newsletter he founded. Mao supported the liberation of women along with men by way of non-violent protest which played a vital role in his eventual popularity. Zhang quickly outlawed the newsletter but Mao kept printing under a new newsletter to which he assumed editorial-ship of. After this Mao played the role of student organizer during a coup of Zhang and was later made headmaster of a school. This brought him much wealth and he soon married Yang Kaihui in the winter of 1920.

In his early military career Mao was strong and smart, the only real hindrance to his effectiveness was always the lack of troops and occasionally low morale. Mao served as the commander in chief of the Red Army and after the Long March Mao was the Communist Party's undisputed leader for his cunning and show of both strength and military know how, but he was not elected as chairman until 1943. During the long march Mao's wife was struck in the head by shrapnel, she was sent to Moscow for treatment and was divorced by Mao. He soon took his second of four wives. The civil war was put on hold to deal with the ever increasing Japanese campaign into China, Mao was the first to suggest the temporary consolidation of the Nationalist and Communist forces. Chiang tried to ignore Mao's suggestion and the Japanese so that the civil war may continue but one of Chiang's generals arrested him and forced him to consider the idea. Chiang eventually did and the Japanese were repelled. Soon after the civil war recommenced and after WWII America began aiding Chiang and his nationalist party against Mao who was secretly endorsed by, who other than, the Soviet Union. This all in hopes that either super power would make an ally out of their prize fighter once the war was won. The Communist party clearly won with Mao leading the way.

October 1st, 1949 gave birth to the modern nation that is the People's Republic of China and this was the final stage before the Chinese entered a period of suffering. First came the Korean War where the North was supported by the USSR and China. Second came the Great Leap Forward, this was a time of communal kitchens, paranoia, government totality in power, immense fear and plentiful death when a famine arose and people had no means to feed themselves. Mao wanted to oust the old world and parade in the new world. Technological and ideological advancements were at the forefront of the list of concerns. The focus on ideology led to a breakaway from soviet communism so that Mao could shape his country exactly how he wanted to. The cultural revolution was the great equalizer. This movement focused on persecuting and often the killing of landlords and intellectuals who could defend themselves both ideologically and logically from the government. All of their assets were seized and redistributed equally among the working and peasant classes. Mainly farm land was redistributed so that people could feed themselves.
In 1976 Mao suffered tow major heart attacks the latter killing him four days later. He had been a heavy drinker and a heavy smoker his entire life. He also numerous health problems pertaining to his heart and lungs as well as being over weight. There are is also speculation that he Parkinson's as well as Lou Gehrig's disease. He wished to be cremated but wasn't and instead was placed in mausoleum. He was survived by his fourth wife known better as "Madame Mao" as well as his ten children produced from all four of his marriages.

The Life and Times of the Most Honorable Chairman

Monday, May 12, 2014

These following links will provide much more depth into the most honorable chairman's adventures

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