Revolution-fists.jpg

Essential Questions:


1.Who should decide what is best for 'the people'?
I think people should decide what is best for themselves. Although they may be biased, people know and are well aware of what they want. The government at times does indeed know what is best, but people need to be included in the decision making process for laws that will benefit or harm them.
2. What makes people comply or reject?
People will reject or comply based on what is best for them; whether it benefits them or not. People obviously want justice and freedom, so anything that sways away from this is usually rejected by the people.
If it will change what they've been wantingto be change
3. What makes a revolution successful?
Persistance and motivation will make a revolution successful. When people have good reason, when they're being extremely hurt, this brings more force into the revolution.
Common goals, Organizations--such as a military
4. Who are the winners in a political revolution?
The winners could be whoever who got the change they wanted.
5. What causes change in a society?
Everyone with the same mindset; more equal way of thinking. Strong events that influence different beliefs.
Environmental changes, technology changes,

Revolution:


Define it in your own words:
When people take a stand against a higher power to get what they want. A revolution is when people unite to fight against this higher power, or fight for something they really want.
Look up a definition of the term:
"An overthrow or repudiation and the thorough replacement of an established government or political system by the people governed"
What are characteristics or acts you associate with Revolutions?
When I think of a revolution I usually think of a lot of anger, revolt, mobs of people, screaming or fighting, pressure on the government, and a strong union between people to get what they want and feel as though they deserve.

Revolutionary Ideas:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pHnLUutoj93F2g7lnAUIUU3hjRQP2J_6DUdKfFfQfsY/edit

Ranking of the three topics:
  1. Equality
  2. Justice
  3. Liberty
I think Equality is the most important because I think emotionally, it is what people suffer with most--feeling like they are less worthy of rights. Justice comes second because it is very important to keep people from being mistreated unfairly.

Chinese Revolution mark up:


Questions on Chinese Revolution Mark Up:

1. From the late 1800s to the 20th century, what were some of the "underlying" cause of unrest in China (Incubation period)
Corruption, peasant unrest and having an ineffective government were what the Chinese dynasty had been suffering from.
Famine caused the deaths of many of the Chinese


2. What changes occurred in China after the revolution of 1911?

The goal was to Westernize China, and only the wealthy were the ones who were able to benefit from it.

Sunyat Sen led the revolution, and it ended 2,000 years of the Chinese dynasty


3. Explain the role of the Nationalists and Communists in the Chinese Government

Mao declared the peoples' republic of china, which had ended the civil war between the Communists and Nationalists. Many of the people who made the long March with Mao became the people that he respected. The communists and nationalists had joined together to rid the foreign influence. They were the two strongest groups led by the two strongest men.



4. Highlight the role of Mao in China

In China, Mao played a very influential role, as he had caused this major change, eliminating the four olds, and creating new ways for china, including the adding of rights for women. He had a specialized force called the Red Guard to speak the goods about communism. Mao also created an army called the Peoples’ Liberation army, and created the great leap forward. But before this, he took away private ownership of land and nationalized all businesses and industry so that there were no more private ownerships.





Opener:


.equalityjustice (1).jpg

The message of this political cartoon is that the definition of equality is not equal to the definition of justice. Equality is when people have equal things and are completely equal to each other while justice is about what is fair, and what is morally right. Justice allows for equal opportunity as some people need different things than others so we cannot give everyone the equal thing, but instead the equal opportunity.




China Under Mao Video Notes:

  • it is estimated that 50-75 million people died during the reign of Mao Zedong
  • For much of its history, China was ruled by dynasties
  • The rulers of dynasties were called emperors
  • overtime the country adopted the policy of isolationism, which isolated them from the rest of the world
  • the demand for Chinese goods increased during the 1500's
  • Europeans forced Chinese govt to trade
  • European interest in China grew, as the demand for Chinese good did
  • Chinese rebels forced out China's last emperor
  • Nationalist leader: Chiand Kai-shek: supported by US
  • Chinese civil war ended with communist gaining control of china in 1949
  • Republic of China was established in Taiwan
  • Landlords publicly humiliated
  • Erasing any evidence of social inequality led to 6 million deaths
  • food production fell with fewer peasants farming and new risky farming techniques
  • Mao called for a new cultural revolution because he felt those in power were not serving the people
  • 50-75 people died during the reign of Mao Zedon
  • Rules of dynasties called emperors
  • Mao renamed China The People's Republic of China

  • Wanted everyone to share wealth which led to deaths


Summary of video:
China had a revolution in 1991 in which imperialism ended. Nationalists and communists fought for power and Mao Zedong won with the communists and renamed China The People's Republic of China in 1949 after the Civil War/revolution ended. Mao's first order as new ruler was to erase any evidence of social inequality. He wanted everyone to share the wealth which led to many deaths. He publicly humiliated people, led people to end up committing suicide, and killed intellectuals. He also tried the Great Leap Forward in which he wanted to increase food production with farmers in communes. This failed and created a new famine and many people died from this as well. He also created the Red Guard, a youth organization that challenged China's elite. After an ineffective rule, he died in 1976. During his time, 50-75 million people were killed.


Quotes From Mao:

A revolution is not a dinner party, or writing an essay, or painting a picture, or doing embroidery; it cannot be so refined, so leisurely and gentle, so temperate, kind, courteous, restrained and magnanimous. A revolution is an insurrection, an act of violence by which one class overthrows another.



— From Report on an Investigation of the Peasant Movement in Hunan

  • Mao is portraying revolution as a process by which violence is bound to take place, and there will be no revolution to take place in a peaceful manner. It is not something that you can take your time to make perfect, it happens quick and violently.



The revolutionary war is a war of the masses; it can be waged only by mobilizing the masses and relying on them.



— From Be Concerned with the Well-Being of the Masses, Pay Attention to Methods of Work

  • The masses are basically what defines a revolutionary war, where their mobilization is relied on.



War is the highest form of struggle for resolving contradictions, when they have developed to a certain stage, between classes, nations, states, or political groups, and it has existed ever since the emergence of private property and of classes.



— From Problems of Strategy in China's Revolutionary War

  • This quote identifies that war is the farthest thing that a conflict can be brought to, and it can arise due to classes, states, nations, political groups, and private properties of some of these things.



Every Communist must grasp the truth, "Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun."



— From Problems of War and Strategy

  • This quote identifies that the truth of communist power comes from weapons, and these weapons are their main or only source of strength.
  • According to the quotes above how might Mao Zedong define revolution?
He would most likely define revolution as when there is inequality between two sides so a war breaks out which includes heavy violence and a backing of many people to win. Forces going against each other and creating a major ruckus. Also, it would not be planned but just happen.

  • Do you agree with quotes of Mao? Why or why not? (use specific evidence from the quotes)
I agree with most of the quotes that Mao Zedong said. In the first one, I do believe that revolution is not a "dinner party" but that it does have to involve "an act of violence" and be intense to win and be successful. I do think though that sometimes you can try to work out a peaceful revolution in which both sides can talk to each other or use peaceful means to attain what they want. In the second quote, I do agree that a side has to be "mobilizing the masses and relying on them" to be successful in the revolution. If you do not have the support of the majority of the people then you cannot be successful In the third quote I do agree that revolutions can start because of inequality from "private property and classes" but it is not the only cause of revolution. I also agree with the last quote because in communism, many people will most likely not want it so you need to use "the barrel of a gun" to keep people in control.

Tankman DJ:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1CW6SboZr_CpRV3gVlTXLuG0Gtw_maYS2jnrhfuNndCc/edit?usp=sharing

Tianamen Square Template:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1A7xJs5gwjw8M8LKbwRFDU8YfvtLsRioY2c4GnwTTf-k/edit

Comments on How China Tries to Erase History:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/18FKmu-okiBp8Xyxp1-sWY-l7nAZDCVP2nugclE85Wls/edit?usp=sharing

Modern Day China Video:
What do you see in the video?
Urban, City, Buildings
Modern building designs, urban life
New structures, a lot of lights at night
A lot of technology
Railroad (Fastest in the world)
Western Ideas/Influences (billboards, waterfalls, etc)
What is missing?
Rural China
People were not shown (no human involvement in anything)
China Terms:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/13s9KkbGg88zwonbGAANksWl5C-63rNvYfSaVC8xJF_g/edit?usp=sharing