Essay On Mao Zedong

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Mao Zedong is known as the father of the Chinese revolution. Mao was brought into a China that lacked a strong leadership. China needed someone who was willing to take charge and bring China up to its potential. Mao would prove to be the one who would take up that responsibility. As with every world leader, Mao Zedong’s tenure was a rollercoaster of highs and lows. He brought in radical change to the Chinese culture and motivated the Chinese people to work.
Mao Zedong was born on December 23, 1893 in the Hunan village of Shaoshan to a housewife and an affluent grain dealer father (Encyclopedia Britannica, Mao). Mao was never fond of his wealthy father. He saw his father as controlling, over-bearing and greedy. He preferred the warm-heartedness and wisdom of his peasant mother, despite her lack of education. His love for his mother grew his respect towards women and his reasons for an increase in women’s rights during his rule in the future. Mao learned much from his home village. He witnessed first hand the poverty, famine and oppression peasants faced, but yet, awed at how they maintained such good morals and generosity,such as his dear mother. Mao’s life in the village greatly influenced his support and sympathy towards the peasants. During his childhood, the Qing Dynasty was on a downwards spiral. It could no longer rule China with great power as past dynasties once could, suffering losses economically and socially from the ever-changing world. After constant conflicts with his parents during his late teens, Mao decided to leave home and travel to the nearby city of Changsha to gain a higher education (Zhisui 40). Changsha was filled with revolutionists. Many students detested the rule of the Emperor and the monarchy in place...

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... of China drew love and support from the people of China. Mao was never mean to the people and often looked for the best for his people. The people of China felt love from their dear leader Mao which is why even today Mao Zedong is still praised by the people of China. He built a close relationship with the people that no other leader had done.Mao initiated change in China. While it did not work out the way he had planned it too, his efforts were a breakthrough for China and would lay the foundation for reform and modernization for future leaders of China. Nationalism also grew during the Great Leap Forward. Because of this, China did not have to ask western nations for assistance. The Chinese people persevered to make China the number one superpower in the world. He left a legacy of a dedicated leader with a great vision, but lacked knowledge on how to initiate it.

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