Mao Tse-Tung Biography

Birth of Mao Tse-Tung, Shaoshan in Hunan Province, year of the snake

Mao enrols at Hsiangtan School

Participates in the Republican overthrow of the Manch Dynasty

Mao enrols at Changsha School

Appointed Secretary of the Association of Students

Student riots in Peking

Founds the New Peoples Study Society

Mao Tse-Tung founds the League of Socialists Youths

Mao Tse-Tung organises a "Library of Culture"

Mao Tse-Tung marries Yang Kai-hui

Forms a local branch of the Communist Party & a Marxist study group

1 of 13 in Shanghai who form the Chinese Communist Party

Present at the first congress as one of two delegates from a Hunan communist group

Appointed Secretary of the CCP

CCP Congress in Shanghai, Mao is absent

The CCP decides to collaborate with the Kuomingtang, the Nationalist Party of China

Mao leads An-Yuan miners on strike

Appointed Member of Central Committee of the CCP

Appointed Member of Executive Committee of the Kuomingtang

Appointed Member of Executive Committee of the Kuomingtang

Mao co-ordinates the co-ordination between the CCP & Kuomingtang

Mao co-ordinates the co-ordination between the CCP & Kuomingtang

Mao attends the 1st Congress of the Kuomingtang

Appointed Chief Editor of the Political Week, official paper of the Kuomingtang

Rupture between the Kuomingtang & CCP

The Kuomingtang issue an arrest warrant against Mao

A young communist leader, Mao Tse-Tung, organizes the Autumn Harvest Uprising, which fails

Mao founds the 1st communist peasant base

Mao is excluded from the Central Committee

Sent by the party leadership to start the Autmun Harvest Revolt in east Hunan

Sent by the party leadership to start the Autmun Harvest Revolt in east Hunan

Sent by the party leadership to start the Autmun Harvest Revolt in east Hunan

Mao founds the 1st communist peasant base

The only major section of the party which survives te civil war is the section built around Mao Zedong, which establishes Soviet Republic of China in some remote areas within China through peasant riots

Rupture between the Kuomingtang & CCP

Appointed Member of Central Committee

Mao organises the 1st Red Army

Takes part in the attacks at Changsha led by Chiang Kai-shek

Mao & his troops invade Chiangshi

Mao & his troops invade Fu-chien

Ordered to capture Changsha the capital of Hunan Province by Li Lisan but fails

Chiang Kai-shek executes Maos wife

Appointed Alternate-Member of Politburo

Appointed President of the Workers & Peasants Revolutionary Committee

Appointed President of the Workers & Peasants Revolutionary Committee

Purges 4,400 men from the Red Army on charges of being anti-Party rebels

A section of the Red Army rises up against Mao

Purges 4,400 men from the Red Army on charges of being anti-Party rebels

A section of the Red Army rises up against Mao

Leads a Communist army which nearly captures Nanchang

Defeats 1st attempt by Chiang Kai-Shek to overrun the Communist military base

Appointed President of the Workers & Peasants Revolutionary Committee

Appointed Chairman of Soviet Republic of China

Appointed Chairman of the Soviet at Ruijing

Helps found the Soviet Republic of China

Helps found a soviet Government in accordance with Russian policy. Claims the Government is a national Government

Announces a strategy to "pit 1 against 10"

Kills 3,000 communists after criticism he should act in the interests of the peasants

Claims the Government is a national Government

Kills 3,000 communists after criticism he should in the interests of the peasants

Appointed Politbureau Secretary

Leads the Communists out of Changsha towards the end of the year

Defeats 3rd attempt by Chiang Kai-Shek to overrun the Communist military base. Defeats a 2nd attempt by Chiang Kai-Shek to overrun the Communist military base

Helps found a soviet Government in accordance with Russian policy

Russian influenced CP members proclaim a Chinese Republic to stop China joining Japan

Russian influenced CP members proclaim a Chinese Republic to stop China joining Japan

Appointed Member of Politburo

Appointed Head of the Ruijin Soviet

During the Long March, the party leadership re-examined its policy and blamed their failure on the CPC military leader Otto Braun, a German sent by Comintern

During the Long March, the party leadership re-examined its policy and blamed their failure on the CPC military leader Otto Braun, a German sent by Comintern. After a number of military campaigns from Kuomingtang army, the CPC had to give up their bases and started the Long March (1934-1935) to search a new base

The alliance between Soviet backed Kuomingtang & the Chinese Communist Party breaks up

4,000 communist soldiers are killed during the communist withdrawal from Kiangsi

Supports Russia & its achievements & says the communist army will be victorious

Begins a withdrawal after defeats by the Nationalists to the province of Shensi

Mao begins a 12 month long march to establish a new base in northern China at Yennan

The Zunyi Conference establishes Maos ascendancy within the Chinese Communist Party

Bases a new Government on peasants rather than the working class

Reaches Shensi & establishes a new Government at Yenan

After the CCP resettled in Yanan, the native Communists, such as Mao Zedong and Zhu De gained power

Leads the Red Army against Nationalists led by Chiang Kai-Shek

Leads the Red Army against Nationalists led by Chiang Kai-Shek

Reaches Shensi & establishes a new Government at Yenan

The Red Army crosses the Tatu River

The Red Army crosses the Tatu River

The Red Army crosses the Great Snow Mountains

The Communist 4th Front Army joins up with Mao, Chu Teh & the 1st Front Army

The Red Army crosses the Great Snow Mountains

The First Front Army endures severe losses while crossing the high grasslands.

Mao's First Front Army crosses Tibetan-inhabited grasslands during the Long March.

Defeats nationalist troops in Kansu Province

The end of the Long March for the 1st Front Army. Mao reaches the north Shensi Soviet area supervised by Kao Kang

During the Second Sinoese war(1937-1945), the CPC and Kuomingtang were temporarily in alliance to fight their common enemy

Wins supremacy in the Communist Party after overcoming Wang Ming

After Pearl Harbor the CP is forced into an alliance with the Russian backed Kuomingtang

After Pearl Harbor the CP is forced into an alliance with the Russian backed Kuomingtang

Appointed Party Central Committee Chairman

Appointed Chairman of the Military Council

Renames the Red Army the Peoples Liberation Army

Appointed Chairman of the Politburo

Renames the Red Army the Peoples Liberation Army

With the Peoples Liberation Army declares war against Chiang Kaishek

Attends peace talks with Chiang Kaishek in Chongqing

Leaves the peace talks saying "difficulties remained which could be overcome"

Half of Manchuria is captured by the Communists

20,000 communist soldiers die in the process of capturing Changchun

Shanghai surrenders to the Communists. Shanghai surrenders to the Communists who then gain control of Canton

Shanghai surrenders to the Communists

300,000 Nationalist troops surrender & the Communists gain power over Manchuria

The Nationalist 7th & Second Army Groups are defeated along the Lung-Hai railway

Chunking surrenders to the Communists

The Nationalist 7th & Second Army Groups are defeated along the Lung-Hai railway

Signs the Sino-Soviet Treaty of Friendship & Alliance & Mutual Help

Chiang and his Kuomingtang Government flee to Taiwan while Mao Zedong proclaims the Peoples Republic of China (1.2 million have died in three years)

Recognizes Ho Chi Minhs Vietminh as the legitimate Government of Vietnam

Recognizes Ho Chi Minhs Vietminh as the legitimate Government of Vietnam

Chiang and his Kuomingtang Government flee to Taiwan while Mao Zedong proclaims the Peoples Republic of China (1.2 million have died in three years)

Mao's new government announces its intention to bring Tibet under People's Republic authority.

Recognizes Ho Chi Minhs Vietminh as the legitimate Government of Vietnam

Signs the Sino-Soviet Treaty of Friendship & Alliance & Mutual Help

Peking surrenders to the Communists

The Communists cross the River Yangtze

The Communists capture Nanking

The Communists capture Changshah

The Communists capture Changteh

The Communists capture Fuchow

The Communists capture Sian, this enables the PLA to turn westward

The Communists capture Shanghai & seal Chiangs defeat in the Civil War

Announces he is willing to establish diplomatic relations with any foreign Government

Says the world is divided into imperialism & socialism & China should ally with Russia

Announces the establishment of the ManchurianPeoples Government

Appointed Chairman of the Peoples Republic of China

Appointed Chairman of the Peoples Republic of China

Proclaims the establishment of the Peoples Republic of China

Stands at the Forbidden City & proclaims, "The Chinese people have stood up". Proclaims the establishment of the Peoples Republic of China in Tiananmen Square

Russia gives immediate recognition to the Peoples Republic of China

Russia gives immediate recognition to the Peoples Republic of China

Mao Tse-Tung has talks with Stalin in Moscow

Holds absolute power from 1950-76

China promises internal autonomy but troops invade & form a new Government

Communist China annexes Xinjiang/Sinkiang (eastern Turkestan)

Communist China annexes Xinjiang/Sinkiang (eastern Turkestan)

Mao orders the persecution of "counter-revolutionaries" which causes the deaths of 710,000 people

Communist China annexes Xinjiang/Sinkiang (eastern Turkestan)

Britain recognizes the Republic of China

Britain recognizes the Republic of China

Chinese communists provide modern weapons to the Vietminh

Chinese communists provide modern weapons to the Vietminh

Russia & China sign a 30 year Treaty of Friendship, Alliance & Mutual Assistance

China completes the capture of Hainan Island

China begins to bomb Quemoy

People's Liberation Army units begin the campaign against Tibetan forces in Chamdo.

A Chinese Army occupies Lhasa as Mao "reunites" national territory

Chinese forces capture Chamdo and take Tibetan governor Ngabo Ngawang Jigme prisoner.

Chinese troops enter the War & force the United Nations forces Southwards

China refuses a United Nations appeal for a cease-fire in Korea

Chinese forces move South across the 38th parallel into South Korea

The communists conduct mass trials against "counterrevolutionaries"

Chinese forces capture Seoul, the capitol of South Korea

An offensive is launched against the United Nations forces in central Korea

Chinese and Tibetan representatives sign the Seventeen Point Agreement in Beijing.

Mao receives a telegram accepting implementation of the Seventeen Point Agreement in Tibet.

The armistice negotiations reach an agreement over the "demarcation line"

Mao orders the persecution of landlords which causes the deaths of about one million people

China accuses the USA of using germ warfare in Manchurian Korea

The communist party launches the first five-year plan with the aims of industrialization, collectivization of agriculture, and political centralization

The communist party launches the first five-year plan with the aims of industrialization, collectivization of agriculture, and political centralization

Korea is permanently partitioned across the DMV (55,000 USA soldiers, one million south Koreans, one million Chinese soldiers, two million North Koreans have died

Korea is permanently partitioned across the DMV (55,000 USA soldiers, one million south Koreans, one million Chinese soldiers, two million North Koreans have died

Russia withdraws from Port Arthur

The Greatt Leap Forward, an attempt to economically regenerate China

A mutual defense Treaty between the USA and Taiwan is agreed

A mutual defense Treaty between the USA and Taiwan is agreed

During the "high tide of socialism" the communes are merged into co-operatives

Failed attempt to introduce freedom for philosophical & political diversity in China

Founds the Hundred Flowers Movement

Ideoligical differences begin to appear between China & Russia

Mao launches the "Great Leap Forward" (mass mobilization and collectivization of the farms to increase crop production and steel production

A call to increase production of steel, electricity & coal by as much as a 3rd each yr

The co-operatives are merged into larger communes during the "great leap forward"

Chinese forces suppress the Lhasa uprising as the Dalai Lama escapes toward India.

Launches a newspaper campaign against Yugoslavia & Khrushcevs policy there

All Soviet Advisers are withdrawn from China

A Sino-Burmese Treaty is signed

Communist China launches its first ballistic missile

Border friction takes place with Nepal

China sends aid to Albania

Communes are reorganised into "production brigades" after poor harvests in 1959-61

Communes are reorganised into "production brigades" after poor harvests in 1959-61

Between 16 million and 30 million people starve to death because of the 1959-62 famine caused by the "great leap forward" (the population of Communist China declined by 4.5%)

Mao breaks with the Soviet Union

20th October-21st November, a border war between India & China

China supports North Vietnamese aggression

Communist China becomes the fifth nuclear power

China successfully tests its own atomic bomb, becomes the world's 5th nuclear power

Factional rivalry results in overthrow of the Communist Party hierarchy

Orders the formation of a "Red Guard" of students to attack opposing party members

Orders the formation of a "Red Guard" of students to attack opposing party members

China tests its first nuclear missile

The Red Guard captures Shanghai & uses the Paris commune of 1871 as a model

The Red Guard captures Shanghai & uses the Paris commune of 1871 as a model

China explodes its first hydrogen bomb

The Red Guard is disbanded after they fight each other in a civil war

30 Soviet soldiers are killed in one clash on a small uninhabited island in the Ussuri River, the roots of the dispute lay in Chinese claims to parts of the eastern Soviet Union relinquished by the Chinese under the "the Unequal Treaties"

Says that it is the slaves who make history. Announces all references to his "genius" should be removed

The Chinese occupy the Island of Damansky on the border with Russia in the North East. 23 Russian troops are killed

China sends up its first space satellite

Appointed Supreme Commander of the army & nation

A second hydrogen bomb is exploded in the Taklamakan Desert

Communist China launches its first satellite

Accuses Russia of "fascist dictatorship"

Accuses Russia of "fascist dictatorship"

Chinas first underground atomic explosion takes place

After trying to overthrow Maos Government, Lin Biao dies in an airplane crash in Mongolia on his way to exile

After trying to overthrow Maos Government, Lin Biao dies in an airplane crash in Mongolia on his way to exile

Henry Kissinger visits China

A US table tennis team arrives in China

The US relaxes trade & travel with China

Britain restores a telephone link with China, cut off in 1949

Richard Nixon announces his intention to visit China

Maos rival & Vice Chairman of the Party dies & many of his supporters are arrested

The United States does not use its veto power to block mainland Chinas United Nations admission, the change in the US position comes about as the result of a gradual thaw in US- Chinese relations. Communist China Joins the UN, replacing Taiwan, the United Nations approves the membership of Communist China, thereby replacing Taiwan

The Shimantan Dam collapses in the Henan province, killing 85,000 people and causing the subsequent death of about 100,000 people

USA President Richard Nixon visits Communist China

The Shanghai Communique paves the way for relations between Communists & Nationalists

300,000 Chinese file past Maos body in the Great Hall of the People

Death of Mao Tse-Tung, age 82