Communism in China in the 1900s
Communism in China is not usually looked upon favorably. Thoughts of oppressive governments and a very controlled economy and society come to mind. But it was not always this way. The Chinese people welcomed the communist government in the 1900s.
The communist group led by Mao Zedong was well liked by the people of China. Mao and the Communists took a different approach to gathering support than other groups had done before. Instead of looking for support from the small urban working class, they looked for support from the large peasant masses. Mao and the Communists redistributed land to peasants and promised them other reforms. The Communists were slowly accepted and supported by the pleased peasant masses.
During the Long March, the Communists imposed strict rules. They commanded their soldiers to treat peasants politely, leave the crops untouched, and pay for any goods you consume. The politeness the soldiers showed the peasants helped gain the communists more peasant support.
Finally, the Soviet Union, a communist nation, helped many Chinese groups. They provided China advisors and equipment while they were fighting the Japanese. The Soviet Union also trained Chinese students and military leaders. The allies, mostly democratic countries, were not looked upon favorably after they gave Japan Chinese lands at the Paris Peace Conference. The Chinese people had better encounters and relations with communist nations than with democratic nations.
Communism was good for China when it started because it helped stop the civil wars. Civil wars and unrest in the region was caused by the lack of a stable government. When the Communists came to power, the region finally stabilized.