Peoples Republic of China

Category
Chinese
Begin
1949
End
2020
Region
East Asia
Reference
Excerpts from Books and Wikipedia
"The average expectation of life at birth rose from thirty-five years in 1949 to sixty-eight in 1982, mainly owing to a dramatic and--except for the famine years--continuous fall in the mortality rate. . . . Education, even at the elementary level, suffered both from the famine, which cut attendance down by twenty-five millions and from the Cultural Revolution, which reduced it by fifteen millions. Nevertheless, there is no denying that in the year of Mao's death six times as many children went to primary school as when he came to power . . ." [Hobsbawm: Extremes, p. 470] "Mao Zedong (1893-1976): Political theorist, military strategist, and chairman of the CCP Central Committee from 1935 until his death, Mao adapted Vladimir Lenin's theory of proletarian revolution to the needs of China's rural society. He defeated Chiang K'ai-shek in China's civil war and led the People's Republic of China for 40 years. His radical policies in the 1950s and 1960s caused enormous suffering, leading to major reforms in the 1980s." [Fall and Rise of China Guidebook, p. 207]

This period is linked to the following events

Event Name
Category
Date
Maoist revolution creates People's Republic of China, second communist state
Government
1949
People's Republic of China claims sovereignty over Tibet
War
1950
Mao Zedong signs treaty of friendship with Joseph Stalin
Peace
1950
Land reform extends nationwide in rural China
Government
1950
People's Republic of China starts 5-year economic plan with Soviet advice & money
Government
1953
China completes economic transition to socialism
Government
1956
Mao Zedong introduces Hundred Flowers campaign
Government
1956
Mao Zedong announces "Great Leap Forward" to industrialize China
Government
1958
In March 1969, fighting occurs on Sino-Soviet border
War
1969
Nixon meets Mao in China to ease Cold War tensions
Peace
1972
Mao Zedong dies after naming Hua Guofeng his successor
Government
1976
Deng Xiaoping has political comeback & supports free speech at Democracy Wall
Government
1978
Chinese government authorizes decollectivization of agriculture
Government
1980
China creates Four Special Economic Zones along southeast coast
Trade
1980
In December, 1986, student demonstrations support democracy
Government
1986
Tiananmen Square massacre dims hope of demonstrators for democracy in China
Government
1989
First McDonald's restaurant opens in Beijing
Culture
1991
Deng Xiaoping travels on Southern Tour to get support for reforms
Government
1992
Zhu Rongji becomes economic czar & applies breaks to overheated economy
Government
1993
China implements first Internet restrictions
Telecom
2000
China launches Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) with 45 African countries
Trade
2000
China joins World Trade Organization
Trade
2001
Beginning of SARS epidemic in China
Health
2003
China has more CO2 emissions than U.S. as private autos exceed 30 million
Earth
2006
China becomes world's third-largest economy, ahead of Japan
Trade
2007
200 million Internet users in China
Telecom
2007
Beijing hosts Summer Olympics
Peace
2008
First direct flights between Taiwan and mainland China
Transportation
2008
Zhang Yimou directs opening & closing ceremonies of the Beijing Summer Olympics
Arts
2008
Ethnic violence in China: 187 killed & 2,000 arrested in Xinjiang
Human Rights
2009
Xi Jinping announces the Belt and Road Initiative
Trade
2013
Chinese and Taiwanese presidents formally meet for first time
Peace
2015

This period is linked to the following movies

Movie title
Genre
Released
The Killing Fields
Historical
1984
The Last Emperor
Historical
1987
The Joy Luck Club
Historical
1993
China from the Inside
Documentary
2006
Wild China
Documentary
2008
Mao's Last Dancer
Historical
2010
Coming Home (Chinese)
Historical
2014
One Child Nation
Documentary
2019