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Creation of the People's Republic
Mao Zedong proclaims the People's Republic of China after fleeing to Taiwan where he set up Nationalist China. -
100 Flowers Campaign
Mao Zedong makes a speech encouraging people to vent their criticisms on the government, as long as they were constructive. However, after much open debate on communism, he calls off the campaign due to excessive criticism. -
The Great Leap Forward
Mao Zedong announces a new economic plan, which organizes China into 28,000 communes run by local government. This plan focuses on industrial and scientific activity, muscle power, and communes. Resulted in tens of millions excess deaths. -
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Sino-Soviet Split
Over this period of time, the relationship between China and the USSR begins to deteriorate. They begin to conflict with each other and eventually the USSR withdraws all advisors from China. Relations between these nations were tense until Mikhail Gorbachev's visit to Beijing in 1989. -
Cultural Revolution
A social-political movement set into motion by Mao Zedong. Launched in May 1966, the youth of China form Red Guard groups around the country who infiltrated all aspects of live in order to spread communism. -
Ping-Pong Diplomacy
The U.S. Table Tennis team is invited to visit China, as sports played an important role in China's diplomacy. This visit marks the first American delegation to set foot in the Chinese capital since 1949. -
Nixon's Visit
President Nixon visits the People's Republic of China, making it the first time a U.S. president had visited in history. This visit ends 25 years of seperation between the two sides and allows for peaceful diplomatic relations. -
Mao Zedong's Death
Mao is taken off of life support after being in critical condition from a severe heart attack a week before. He was allowed to die on this day as it was the ninth day of the ninth month, an easy date to remember. -
Special Econimic Zones
Deng Xiaoping announces special economic zones where the strcit Marxist approach to econimics is relaxed. This operates like a free market economy. -
Hong Kong
The peacefull agreement between the People's Republic of China and the United Kingdom that the PRC would obtain Hong Kong from Britain. This agreement was called the Sino-British Joint Declaration, and would go into effect on July 1 1997, with the exception of it's port which would keep it's capitalist economy for 50 years. -
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Tianmen Square Protests
A series of demonstrations led by labour activists, students, and intellectuals protesting economic policies. The People's Republic of China used these protests as an excuse to bring in military force, resulting in hundreds dead.
