Author Bio: Mao Tse-tung was one of the founding members of the Chinese Communist Party in 1921. Later in 1927, the Kuomintang Nationalist Party sought to expunge communism from China. In response, Mao and the other communists fled to south east China. Eventually, the nationalists had the communists surrounded, but Mao had retreated along with his followers to north west China, leading them on the Long March. In the aftermath of World War II, another civil war erupted between the two parties, but this time the communists won. On October 1, 1949, Mao established the People's Republic of China and became leader.
Date/Context: In 1949, the Chinese Communist Party was in the midst of a civil war against the Kuomintang Nationalist Party. This speech was written months prior to the communist victory, and was meant to celebrate the twenty-eighth anniversary of the founding of the Chinese Communist Party. It also praise the communist ideas that were produced by Marx and Lenin.
Summary: Mao gave this speech on June 30, 1949. He begins by talking about the twenty-eight years of hardships and fighting that the party had to endure. He then thanks various communist ideologists for giving them their so-called weapon which is Marxism-Leninism. These new ideas changed the way that the Chinese thought and the way that they lived as well. He states that communism has significantly altered China. He states that the fundamental structure for the new China will be a people's democratic dictatorship that is controlled by their single working class. In addition, he wants to ally China with other communist powers and eventually create an "international united front." During his speech, Mao also addresses the conflict with the nationalist, stating that all Chinese citizens must choose a side, either socialism or imperialism. Not only do they resent the nationalists, who they also associate with imperialism, but they also dislike the idea of any option other than their own. He states that the his followers must remain strong and steadfast if they are to defeat the opposition. Mao recognizes that the communist party would need help from another nation in order to be victorious and consolidated. But, he rules out asking the U.S. or British governments for help because he classifies them as imperialists. His method for destroying imperialism is create a dictatorship that is controlled by the working class. They peasants and others that comprise the working class will have the power to elect the government. This system combines democracy with dictatorship, but he needs full cooperation between the working class and the peasants in order to reach their goal.
Key Quotation: "There are bourgeois republics in foreign lands, but China cannot have a bourgeois republic because she is a country suffering under imperialist oppression. The only way is through a people's republic led by the working class..."
After reading the article and reading your summary, I would like to say I believe your overview of the context of this is very good. It is short but gives the reader an idea that makes them completely understand what is going on. Also, your summary is very well written. You managed to cover the key points of the article in your summary. Finally, you kept your vocabulary simple which sometimes can be a good thing, and in this case I believe it is. It makes the reader able to understand the summary quicker and easier. One thing I would like to point out about your summary is that it is very choppy. A majority of the sentences start out using the word "he." I believe next time, you should use more variety in the starting word of your sentences. Also, I believe you did not touch on the reasoning Mao won't work with America enough. I think since we live in America, you should have included a bit more information about capitalism with America. Finally, I believe you could have had a better key quotation. I believe it should have been "based upon the alliance of workers and peasants. This dictatorship must unite as one with the international revolutionary forces. This is our formula, our principle experience, our main programme."
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