Cult of Personality: Mao in Color

“China is a sleeping giant. Let her sleep, for when she wakes she will move the world.” ― Napoléon Bonaparte

I was going to teach this for winter school, and then after spending all morning making it, changed my mind. I might end the new semester with a Cult of Personality Unit instead.

My daughter and I recently watched a fascinating documentary on Chairman Mao on Discovery World. They used CIA footage and color film not previously seen. My daughter was mesmerized, so I thought my 7th and 8th graders might be too. I made a corresponding handout that has vocabulary, fill in the blank, and a space to write some questions of their own. (Handout Here)

China is the most prosperous country in the world, has overtaken the US as the world’s largest economy and is second to the US in terms of military spending. Throughout these last 70 years Mao has been at the heart of all these dramatic changes. He led the Chinese communist party to victory in both Wars, ruling them with an iron fist. Even though he's being dead for 40 years his name is still writ large in Chinese consciousness. 

Discussion questions:

1.     Mao wanted to free China from it’s past, but in many ways he repeated the worst aspects of Chinese history. Explain.

2.     What were some of Mao’s personal peculiarities?

3.     How was Mao a personal hypocrite to the communist principles?

4.     How did Mao’s “Great Leap Forward” become one great leap backward?

5.     Why did US president Nixon reach out to China?

6.     Do you agree with many Chinese people that Mao’s ruthlessness was a “necessary evil”? Explain.

7.     How is Chiang Kai-Shek like Mao? How are they different?

8.    Would you agree that Taiwan’s White Terror years were a necessary evil for Taiwan to have democracy today?