Background and Rise to Power
Deng Xiaoping was born on August 22, 1904 in Guang'an, China. Deng's first kind of schooling was at a traditional confucian school. In 1926, Deng went to Moscow to study at the University of Toilers of the East where young men would learn about communism and they discussed how to make China more "modern". Deng would dedicate his life to make sure that the ideas of communism would help modernized China; that all people would have a chance to succeed and being taken care of if they work hard.
During the years between 1934-1935, the "Long" march took place. This march was where communist members and their families were being hunted down by the Nationalist and were forced to retreat west to the cold Himalaya Mountains. When the march first began; there were 90,000 people, but when the communist and their leader Mao Zedong returned east, only 7,000 people remained and Deng Xiaoping was one of them.
In 1949, the Communist were still in a civil war with the Nationalist. The last big conflict during this civil war was the Huai- Hai Battle. Even though the Nationalist army were 500,000 members strong, the communist won because of the credible/reliable leadership of Deng and his organizational skills. This success elevated him to be a future political contender on the rise because now the Communist were in charge.
During the mid 1960's- mid 1970's, the cultural revolution took place in China. The current Communist leader was Mao Zedong who wrote the book "Mao's little red book" that inspired young people to revolt against the old ways of China. This book had specific quotes/writings from Mao Zedong himself and the many topics were focused on creating a new communism. Deng refused to accept a copy of the book; and his punishment was spending two years in solitary confinement. When he returned, Mao no longer trusted him.
Mao Zedong died in 1976 and this ended the period of cultural revolution for China. His successor was Hua Guofeng, one of Mao's puppets who only knew how to take direction from Mao and not challenge or would dare to think differently because he thought Mao always made the right decision. Deng knew he could take on Guofeng because he was a stronger leader; had a vision for China, and so he did. In 1978, Deng became China's leader at the age of 74 years old.
During the years between 1934-1935, the "Long" march took place. This march was where communist members and their families were being hunted down by the Nationalist and were forced to retreat west to the cold Himalaya Mountains. When the march first began; there were 90,000 people, but when the communist and their leader Mao Zedong returned east, only 7,000 people remained and Deng Xiaoping was one of them.
In 1949, the Communist were still in a civil war with the Nationalist. The last big conflict during this civil war was the Huai- Hai Battle. Even though the Nationalist army were 500,000 members strong, the communist won because of the credible/reliable leadership of Deng and his organizational skills. This success elevated him to be a future political contender on the rise because now the Communist were in charge.
During the mid 1960's- mid 1970's, the cultural revolution took place in China. The current Communist leader was Mao Zedong who wrote the book "Mao's little red book" that inspired young people to revolt against the old ways of China. This book had specific quotes/writings from Mao Zedong himself and the many topics were focused on creating a new communism. Deng refused to accept a copy of the book; and his punishment was spending two years in solitary confinement. When he returned, Mao no longer trusted him.
Mao Zedong died in 1976 and this ended the period of cultural revolution for China. His successor was Hua Guofeng, one of Mao's puppets who only knew how to take direction from Mao and not challenge or would dare to think differently because he thought Mao always made the right decision. Deng knew he could take on Guofeng because he was a stronger leader; had a vision for China, and so he did. In 1978, Deng became China's leader at the age of 74 years old.