The Spread of COMMUNISM after 1900 [AP World History] Unit 8 Topic 4 (8.4)

Summary

In this video, Heimler dives into the spread of communism during the 20th century, focusing on key events in China, Iran, Vietnam, India, and Ethiopia. He explains how communism shaped land reforms and revolutionary movements, detailing both successes and disastrous outcomes. From Chairman Mao’s Great Leap Forward in China to land redistribution in Iran's White Revolution, the video highlights the consequences of communist policies. Heimler also touches on the failure of communism globally, offering insights into its implementation across various nations and concluding with some personal reflections.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Cold War was primarily a battle of ideologies: capitalism vs communism, not a direct military conflict.
• 😀 In China, the conflict between communists and nationalists was interrupted by Japan's invasion in 1931, but resumed after WWII.
• 😀 Mao Zedong led the communist revolution in China, founding the People's Republic of China in 1949 and initiating drastic land and industry reforms.
• 😀 Mao's Great Leap Forward involved the collectivization of peasant lands, but resulted in famine, economic failure, and the deaths of 20 million people.
• 😀 Reeducation camps in China were used to force people to accept Mao's policies through intense psychological and physical pressure, with executions for those who resisted.
• 😀 The spread of communism was not limited to China. Land reform movements were also seen in countries like Iran, Vietnam, India, and Ethiopia.
• 😀 In Iran, after a series of political upheavals, the White Revolution involved the forced purchase of land from wealthy landowners and its redistribution to peasants, though its effectiveness was limited.
• 😀 In Vietnam, communists took control of the North, redistributing land from landowners to the poor after WWII.
• 😀 India's land reform efforts after independence were mixed, but the state of Kerala saw success, allowing tenants to buy land and later gain full ownership.
• 😀 In Ethiopia, the communist government led by Mengistu Haile Mariam enacted land redistribution policies with Soviet support, but they resulted in famine, economic failure, and brutality.

Q & A

What was the main battle of the Cold War?

The main battle of the Cold War was ideological, between capitalism and communism, rather than fought with weapons.

How did communism spread in China in the 20th century?

Communism in China spread after the Chinese Civil War, where the Chinese Communist Party, led by Mao Zedong, defeated the Chinese Nationalists, resulting in the establishment of the People's Republic of China in 1949.

What was the Great Leap Forward, and why was it considered a failure?

The Great Leap Forward was Mao's program to collectivize agriculture in China. It resulted in widespread famine and the deaths of approximately 20 million people, making it a disastrous policy.

What were reeducation camps in China under Mao?

Reeducation camps were internment camps where individuals who opposed Mao's policies were sent. These camps were designed to force people to adopt communist beliefs, often through intense physical and psychological strain.

How did Mao's policies affect Chinese peasants?

Mao's collectivization policies led to famine, economic hardship, and the deaths of millions of peasants due to failed harvests and forced grain exports.

What was the White Revolution in Iran, and what did it aim to achieve?

The White Revolution was a land reform policy initiated by Iran's shah, Muhammad Reza Pahlavi, which aimed to redistribute land from wealthy landowners to peasants. While it helped some, it failed to reach many of the people who needed it most.

What happened in Vietnam after World War II regarding land reform?

After World War II, Vietnam declared its independence from France and Japan, and the communist government in North Vietnam redistributed land from landowners to peasants.

How successful were land reforms in India, particularly in Kerala?

In India, land reforms had mixed success. However, in Kerala, significant progress was made in the 1960s, with tenants gaining the right to purchase and own land.

What role did Ethiopia's socialist revolution play in land reform?

In 1974, Mengistu Haile Mariam led a socialist revolution in Ethiopia, which prioritized land redistribution. However, this policy led to famine, failed economic outcomes, and widespread brutality.

Why does the video claim that communism has failed every time it was tried?

The video suggests that communist policies, particularly land reforms, often resulted in negative outcomes like famine, economic failure, and violence, leading to the conclusion that communism has consistently failed when implemented.