#OTD20 | September 21, 1949
Mao Zedong Declares People's Republic of China: A Turning Point in History
September 21, 1949: Mao Zedong, the revolutionary leader, declares the People's Republic of China, bringing an end to the long-running civil war with the Western-backed government of Chiang Kai-shek.
The proclamation occurs in Beijing, marking the climax of a bitter struggle between Communist forces and Nationalists. The political shift has dramatic repercussion on domestic and foreign policy in the United States. "Who lost China?" becomes a rallying cry for red-baiting extremists, like Senator Joseph McCarthy.
The newly formed People's Republic alters the geopolitical landscape, intensifying the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union. The event sets the stage for China's emergence as a global superpower, influencing international relations for over seven decades.
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The repercussions of Communist Revolution in China are portrayed in "Red Star Rising" from the epic, classroom film, "The Cold War."
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Step back in time to experience the significant events that happened on this day in the 20th century.
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