The Early History of the People's Republic of China from a Personal Perspective

The Chinese Communist Party established the People’s Republic of China in 1949, a new government after it defeated the Nationalists during the Civil War. With this new government came new ideals that aimed at establishing a classless society through nationalization and collectivization. Thus, the means of production were nationalized, and the land was redistributed to peasants, eliminating the exploitative social classes. This huge socioeconomic change affected many Chinese families, including mine. This study will focus on the aftermath wealthy Chinese families experienced following the seizure of their wealth and the consequences on families it has led to today. The study will be based on an examination of academic research on the economy, a philosophical analysis of the Maoist ideology, an exploration of the early history of the People’s Republic of China, and an investigation of China’s social hierarchy, as well as an analysis of family history including familial lineages and lore. The paper will investigate the consequences of this early socioeconomic transformation in the 1950s for Chinese families and people at the time.