The party of GMD had members with different views about the future of the revolution. Mao Zedong was a revolutionary who first joined the republican forces to fight the rule of dynasties. Later, however, he turned to communism, and, because of his peasant background and knowledge of rural communities, wanted to see the revolution to be led by peasant-centered socialist reforms. As a result, his perception of Marxism changed – while the traditional approach excluded peasants from the revolution, Mao’s plans were based on engaging the rural populations of China. His military knowledge and appeal to one of the largest Chinese social groups resulted in widespread support of the revolutionary movement.
As a result of the civil conflict between GMD and Mao’s Communist Party, the country was proclaimed the People’s Republic of China in 1949. Mao’s role in leading the revolution was central – his ideology, background, and experience provided opportunities that were not available to GMD. After the establishment of the new government, Mao initiated many changes, and his revolutionaries engaged in anticrime operations, antivice campaigns, land redistribution, and other reforms. The urban change was also present – education and industrialization of the country were guided by an idea of the Great Leap that brought attention to certain sectors of production. Later, Mao contributed to the cultural revolution consistent with socialist ideals. Overall, Mao’s vision of China changed the course of the revolution and shifted the focus on rural communities.