Read this biography to learn more about Mao Zedong (Mao Tse-Tung), the world's most prominent Chinese communist during the 20th century.
Grades:
6
7
8
Themes:
Political Leader

Born: 26 December 1893
Died: 9 September 1976 (Natural causes)
Birthplace: XiangTan, Hunan Province, China
Best known as: Head of the People's Republic of China, 1949-76

Mao Zedong (also Mao Tse-Tung) was the world's most prominent Chinese communist during the 20th century. Mao's Red Army overthrew Chiang Kai-Shek in 1949, and the communists seized power of mainland China. Ruthless and ambitious, Mao turned China into a world military power and created a cult of personality, forcing the distribution of his image and his "Little Red Book" (a collection of political maxims) upon the Chinese people. His campaign to export communism made China a threat to the West and led to confrontations in Southeast Asia and Korea. Under Mao's rule China endured a series of economic disasters and political terrorism, but for more than 25 years Mao was China, as far as the rest of the world was concerned. After his death, leaders like Deng Xiaoping steered the country away from pure communism, and the Cult of Mao began to disappear. These days Mao is ranked among the worst of 20th century dictators. alongside Joseph Stalin and Adolf Hitler.

Copyright © 1998-2006 by Who2?, LLC. All rights reserved.

Enrichment Activities

Featured Middle School Resources

Exit Tickets for Middle School Classrooms

ASSESSMENT

Exit Tickets for Middle School Classrooms

Exit tickets are a form of assessment that are often used informally to assess how well students grasped a lesson, what ...

Add to Folder
creative writing
children's book
activities
classroom tools
language arts and writing
vocabulary
Create new folderCREATE NEW FOLDER
Test Prep Strategies and Practice for Students

ACTIVITIES

Test Prep Strategies, Tools, and Practice Questions

Help set your students up for academic success with this packet of test-taking tips, test preparation strategies, and pr...

Add to Folder
creative writing
children's book
activities
classroom tools
language arts and writing
vocabulary
Create new folderCREATE NEW FOLDER
Geography Activities for Middle School

CHOICE BOARDS

Geography Activities for Middle School

Help students explore the world and develop their geography knowledge with this packet of geography activities for middl...

Add to Folder
creative writing
children's book
activities
classroom tools
language arts and writing
vocabulary
Create new folderCREATE NEW FOLDER

Related Resources

REFERENCE

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Biography

Political Leader / President of LiberiaBorn: October 29, 1938Birthplace: Monrovia, LiberiaBest known as: The Nobel Prize...

Add to Folder
creative writing
children's book
activities
classroom tools
language arts and writing
vocabulary
Create new folderCREATE NEW FOLDER

REFERENCE

Nancy Pelosi Biography

U.S. RepresentativeBorn: 26 March 1940Birthplace: Baltimore, MarylandBest known as: The first female Speaker of the U.S.

Add to Folder
creative writing
children's book
activities
classroom tools
language arts and writing
vocabulary
Create new folderCREATE NEW FOLDER

REFERENCE

Oliver Cromwell

Political LeaderBorn: 25 April 1599Died: 3 September 1658Birthplace: Huntingdon, EnglandBest known as: Lord Protector of...

Add to Folder
creative writing
children's book
activities
classroom tools
language arts and writing
vocabulary
Create new folderCREATE NEW FOLDER

REFERENCE

Rasputin Biography

Political FigureBorn: c.

Add to Folder
creative writing
children's book
activities
classroom tools
language arts and writing
vocabulary
Create new folderCREATE NEW FOLDER

REFERENCE

Vladimir I. Lenin - Biography & Activities

Revolutionary / Political LeaderBorn: 22 April 1870Died: 21 January 1924Birthplace: Simbirsk, VolgaBest known as: Founde...

Add to Folder
creative writing
children's book
activities
classroom tools
language arts and writing
vocabulary
Create new folderCREATE NEW FOLDER

REFERENCE

Mahmoud Abbas Biography

Political FigureBorn: 1935Birthplace: Safad, Palestine (now Israel)Best known as: President of the Palestinian Authority...

Add to Folder
creative writing
children's book
activities
classroom tools
language arts and writing
vocabulary
Create new folderCREATE NEW FOLDER
loading gif