One of the main problems that Mao Zedong and the Chinese Communist Party faced in 1949 was the challenges that a transition government presented. Fresh on the heels of repelling the Kuomintang forces, Mao Zedong established the People’s Republic of China. The main problem that he had to contend with at this time was the pocket resistance forces and the remaining sentiments that the public may have had regarding the Kuomintang forces.
As such, Mao Zedong, through the Chinese Communist Party, took over all the media outlets to manage the image of Chairman Mao and the CCP. In line with this, they also portrayed the Kuomintang forces as enemies of the state. Having gotten rid of most of the opposition, Mao then decided to implement his plans in line with eventually filling in his five year plan for the newly founded People’s Republic of China.
The first challenge was the land reform since it brought about the campaigns for mass repressions. The counter-revolutionaries during this period were dissidents who thwarted the goals for progress of the government, according to Mao Zedong. In an effort to quell all of them, Mao ordered the public execution of everyone connected to dissidents and also those who did not pledge loyalty to the Chinese Communist Party. These plans were only precursors to the plan of Mao to implement his socialist society.
In 1953, Mao began targeting the wealthy capitalists in the progressive cities of China. He accused these people of not supporting the Chinese Communist Party and ordered their arrest and in certain cases their death. All of these acts were admitted by Chairman Mao and he defended himself and the Chinese Communist Party on the ground that these acts were necessary for him to retain his power and lead China to the glorious future that he had in mind for the newly forged People’s Republic of China.