Birth of the Communist Party of China, 1921

• • In the mid-19th century, German thinker Karl Marx brought forward the theory of communism.
  • He stated that in a communist society, there are no class differences and all people are equal.
  • The distribution of property is based on the principle of 'from each according to his ability, to each according to his needs', with the purpose of making people work together for the common good of society.
• • In 1917, the Russian communists started the October Revolution under the leadership of Lenin.
  • They successfully established the first communist government in the world.
  • The success of the October Revolution converted many Chinese intellectuals into proponents of communism.
• • Intellectuals such as Chen Duxiu and Li Dazhao published publications to promote communism.
  • Marxist study groups were organized.
  • With the help of Russia, the Communist Party of China was founded in Shanghai in 1921.
  • Chen Duxiu was elected as the general secretary.
  • The birth of the CPC marked the beginning of China's communist revolution, which was to last 28 years until the establishment of the PRC in 1949.