1. Mao consolidation and maintenance of power (1949–1976)
Inquiry Topic: Mao consolidation and maintenance of power (1949–1976) Mao became leader of China in 1949 having achieved victory over the nationalist forces which had fled to Taiwan. However, Mao still had to consolidate his power and to create a communist state in a country that was devastated from years of civil war and from fighting the Japanese.