Everyone, from the head of political movements to the rich and working class to the bottom of the social pyramid has been affected by history and the current events of their lives. No one can evade the historical circumstances of their lives. Ordinary people recall what it was like living during the event and how it affected their lives. Influential figures like Mao, know the inside workings of the event, how it started and the actual purpose. Understanding China’s twentieth century history requires both writings of influential figures and the stories of ordinary people. Researching both sides is beneficial because it offers a clearer understanding of what occurred. Writings of influential figures, especially of political leaders like Mao,
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Utilizing influential figures writings is beneficial because it offers up a different view of what life under a certain government was like. Influential figures are treated differently than the average person and therefore develop a different opinion especially if the government favors the wealthy. Besides offering up a different view, these figures especially if they are political leaders, they offer up insight into why the rules and laws were passed. For example, by reading Mao’s writings one can learn why he thought the Great Leap Forward would work. However, because of the difference of views, one can learn how movements affect the average person. For instance, Jung Chang talks about how everyone was expected to pitch in and look for steel and metal scraps to help steel production. She also describes how it does not work and how it affected everyone’s life. These accounts depict how life was like and although not everyone has the same account, it gives a good example of how life was like for the average person. Normally political officials understand the theories and ideologies of the laws and movements, while the people are actually affected by the movements and their accounts states how life was actually like instead of propaganda for or against the current
Utilizing influential figures writings is beneficial because it offers up a different view of what life under a certain government was like. Influential figures are treated differently than the average person and therefore develop a different opinion especially if the government favors the wealthy. Besides offering up a different view, these figures especially if they are political leaders, they offer up insight into why the rules and laws were passed. For example, by reading Mao’s writings one can learn why he thought the Great Leap Forward would work. However, because of the difference of views, one can learn how movements affect the average person. For instance, Jung Chang talks about how everyone was expected to pitch in and look for steel and metal scraps to help steel production. She also describes how it does not work and how it affected everyone’s life. These accounts depict how life was like and although not everyone has the same account, it gives a good example of how life was like for the average person. Normally political officials understand the theories and ideologies of the laws and movements, while the people are actually affected by the movements and their accounts states how life was actually like instead of propaganda for or against the current