The CPC had a heavy task in leading the Chinese people to liberate themselves from the terrible exploitation of imperialists and domestic reactionaries. China was ripe for revolution. But what was needed was a correct political line to guide the people in making one.

In its early days, the CPC made many mistakes, either relying too much on what it thought were progressive elements in the bourgeoisie, or going to the opposite extreme and neglecting to build up alliances. Mao struggled for the lines which were later proved correct. He worked out a class analysis which stressed the mighty revolutionary force represented by the poor peasantry: hence he was confident in the long term.