Mao Zedong's leadership in the Chinese Civil War was significant as he led the Communist Party to victory against the Nationalists, establishing the People's Republic of China in 1949. His strategies, including the Long March, galvanized support among peasants and demonstrated effective guerrilla warfare tactics. Mao's leadership initiated profound social and economic transformations, implementing policies like land redistribution and collectivization. While these policies aimed to modernize China, they also resulted in widespread hardship and famine. His reign significantly influenced global communism and set the tone for China's 20th-century political trajectory.