The colony of Georgia was established to serve as a military protective zone between the English colonies and the Spanish settlement in Florida.
Richard went gallently off to war, leaving his brother, an incompetent ruler, in his stead. John was so bad that the Magna Carter was signed on his watch. That was helpful because it took some of the monarch's power away. It didn't help everyone since it only gave rights to some of the nobility, but it was a start.
That was one effect of the crusades in England. Richard the Lionhearted likely would have had the same difficulties that John had to cope with. Richard was not a great politician (he put rebellions down with force), but he was a very gifted military technician. John faced the problem of having not much of an army to resist those wanting him to sign the Magna Carta. That should get you started.
Mao successfully led a communist revolution and the Communist Party gained power in 1947. They were appealing than the Nationalist Party as they sought preserve 'true' Communist ideology in the country by purging remnants of capitalist and traditional elements. This was supported by the peasants