1. Establishing Communist Rule, 1949-1957 Flashcards
When was the People’s Republic of China (PRC) established? Who did the Communist forces defeat?
1 Oct. 1949, Mao Zedong led his Communist forces to victory in the Chinese Civil War over Chiang Kai-Shek + his Nationalists, the Guomindang (GMD).
List the Political Problems of China in 1949.
China was “backwards”, lacked organised central gov. No history/experience of democratic rule/organised, efficient gov. Regions far from Beijing (EG: Muslim Xinjiang), little in common w/ the rest of China + places like Tibet did not consider themselves to be Chinese at all.
Describe Chinese Society in 1949.
Social attitudes rooted in Confucian tradition: women not considered equal + didn’t have right to own property.
Many peasants lived in poverty, exploited by corrupt landlords + threatened by criminal gangs + bandits.
80% population lived, poor rural areas + survived, farming land. Little health care outside cities + education poor, majority of peasants remained illiterate.
The Aftermath of the Chinese Civil War (1946-49), included…?
War bet. Nationalists + Communists killed millions, destroyed infrastructure + spread poverty + malnutrition.
Refugees clogged remaining transport networks + filled streets of cities.
When GMD fled to Taiwan, stripped China of assets (EG: gold, silver + dollar reserves) + cultural treasures (inc. from Beijing’s Forbidden City).
Economy completely devastated. No stable/unified currency. Biggest problem, hyperinflation. Unable to support itself via taxation, GMD regime sought to bankroll its armies through printing money. In places, money economy collapsed + reverted to bartering. Shortages of consumer goods, people hoarded scarce supplies, situation worsened.
Many, educated elite (inc. bureaucrats + businessmen) left w/ Nationalists. Few experienced officials left, run cities or w/ enough technological knowledge to rebuild, economy.
C.P. had support, rural areas ∵ promises of land reform had appeal, but far less popular among businessman + middle classes in large Chinese cities (EG: Shanghai).
Nationalists cont. threat, bombing ships on coast to prevent a Communist attack, killed hundreds in cities on mainland. Nationalists sent spies + saboteurs, attack new regime.
Describe the State of Chinese Industry in 1949.
Came to power, Chinese industry been badly damaged by Civil War + much of the industrial equipment had been destroyed. In areas, retreating GMD forces attempted to sabotage industrial sites, prevent, falling into Communist hands. Areas, local power stations, bombed or coal stocks low lacked electricity.
End of WWII, Soviet Union (USSR) controlled Manchuria in north-east of China. Dismantled industrial equipment in factories + mines, confiscated tools + gold, + shipped back to USSR.
Factories req. reconstruction before industrial production could improve. Raw materials scarce + difficult to get them to factories. 1949: factory output 44% below 1937 level. Many skilled personnel w/ knowledge req. to rebuild industrial production fled to Taiwan w/ GMD.
Describe the State of Chinese Agriculture in 1949.
Communists, support among peasantry (80%, population) ∵ promised intro. land reform. But, agricultural tools + livestock in short supply + most common fertiliser remained human waste → spread disease.
During Civil War, many peasants, forcibly conscripted into Nationalist forces, replace soldiers lost in battle. Farmers dragged from fields → farms left unattended, crops wilted + died → reduced food supplies, dangerously low levels.
Describe the National Infrastructure in 1949.
Came to power → China in chaos. Previous GMD gov. very corrupt: bribing officials, commonplace + many leaders hoarded supplies/sold food, own profit.
Transport networks badly damaged; est. ½ of railway network destroyed. Blowing up tracks + bridges, key tactic of Communists during Civil War ∵ disrupted GMD’s ability, move troops into battle, but now created major problem for new gov.
Had to rebuild them quickly to consolidate control over large expanses of China, particularly isolated rural areas far from Beijing. Telephone lines damaged. Rivers + harbours clogged up w/ ships sunk from conflict.
(The New Power Structure): Describe the Different Roles of the Communist Party.
CCP coordinated the gov. + grew to 5.8 million people (end of 1950). Set economic targets, controlled education + prison camp system (laogai). Important members of CCP held key roles in gov. (EG): Peng Dehuai, minister of defence + commander-in-chief of PLA.
Party cadres enforced Party’s policies: controlled schools + legal system, monitored PLA + civil service, ensure they remained loyal. Cadres monitored work units (Danwei). All employees belonged to one. Controlled permits req. for travel/marriage, access to housing/food.
Mass Organisations: All-China Federation of Democratic Youth (indoctrinate young); All-China Federation of Women (mobilised women in support of campaigns on issues - EG: birth control + divorce rights).
(The New Power Structure): How was the government organised?
Sept. 1949: Party organised Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), meet in Beijing. Appointed ministers who formed new gov. - Central People’s Gov.
CPPCC created Common Programme: a temporary constitution until full one written. Set a range of rights inc. gender equality, educational opportunity + protection of religious belief. Yet, it emphasised leading role of CCP, gave power to PLA + police, crush opponents of Communism, made Mao Head of State. CPPCC acted as legislature while preparing, new constitution.
Reality: CPPCC did what it was told by Politburo, made up of important Communist leaders. Politburo: 14 members, but key decisions made by five-man standing committee: what they decided became law. Mao: chairman of the standing committee, which inc. close colleagues Zhou Enlai + Liu Shaoqi.
(The New Power Structure): What was the relevance of the bureaucracy?
CCP needed huge no. of bureaucrats, help est. new regime + impose Party’s control over China.
Burgeoning bureaucracy needed to intro. land reform, run cities + intro. centrally planned economy → no. state officials ↑ rapidly, 720,000 (1949) → 7.9 million (1959).
(The New Power Structure): Describe the PLA’s Role.
Played vital role helping CCP est. control. Mao: “All political power grows out of the barrel of a gun”. PLA round up bandits + criminal gangs (they had terrorised many Chinese → attacking them, good way, increasing public support).
Key role, spreading Communist inf. Armed forces attacked Xinjiang + Tibet → chased remaining GMD out of mainland China (forced to flee to Taiwan).
(The New Power Structure): What was the PLA’s economic role?
Role in building popular support for Communist regime via economic assistance. Rebuilt shattered infrastructure: soldiers built bridges, roads, rail links + canals.
(The New Power Structure): What was the PLA’s propaganda role?
Korean War: PLA fought against combined force of UN. Struggle gave rise to heroic tales of model soldiers, publicised values of sacrifice, discipline + commitment to Mao. 800,000 new recruits/year indoctrinated w/ Communist propaganda.
(The New Power Structure): How was there a Growth of Democratic Centralism?
CCP called new system of gov. ‘democratic centralism’.
Meant to be democratic ∵ local level villages + town councils elect representatives. Representatives travelled to regional congresses, present their views. In turn, regional congresses elected representatives + process carried on up the organisations until views of lowest councils heard in ‘the centre’ (Beijing). Yet, at no point any chance to vote in favour of a dif. political party taking power.
(The New Power Structure): Do you agree that “Mao held a dominant position within the gov.”?
The leader of C.P.: Mao became Head of State in 1949. Led Communists to victory in Civil War, held massive personal prestige + inf. His ideas, so-called Mao Zedong Thought, became guiding principles of new gov.
