After Civil War Flashcards
Mao’ Power
Civil War strengthened his power at the top of Party.
Rep as military commander elevated, loyalty of PLA solidified.
Peasants supported communism - treated them well (land distribution).
Political Issues
Stability by making opposition impossible.
No organized central government.
China was huge + divided, no common association.
Society
Confucianism deeply rooted
Women not equal.
Peasants exploited by land lords.
8% population lived off the land.
Little health care outside of city.
Poor education.
Aftermath of Civil War
20m people died in civil war.
Refugees filled streets.
Nationalists bombed ships on coast and sent spies + saboteurs to attack new regime.
Educated, bureaucratic elite left with Nationalists to Taiwan, no-one with necessary skills to rebuild country.
State of Economy
1949, hyperinflation of 1000%. People bartered.
Chiang took currency reserves to Taiwan. No stable/unified currency = bartering/hoarding.
State of Industry
70% of industry state-owned, supervising 250k workforce.
Retreating Nationalist forces sabotaged industrial sites, local power stations bombed.
End of WW2, USSR confiscated + shipped tools and gold from NE China, Manchuria.
Long-term development hampered by under investment + under-skilled workforce.
1949, factory output 44% below 1937 levels.
State of Agriculture
80% pop = peasants.
Livestock + tools in short supply.
Fertilizer = human waste, spreading disease.
GMD conscripted farmers, fields left unattended.
20% population lived in urban areas, relying on surplus countryside grain but countryside couldn’t even feed themselves.
Only 15% land cultivable.
State of National Infrastructure.
National gov corrupt, bribery was common, leaders hoarded supplies/food for profit.
1/2 railway network destroyed - Communists blew up tracks to disrupt Nationalist maneuverability.
Rivers + harbors blocked by sunken ships.
