Agriculture And Industrial Flashcards
What were communes ?
It was the next stage of collectivisation after co-operatives into large scale communes which contained thousands of peasants
Why did Mao introduce communes?
Hope of increasing rural productivity and was part of China “ walking on two legs “
What was the communal living situation like on communes ?
Large scale communal area in which Mens and women lived separately band all traditional household jobs were taken care of
How was the role of a mother destroyed by Communes ?
The ‘creshe’ was the childcare system in which women no longer looked after children but were expected to farm land in long hard hours the same as the men
What was the name of the place where did old people spend there time in the commune ?
“Mess halls” were responsible for the feeding of peasants
“Happy homes “ were where old people relaxed and lived the rest of their lives
This completely retried family life as all family members wee segregated
How did the communal living fail ?
Creshes we’re poorly organised
Peasants wee forced to work long hours
Family values were destroyed through segregation
They was a lack of supplies such as food and toothbrushes for the peasants
What did Mao blame not meeting the agricultural targets on ?
Vermin
‘The four pests ‘
The eradication of sparrows, rats , flies and mosquitos
What happens as a result of the “four pests “ ?
Led to ecological imbalance which further worsened the crop production
What year were the communes introduced ?
1956
What did the PRC claim by 1958 ?
99% of peasants had been moved into commune systems across rural China
When was the first 5 year plan ?
1952-56
What was the first 5 year plan’s success ?
Nearly all targets were met
Living standards and jobs were guaranteed
Improved housing, healthcare and education efforts
In essay terms was the 1st 5 year plan a success ?
Yes it was !
Stimulated the improvement of industrial production
And focus on social aspects of society
Coal and steel production exceeded targets
What were the failures of the first 5 year plan ?
Factories used quantity over quality
Output was exaggerated by companies to keep Mao happy
Many workers still had no education which held back the economic growth
Why did Mao base his 5 year plan on the soviet model
The soviet model had been successfully used in beating Germany in the war but Mao hadn’t applied it to the Chinese circumstances which is what led to eventual failure
When was the 2nd 5 year plan ?
1958-62
What were the reasons for launching the 2nd 5 years ?
Mao was desperate to transform China into an economic superpower
Khrushchev criticised Stalin at the secret speech in 1956 which meant he was also attacking the model which Mao adapted
The success in industry made Mao want the same success in agriculture
What was the only success of the 2nd 5year plan ?
Improvements in steel production
What were the failures of the 2nd 5 year plan ?
Targets of production are very unrealistic
45 million people died as a result of the huge man made famine by Mao
The ‘ three gate gorge ‘ was so poorly built that environmental damage impacted rural farming as it contaminated the land
What were backyard furnaces ?
Mao thought the best way to increase steel production would be to force peasants to build their own furnices out of mud and girls hair
Used perfectly good steel implements and wanted them in poor quality steel
