China 2.1 Flashcards
How had China seized power?
Through military success, not by democratic elections
How many bandits were roaming the countryside and what was their effect ?
1 million - Clogged the transport system, wandered aimlessly, squandered in unsanitary cities. Bandits made communication and travel between cities dangerous.
What was China’s nickname?
The ‘sick man of Asia’.
What was China’s nickname?
The ‘sick man of Asia’.
Why was the situation partly favourable to the Communists?
Simply bringing to an end the years of conflict generated goodwill towards the Communists.
As the Communists extended their control during the war - they proved they were capable of better organisation than nationalists (who squandered opportunities for so long).
Many non-communists thought that life under Mao would be tolerable and they would have a role in rebuilding China. This was because he declared the willingness to work with all social groups who had China’s interests at heart. It seemed that a new United Front could be constructed - representing middle-class and peasants, workers interests - to many - more attractive than Taiwan with Nationalists.
How did the Civil War change Mao’s position?
The Civil War strengthened Mao’s position at the top of the Party. Reputation as a military commander elevated.
Mao unquestionability now architect of the new China - authority could not be challenged - also had the devoted loyalty of the PLA.
What was industrial output in 1945 and why?
industrial output at 25% of pre-war level in 1945.
Chinese industrial output fell as the Japanese seized most productive areas as they advanced southwards. Scorched-earth tactics by retreating Nationalists.
What was food production in 1945 compared to 1937? Why was this?
Food production was 30% lower in 1945 than in 1937.
Conscription of peasants to fight in both armies caused disruption to agriculture + displacement of thousands of people fleeing to escape Japanese in the east.
When was the famine in Henan province and home many died?
1942-43
Two-three million deaths.
What percentage of the urban population depended on surpluses from the countryside and why was this an issue?
20% of the urban population depended on surpluses from the countryside - but the countryside could not even feed itself.
What was the Inflation rate in 1949?
1000%
What percentage of China was agrarian?
80%
What was the population in 1949? In 1951? In 1953?
1949 - 541 mil.
1951 - 563 mil.
19553 - 587 mil.
What was the most common fertiliser used by peasants?
Human waste.
Why was land reform difficult?
Vast areas of agricultural land - impossible to send to every village to organise land reform. Cadres also often lacked knowledge of how a village was organised. Differences in dialect made communication difficult. And most peasants are not concerned with political issues or revolutionary ideology.
Why was there a lack of industrialisation?
Where were the most advanced industrial areas?
Not yet experienced an Industrial Revolution despite plentiful raw materials, huge labour force and sources of power. Most advanced industrial areas - Manchuria, Yangtze delta + eastern seaboard.
But Japan controlled Manchuria from 1931 - although they further developed its iron and steel industries - much of the new plants fell into Soviet hands.
What did the loss of Manchuria cause Chiang Kai-shek to set up and why was this beneficial to Mao?
By 1945 what percentage of industry was state-owned and how many workers did the NRC have?
National Resources Committee (NRC) in 1932 - to channel investment into industries elsewhere. 1945 - 70% of industry state-owned - NRC staff of 30,000 technical experts and supervised workforce of 250,000 - many remained in China to serve Communists - state-owned industries were to remain nationalised.
When was a radio station set up in Beijing?
Immediately - 1949
What percentage of China was urban in 1949 and what did this reach in 1953?
5%
10%
How much of the railway network was destroyed and why?
Estimated half of the railway network was destroyed. Blowing up railway tracks and bridges - key Communist tactic to disrupt Nationalist movement of troops - now a problem - had to rebuild them quickly to consolidate control, particularly in isolated, rural places.
Why were harbours clogged? Give an example.
Telephone lines were damaged whilst rivers and harbours were clogged up with ships sunk from conflict. Hankou (second largest port) - target of American strikes occupying Japanese - reduced to rubble.
How many were killed in the Shanghai raid in February 1950?
1000 people
When did Beijing fall and when was the new republic officially established?
January 1949 ——> October 1949
What was Xinhua and what did the ensure?
The government press agency - ensured mass circulation of daily newspapers reported favourably on government and Party - new system received positive publicity from outset.
When was the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and how many delegates attended?
September 1949.
600 delegates.
What range of delegates were there?
Mainly Communist sympathisers but included a range of minority groups (eight other political parties, including Left wing of KMT and the China Democratic League) - giving CPPCC a broader appearance and so greater legitimacy.
What did they approve? What was this?
The Common Program - declared that China had transformed into a new society based on an alliance between workers and peasants - interests would be represented by the CCP. Also guaranteed a wide range of personal freedoms (e.g. gender equality) - reality was different. It also gave the PLA and police the right to suppress all counter-revolutionaries activities - powers exercised greatly in coming years. Also named Mao as the head of state and emphasised the leading role of the CCP.
What did Mao say about the people’s dictatorship?
‘The combination of.….democracy for the people and dictatorship over the reactionaries, is the people’s democratic dictatorship’.
How was China divided and politically how did this work?
China was divided into six regions - decisions at national level could be imposed throughout the country. Creation of regional congress gave each region the impression that Beijing was listening to them. Four senior Communists officials in each region (military commander, army political commissar (monitors loyalty), government chairman and a Party Secretary (most powerful)). It was clear the CCP was not taking any chances. Some regions where power was highly concentrated. In Manchuria, Gao Gang held all four posts.
Why did China want to become so centralised?
This level of centralisation would prevent a return to warlord years where the central government was powerless.
What did the 1954 Constitution confirm?
That China was officially a Communist country.
The elections for the National People’s Conference produced how many delegates? Of those how many were minorities and how many were women?
1277 delegates (177 ethnic minorities and 149 women)
Was the constitution different to reality?
Although it was again couched in democratic terms - various references to elections - CCP retained control of the entire electoral process. Real power lay in highest Party bodies where decisions were taken before being ‘rubber stamped’ by state bodies.
How many bureaucrats were there in 1949 and how many did this grow to a decade later?
1949 - 720,000
A decade later - nearly 8 million.
Although this increased the central power of the CCP, why did this level of bureaucracy worry Mao?
Bureaucrats became more interested in preserving the status quo to safeguard their careers instead of advancing the revolution. This bureaucratisation of the revolution is what Mao felt was what went wrong in Soviet Russia.
How many were in the Party in 1949, and how much did this reach by the end of 1950?
4.5 mil.
5.8 mil.
How many delegates were at the Party Congress? A part the Central Committee? In the Polibturo?
2270 delegates
49
25
What was the Politburo ultimately controlled by?
The Standing Committee of Five
Who was a part of the Standing Committee of Five?
Mao Zedong - Standing Committee Chairman - held real authority - Head of State and National President.
Liu Shaoqi - Chairman of the Standing Committee of the NPC, with power to alter laws passed by the Congress.
Zhou Enlai - Premier of the PRC and Foreign Minister. These men ran the government. In reality the NPC ‘rubber stamped’ their decisions. Although Mao didn’t make every decision or attend every Politburo meeting, there was no policy that he had not approved of.
Zhu De - National Vice-President.
Peng Duhai - Minister of Defence and Commander-in-Chief of the PLA.
Who headed the State Council of the Central People’s Government and what did he coordinate?
Headed by Zhou Enlai - coordinates all 24 ministries.
How many people were in the Party by 1960?
20 million.
What did every employed citizen belong to and how was this useful to the CCP?
Every employed citizen belonged to a work unit (danwei) - led by a Party Cadre. Danwei issued permits to travel, marry and change jobs.
Why did the PLA enjoy a special place in Communist mythology?
Enabled the CCP to come to power by defeating the Japanese and KMT - so enjoyed a special place in Communist mythology.
What was Mao’s quote in 1938 that describes the relationship between the Party and the PLA?
Mao, 1938 - ‘Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun. Our principle is that the Party commands the gun, and the gun must never be allowed to control the Party’.
By 1950 what percentage of the state budget did it take up?
World’s largest army in 1950 - 41% of the state budget.
How many were in the PLA in 1953 and in 1957? Why did this happen?
1953 - 3.5 mil.
1957 - 2.5 mil.
By reducing the size of the PLA, Mao was able to ensure the Party held the ‘gun’.
What PLA law was passed in 1955 and what did it mean?
Internally it acted as a means of indoctrination - conscription law passed in 1955 - ensured 800,000 new recruits every year, serving for 3 years.
What did soldiers call the PLA, and why? How did this benefit the regime?
Soldiers called the PLA ‘the Big University’ as it taught them to read and write - allowing the regime to indoctrinate them with Communist propaganda - creating a genuine ideological commitment.
What code of conduct was drawn up in 1956?
Aware it was losing the goodwill of peasants and thus influence, the PLA political department drew up a new code of conduct in 1956 stressing the need to help peasants.
What was ‘Learn from the PLA’?
‘Learn from the PLA’ - campaign instructed the people to learn from the revolutionary and personal attributes the ‘People’s Soldiers’ exemplified (discipline, bravery, commitment to the Communist cause, etc.). PLA was exempt from legal authority.
How was the PLA used politically?
PLA was a means for enforcing central government control in the regions (two of the four regional officers were high-ranking PLA members).
How was Mao attacked in 1956?
In 1956 Party Congress removed references to Mao Zedong Thought as the guiding ideology while Mao was unwell.
What percentage of the workforce were industrial workers?
1%
