China Decolonisation

Question 1

What does GLF stand for in the context of Mao’s policies?

Answer 1

Great Leap Forward

Question 2

True or False: The Great Leap Forward aimed to rapidly transform China from an agrarian society to a socialist society through rapid industrialization.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

Fill in the blank: The Great Leap Forward was initiated in _____ 1958.

Answer 3

May

Question 4

What was one of the main goals of the Great Leap Forward?

Answer 4

To increase agricultural and industrial production.

Question 5

Multiple choice: Which of the following was a major consequence of the Great Leap Forward? A) Economic boom B) Widespread famine C) Increased foreign investment

Answer 5

B) Widespread famine

Question 6

What was the role of communes during the Great Leap Forward?

Answer 6

Communes were collective farming units that aimed to consolidate agricultural production.

Question 7

True or False: The Great Leap Forward was successful in achieving its economic targets.

Answer 7

False

Question 8

What year did the Great Leap Forward end?

Answer 8

1961

Question 9

Fill in the blank: The Great Leap Forward led to the deaths of an estimated _____ million people due to famine.

Answer 9

15 to 45

Question 10

What ideology influenced Mao’s decisions during the Great Leap Forward?

Answer 10

Marxism-Leninism

Question 11

Multiple choice: Which agricultural policy was implemented during the Great Leap Forward? A) Privatization of land B) Collective farming C) Importing food from abroad

Answer 11

B) Collective farming

Question 12

What was the ‘Backyard Furnace’ campaign?

Answer 12

A campaign encouraging peasants to produce steel in small furnaces.

Question 13

True or False: Mao believed that China could surpass the industrial output of the United Kingdom through the Great Leap Forward.

Answer 13

True

Question 14

What was a significant criticism of the Great Leap Forward?

Answer 14

It disregarded practical agricultural practices and led to disastrous crop failures.

Question 15

Fill in the blank: The Great Leap Forward resulted in a significant decrease in _____ production.

Answer 15

food

Question 16

Problems Mao faced?

Answer 16

The railways,roads,canals and dykes were devastated and there were massive food shortages. Agriculture was unplanned, industry was backwards and all of China was stricken with poverty. He got inspired by Stalinist methods.

Question 17

What was the impact of the Great Leap Forward on China’s economy?

Answer 17

It caused a major economic downturn and increased poverty.

Question 18

Political Changes made by Mao?

Answer 18

The constitution of 1950 included the national people’s congress whose members were chosen every 4 years, this congress selected the state council and chairman of republic. the council then chose the politburo who made important decisions. the communist party was above everything. This led to a strong central govt.

Question 19

What was one reason for the failure of the Great Leap Forward?

Answer 19

Overreporting of production figures led to poor planning.

Question 20

Fill in the blank: The Great Leap Forward is often viewed as a major _____ in Chinese history.

Answer 20

failure

Question 21

Agricultural changes Mao made?

Answer 21

Mao redistributed the land from the wealthy landowners to the peasants inflicting a lot of violence. This resulted in a joint ownership of collective farms with join ownership of farm and equipment.

Question 22

Multiple choice: What was a common response to the famine caused by the Great Leap Forward? A) Importing food B) Government subsidies C) Increased agricultural exports

Answer 22

A) Importing food

Question 23

Industrial changes?

Answer 23

Mao started by nationalizing most businesses, and beginning heavy industries in China (production of steel, iron, chemicals etc) with financial assistance from Russia

Question 24

The Hundred Flowers campaign?

Answer 24

The Hundred Flowers Campaign encouraged constructive criticism aiming to improve relations between the cadres (political group) and newfound intellectuals.

The critics spoke out against govt’s overcentralisation, the cadre’s overenthusiasm and incompetence, and undemocracy.

Question 25

Why did Mao start the GLP?

Answer 25

He wanted China to produce greater output and adapt industry in the country

Question 26

2 points about the GLP

Answer 26

1. units larger than collective farms called communes containing about 75000 people, with their own work and brigade teams. they ran collective farms and factories. each family got a plot of land and a share of profit.
2. instead of large scale industry, small factories with backyard furnaces installed managed by the communes who would also build canals, dams, roads etc.

Question 27

Why did it look like the GLF was going to fail?

Answer 27

A series of bad harvests, a falling out between Russia and China, lack of experience of the cadres.

Question 28

Long term importance of the GLF?

Answer 28

industrial and agricultural improvement in the long run, and also the communes proved to be a success as it acted like a local govt keeping the central govt in beijing in touch with the local opinion.