China's One Child Policy Flashcards
Human Geogrpahy
What was China’s aim of its One Child Policy?
To minimise the population growth- and prevent another famine as China did not have the resources to feed the explosion in the population growth
When did China’s One Child Policy Start
1979
what was the population size of China in 1949
Population was 550 million when Mao Zedong took power
what was the Great Leap Forward
It was the 5 year economic plan executed by Mao Zedong. Goal was to modernise industry and modernise china by increasing production (steel in particular) and build a communist society where everyone worked for the state.
Large scale communes were established
It resulted in the sharp contraction in the Chinese economy
Agriculture could not expand —explain why
Due to several factors- overeating of food in the first year of the Commune- not saving enough food for the harsh winter ahead. Famine hit the countryside terribly. Farmers encouraged to plant seeds too deeply and too closely together resulting in poor crops. Crops were hit by vermin. Mao Zedong still sent rice to the cities even though those in the country were dying of starvation
How many people died of famine ?
30 million people died
why did the population explode?
Mao encouraged people to have large families - he believed they were a source of strength, raising workers for the collective economy and providing recruits for the Peoples Liberation Army
What year was the start of the first effective birth control campaign?
1970s - the government used the slogan ‘wan-xi-shao’- meaning “later, longer, fewer”
Who was Deng Xiaoping?
He was the leader of the Peoples Republic of China Party who introduced economic reforms and the One Child Policy
How many of China’s population were using contraceptives by 1979?
2/3rds of people and the fertility rate had been halved from its 1960’s peak .
What was the life expectancy at by birth in 1979?
It increased to 68 years from 35 years- a huge leap
Why did the One Child Policy fail, particularly in the countryside?
It failed as parents wanted a larger family to help on farms. Sons are a source of strength and pride. Can do the physical work of farming. Carry on the family name and look after their parents when the parents become elderly ( as girls would live with their husband’s family so couldn’t fulfil this role )
Births were also not registered to avoid fines
The falling fertility rates from 1970s onwards were because of ….
Socio-economic change
Increasing affluence
Urbanisation and modernisation
Contraception
