Establishing Communist Rule Flashcards
Why were the communists favoured after the civil war? (1949)
They brought an end to years of conflict
Proved themselves as strong and effective
Mao promised a willingness to work with all
What did Mao do to restore stability? (1949)
Made political opposition impossible, even from within the CCP
Always had a strong military force
What were the short term impacts of the civil war? (1949)
Industrial output was 25% of pre-war level
Food production was 30% lower than pre-war level (Henan suffered a 3million famine)
The GMD caused hyperinflation through printing and borrowing
Chiang took the foreign currency reserves with him
What were the long term impacts of the civil war? (1949)
Very little mechanisation in agriculture (no tractors)
Almost all cultivatable land was being used
Total population was growing rapidly
Yet to have industrial revolution (although Chiang set up the NRC in 1932)
Railways, telephone lines and roads destroyed by bombing
What was the short term political system? (1949)
Collaborated with other GMD opposition
Press controlled from the start
Temporary bodies and a provisional constitution set up at the CPPCC conference *(the Common Program)
PLA given much power
What was the Common Program? (1949)
Temporary constitution which declared:
A new society made and run by workers and peasants
Gave personal freedoms such as gender equality
Gave PLA the right to suppress
Declared only favoured classes and groups had rights (‘new democracy)
Democratic centralism
China was divided into 6 regions, regional congress’ were appointed
What was the 1954 Constitution?
Officially confirmed a communist country
Renaming of government and legislators
6 regions subbed by 21 provinces and 5 autonomous border regions and 2 urban centres
Why was the hierarchy of the state?
National People Congress / CPPCC State council Ministries People Congress Councils at county and village level
What was the hierarchy of the Party? (most influential)
Standing committee Politburo Central committee Party committee Local Party committee
What was the hierarchy of the Army?
National defence council
Military commanders
Political commissars
CCCp branches in the PLA units
Why was Mao worried about the increase of state bureaucrats?
(Rose from 700,000 to 8million in a decade)
They were not concerned with continuing revolution, this is what Mao felt went wrong in Russia
How was control maintained across party, army and state?
Leading officials held key positions in all three so they all had similar objectives
Peng Dehuai was minister of defence and commander in chief
What were cadres?
Trained party members responsible for running state owned business and organisation at low levels
Why was participation in party groups greatly encouraged?
Makes mass mobilisation easier
*Women Federation had 76million members
What were danwei’s?
Work units
Every employed citizen were issued permits to marry, travel, change jobs ect.
Later on they issued people’s housing and food to increase party control
What were the PLA?
The CCP’s army
The biggest in the world: 5million in 1950
Consumed over 40% of the states budget
Reduced in size in 1953, but became more efficient as a result
Often used to build infrastructure early on
What was Mao’s role within government?
Head of state and Party
It was rare for his ideas to be challenged, even rarer if he didn’t get his way
What were Mao’s main ideas for China?
Industrialisation
Nationalisation
Continuing revolution (especially from peasants)
Mass mobilisation
Discussing policies with the people (he claims)
What were struggle sessions?
People who had ‘deviated’ from the ‘correct path’ were violently punished and humiliated
What was democratic centralism?
There were lower level elections that continued upwards
But the process was controlled from the top so democracy was an illusion
What were the reunification campaigns? (1949-50)
Areas not fully controlled were violently and tactically suppressed:
Guangdong - the most GMD populated area
Xinjiang - highly populated by Uyghurs (mostly Muslim)
Tibet - Buddhist population, now unprotected by the west after India gained independence
What was the labelling system in China?
Everyone was given a class label. Originally 60 labels split into 3 categories of good, middle and bad. Later simplified to red and black. Those in bad categories were heavily monitored and then punished if they were not actively supporting the CCP
Explain the CCP’s crackdown on crime?
150,000 members of gangs and triads arrested (over half being executed)
Petty criminals often relocated to rural areas
What was the Great Terror? (1950-51)
With the Korean War as an excuse, there was a widespread purge designed to deter disobedience
Tao Zhu killed 46,000 bandits in a year to impress Mao
Minimum of 700,000 killed in total (could be much higher)
In 1951 Mao agreed with Rao Shushi’s suggestion to start purging from within the party - beginning the anti’s campaigns
