Establishing Communist Rule - The New Power Structure

Question 1

What was the new constitution?

Answer 1

• CCP organised Chinese people’s political consultative conference to meet in Beijing
• delegates created the common program for China to act as a provisional constitution
• only 16 of the delegates formal members of CCP
• inclusion of a range of organisations made new regime seem more open and democratic

Question 2

What was the common program for China?

Answer 2

• emphasised leading role of the CCP
• accepted a multiparty system
• recognised right to own private property
• Mao named as head of state

Question 3

What did the new constitution of 1954 establish?

Answer 3

• an elected legislature, National People’s Congress, to be part of the communist party
• represent wishes of the people and meet once a year
• would elect chairman of PRC

Question 4

What was democratic centralism?

Answer 4

• voice of the people would be represented in central government through democratic elections to the legislature

Question 5

How did the new government structure strengthen Mao’s position?

Answer 5

• enhanced Mao’s own personal authority
• Mao both chairman of CCP and PRC

Question 6

How did Mao dominate the CCP?

Answer 6

• by 1950, CCP had 5.8 million members
• party had a central committee of 49 members which was dominated by 25 man politburo which was ultimately controlled by 5 man standing committee
• as standing committee chairman, Mao held the real authority
• national congress acted as a ‘rubber stamp’
• no policy Mao did not approve of would be realised

Question 7

What was the central people’s government?

Answer 7

• power in government concentrated in the people’s government council
• interpreted and enacted laws
• made treaties and declared wars
• appointed all key government personnel

Question 8

What was the state council?

Answer 8

• headed by Zhou Enlai
• co-ordinated 24 new ministries such as justice and heavy industry

Question 9

How did Mao use the PLA to establish CCP control?

Answer 9

• party controlled the PLA through the military affairs commission
• PLA helped increase communist control through reunification campaigns
• PLA allowed Mao to enhance his personal political prestige
• PLA assigned responsibility for suppression of bandits
• 1955 conscription law ensured 800,000 new recruits every year
• new soldiers indoctrinated with communist propaganda

Question 10

How did the structure of the new gov increase power of the PLA?

Answer 10

• PRC divided into six massive regions governed by regional party bureaux
• each bureau had 4 officials: government chairman, first party secretary, military commander and army political commissar
• 2/4 positions held by military officers

Question 11

What were the ‘Learn from the PLA’ campaigns?

Answer 11

• instructed people to learn from the ‘people’s soldiers’
• discipline, bravery… commitment to the communist cause
• loyalty of PLA so important soldiers often exempt from legal authority

Question 12

How did the PLA help rebuild China’s infrastructure?

Answer 12

• officers’ dependants compelled to work in the co-operative farms
• work teams of PLA soldiers contributed to up to a weeks free labour a year, e.g. teaching or construction
• every 50 men commanded to raise at least 1 pig
• during GLF PLA forced to help peasants hunt down pests
• PLA men forced to collect their excrement for fertiliser

Question 13

How did Mao transform the PLA into a modern fighting force?

Answer 13

• losses during Korean War convinced Mao and general Peng Dehuai that PLA needed modernising
• abandonment of old style guerrilla tactics
• size of army reduced to 3.5 million
• new military academies trained ideologically committed generation of officers