GOVERNMENT Flashcards
when did Mao win the civil war?
October 1949 - beat Chang Kai Shek and the nationalists/Kuomintang
what were social attitudes based around in 1949?
Confucian tradition:
- women faced discrimination
- peasants lived in poverty
- 80% of population lived in poor rural areas
- there was little health care and education
what were the consequences of the Civil War for the CCP?
- millions had been killed and destruction of infrastructure led to poverty
- Nationalists took the gold reserves when fleeing to Taiwan
- the economy was devastated by hyperinflation
- the educated elite had left with the nationalists
what was the state industry when the communists came to power?
- badly damaged by years of war
- Nationalists had damaged equipment to prevent communists using it
- USSR controlled Manchuria and took technology
- in 1949 factory output was 49% below it 1937 level
what was the state agriculture when the communists came to power?
- they did have the peasant support at this time (80% of population) due to promise of land reform
- tool and livestock were in short supply
- farmers conscripted into war (led to crops dying whilst they were away)
what was the state of the national infrastructure in 1949?
- the nationalist government was very corrupt (people hoarded supplies)
- the transport systems were badly damaged (1/2 of rail network was destroyed)
- telephone lines were damaged
- harbours and rivers were clogged up
what did the CCP do?
the CCP coordinated the government - growing to 5.8 million by 1950 - it set economic targets, controlled education and the prison camp system - important members of the CCP held other key roles (e.g Peng Dehuai controlled the PLA
what were Cadres?
party cadres helped enforce the party’s policies - controlled schools and the legal system - they monitored the PLA, Civil service, Danwei (work permits), e.c.t
what was the CPPCC?
the Chinese Peoples Politcal Consultative Conference - it established the Common Programme, a temporary constitution that set out a range of rights (e.g. gender equality/Article 6)
what was the political role of the PLA?
Mao said “all political power comes from the barrel of a gun” - the PLA was used to round up bandits and criminal gangs (triads) - this increased public support
what was the economic role of the PLA?
they built popular support through economic assistance (e.g. soldiers rebuilt bridges, railways, roads and canals)
what was the propaganda role of the PLA?
The PLA fought the combined power of the UN - this struggle gave rise to tales of model soldiers that displayed ideal values - 800,000 new recruits each year due to propaganda
what was Mao’s role in government?
he was leader of the part and became head of state in 1949 - he had huge influence and his ‘Mao Zedong thought’ became the guiding principles for the new government
what was democratic centralism?
the new system of government - allowed some democracy as a system of representatives as voted by the people would be able to voice opinions
what was the ‘3 antis’ movement?
- 1951 ‘clean-up throughout the party’
- against Corruption, Waste and Obstructionist Bureauocracy (removed enemies of the party)
- citizens held struggle meetings for ‘counter revolutionaries’
what was the ‘5 antis’ movement?
- 1952 used to remove possible opponents and seize economic assets
- against Bribery, Tax Evasion, Theft from State, Cheating on Gov Contracts and Stealing economic info
- Targeted the bourgeoisie and
private business owners - Used ‘tiger beaters’ against bosses and managers
were the campaigns succsesful?
yes - businessmen found guilty during both campaigns were forced to pay heavy fines and had to pay stock to the state - the party also sent cadres to take leading management roles to increase control
what was the Reunification Campaign?
- 1949 the party knew they needed to establish control over all foreign influence or rival ideologies
what was the Laogai?
the Chinese prison camps which held 1.3 million by 1955 doing forced labour - most were political opponents of the regime
what happened in Tibet as a part of the reunification?
in Tibet people followed the Dalai Lama so the PLA banned the Buddhist traditions and forced the Dalai Lama to flee
what happened in Xingjiang as a part of the reunification?
Xingjiang had a large Muslim population and ethnic ties to the USSR so they cleared all resistance by 1950
what happened in Guangdong as a part of the reunification?
in Guangdong 28,000 people were killed when purging the nationalist forces due to being close to economically important port close to Hong Kong
what was the economic reason for the Hundred Flowers Campaign?
Mao was worried the economy was not improving fast enough - may have been a genuine attempt to get intellectuals to help solve the problem
what was popularity reason for the Hundred Flowers Campaign?
Mao feared the party was becoming less revolutionary - may have wanted intellectuals to point out Party members mistakes and force them to act in the interest of the people again
