history_-_the_impact_of_chairman_mao_china_1946-76_20230227145117 Flashcards
When did the Civil War start?
1946
Japanese Invasion
1937 - Caused a unity between the Nationalists and the Communists.
When did the unity end?
Chiang Kai-shek attacked the Communists in 1941
How the Communists used this break
Propaganda that Chiang was more interested in fighting his fellow Chinese, dividing the nation, where the Communists portrayed themselves as true Chinese patriots
2nd World War start - China
1937
When was The People’s Republic of China was established
1949
Self-Reliance
Restored to a powerful nation, after the humiliation from Western Powers/Japan. Revolution liberate from foreign control and Feudal Landlords. Not reliant on foreign powers, traded with Soviet Union, unequal relationship.
Continuing Revolution
Fight against the Class enemies - Landlords/Bourgeoisie owned most of land/property in China. Involvement in revolution, violence to prevent return to old ways, new generations involved in revolutionary struggle
Class Struggle
Revolution a class Struggle, needed to continue this. Ruling class in the Comm Party itself. Party needed to be periodically rectified. Officials, struggle meetings, undergo re-education working in fields/indoctrination meetings.
Struggle Meetings
Faced public criticisms and forced to make self criticisms, forced to undergo re-education working in fields and indoctrination meetings.
Learning from the People
Party embedded in the people, listen to concerns/learn from the. Mass discussions on policy. People to check the comm power ensuring the rule wasn’t dictatorial/unjust. Not be like the Soviet Union.
Mass Mobilisation
Mobilise the people to achieve objectives, enthuse revolutionary spirit. Carry out major works, like buildings, dams or roads. Cultivation of Land/industrialisation. Mao didn’t believe in experts/managers
Challenges facing the Government
Lack of farm workers, killed in war, low food. Inflation and financial problems. Rift between China and West, no trade only trade with the Soviet Union. Not in control of all areas of China, warlords/bandits.
Fixed Challenges
Regulation of economy/implementation, currency, Renminbi. Property of Guomindang support/Foreign assets confiscated. Banks/electricity/gas/transport nationalised. Unification campaigns, new system government established Comm party legitimised
Unification campaigns
1951-1952 - Xinjiang - Muslim/Soviet Ties| Tibet - Buddhism/belief that it is part of China
Size of the PLA
1950 - 5 million 1953 - 3.5 millionConscripts of 800,000 every year, serving 3 years. Indoctrinated into the ideology of the communist party. Instil communism return pass it on to peasants from to all areas.
PLA Help
Xinjiang Production/Construction Army with the task of developing untapped resources/agricultural land. Helped with building roads, dams, railways to help the people.
Laogai
Network of labour camps ‘Reform through labour’. Political opponents.
Resist America Aid Korea
Westerners were target of persecution, being spies. By 1950 most foreigner had left China, closed to Western influences. People sent money to the war effort to buy equipment to the army there.
Suppression of Counter-Revoltionaries
Focussed on the internal threats to China. GMD, bandits, Triads, religious sects. Large amounts of people denounced.
Three Anti Campaigns
Corruption, Waste and Obstructionist bureaucracy. Party Members/State Officials/ Line Managers. Mass meetings where people were denounced. Rooted out corrupt members.
Five Anti Campaigns
Directed at the Bourgeoisie. Bribery, Tax Evasion, Theft of State Property, Cheating on Government Contracts and Economic Espionage. Public denouncing, 3000 in Shanghai alone. Fines, loss of property, Laogai. 2-3m suicides.
Purges of Rao Shushi and Gao Gang
Gao leading CPC official in Manchuria 1949. Holding all 4 positions. Head of Central Planning Commission. Attempted to usurp Zhou Enlai, becoming vice chairman. Accused of building an independent kingdoms, Gao Suicide.
Agrarian Reform Law
Confiscation of Land to make it public
Aim of Land Reform
Take land from the rich and redistribute it to the poor peasants.
Results of Land Reform
Landlords were denounced in struggle meetings, some were executed. Poor people with little/no land gained land, gaining support from Communism, destroying the old elite system of landlords.
Mutual Aid Teams
1952 - Where 10 households pooled their labour, equipment, land, livestock - 10 household, peasants still owned the land.
APC
Larger MAT 30-50households, still owned by the peasants
HAPC
200-300 household, government owning the land, very unpopular, but communist. 1956 75 million households 63%of the population.
Pre-Launching the Hundred Flowers Campaign
Comm control of China, counterrev… campaign eliminated opposition. 5 year plan 1 year early, more economic growth required the educated. Party officials, their organisations rather than people. Opposition from the Politburo.
Opposition to Mao’s plan
Encouraging criticism would undermine the party. Russian Leader Krushchev criticised Stalin undermined their Marxist and Lenin beliefs.
The Success of Mao’s Strategy
‘Let a hundred flowers blossom, let hundred different schools of thought contend’. Mao had allies amongst the groups rejecting his campaign and eventually it was granted on April 1957.
Campaign Begins
Torrent of criticisms of the regime, treating people as obedient subjects / estranged bureaucratic class, slavish following of Soviet Union. Removal ‘Poisonous weeds’. Anti-rightists - 500,000 intellectuals camps re-education suicide.
Establishment of the PRC
1949.
Start of the Korean War
1950.
Marriage Law
1950.
Suppression of Counter-Revolutionaries Campaign
1950.
Three Anti’s Campaign
1951.
Five Anti’s Campaign
1952.
Agricultural Producers Cooperatives
1952.
End of the Korean War
1953.
First 5 Year Plan
1953.
Purge of Rao and Gao
1953.
HAPC’s
- 200-300 households. 1955 20 million households
Hundred Flowers Campaign
1957.
Great Leap Forward (2nd 5 Year Plan)
1958.
Purge of Peng Dehuai
1959.
Third 5 Year Plan
1962.
Little Red book of quotations
1962.
China’s first successful test of the Atomic Bomb
1964.
Cultural Revolution
1966.
Shanghai Revolution
1967.
Cultural Revolution over
1969.
Sizes of the PLA
Before 1950 - 5 millionBy 1952 - 3.5 million800,000 conscripts
Bandits and Criminals Shanghai
63,000 Bandits| 90,000 Criminals
Suicides in 5 Anti Campaign
Between 2 and 3 million
Unification Campaigns
- Tibet - Buddism alternative belief systemXinjing - Muslim, close ties to Soviet Union Guangdong - NationalistsPhysical control of China, Bureaux control
Education
Early 20th century 30% literacy, 20% primary school.1956 less than half children attended primary. 1976. 96%.6.4% of budget went into education.
APC’s
1952-2 - 1955 17 million peasant household, 1963 70 million households.
Results of Five Year Plan I
Machine Tools - 220.1% percentage of targetLocomotives - 83.5%Trucks - 187.5%
Social Consequences of 5 Year Plan
1949 - 57 million urban areas, 1957 100 million
Abolition of Private Enterprises
1956.
100 Flowers Campaign Consequences
500,000 intellectuals branded ‘rightist’, many driven to suicide.
