Hundred Flowers Campaign, 1957 Flashcards
What were Mao’s views of intellectuals?
Mao didn’t like intellectuals because he felt they were connected to the west and from bourgeoisie families.
Why did intellectuals remain silent during the early/mid 1950’s?
They feared persecution by the PLA.
How did economic growth / intellectual necessity effect the launching of the Hundred Flowers Campaign?
Economic growth was slowing and Mao needed intellectual knowledge to develop and keep the economy growing.
How did internal debates effect the launching of the Hundred Flowers Campaign?
There were debates in the CCP about the pace of change. Mao hoped that intellectuals could replace those in the party that did not agree with him
How did international concerns effect the launching of the Hundred Flowers Campaign?
Needed the intellectuals to develop the country so Mao could catch up with the West.
How did confidence effect the launching of the Hundred Flowers Campaign?
During the early 1950’s Mao had traveled across China and encountered no opposition leading him to believe he had plenty of support. Mao did not expect opposition.
How did a deliberate trick effect the launching of the Hundred Flowers Campaign?
As a trick it would bring intellectuals into a false of security which enabled Mao to clamp down on them and get rid of opposition.
How did intellectuals initially respond to the introduction of the Hundred Flowers Campaign?
They were originally hesitant.
What did Mao make his speech entitled ‘On the correct Handling of Contradictions Among the People’ in February 1957? How did he promote his idea of the campaign? How did intellectuals react this time?
He did it to encourage people to speak out.
How did Mao respond to the criticisms in June 1957?
He created the Anti-Rightest Campaign.
Who became ‘poisonous weeds’? How did party cadres decide who were the rightest in the Anti-Rightest Campaign?
5-10% of each local party hierarchy was expected to be ‘rightest’. 98% were wrongly accused.
What happened to those accused? How many were there?
98% were wrongly accused. They were persecuted and forced to make ‘confessions’. Some were sent to labour camps, others ‘re-educated’ . Many were driven to suicide and some were shot in public.
