Introduction (Key Dates And Course Overview)

Question 1

Japan defeated in WW2.

Answer 1

1945

Question 2

Civil War between nationalists and communists.

Answer 2

1946-49

Question 3

Communist victory in Civil War and PRC declared.

Answer 3

1949

Question 4

Korean War

Answer 4

1950-53

Question 5

Campaign of terror against counter-revolutionaries.

Answer 5

1950

Question 6

Land redistributed from landlords to peasants.

Answer 6

1950

Question 7

First Five-Year Plan - industry nationalised and agriculture collectivised.

Answer 7

1953-57

Question 8

De-stalinisation in Russia

Answer 8

1956

Question 9

Hundred Flowers Movement leading to anti-rightist campaign

Answer 9

1956-57

Question 10

Second Five-Year Plan (Great Leap Forward) leading to famine

Answer 10

1958-62

Question 11

Split with SU becomes definite.

Answer 11

1961

Question 12

Vietnam War escalates.

Answer 12

1963

Question 13

Successful nuclear tests.

Answer 13

1964

Question 14

Cultural Revolution begins - Red Guards formed

Answer 14

1966

Question 15

Red Guards disbanded and sent into countryside.

Answer 15

1968

Question 16

Fall of Lin Biao (Mao’s designated successor).

Answer 16

1971

Question 17

Nixon’s visit starts better relations with the West.

Answer 17

1972

Question 18

Rehabilitation of Deng Xiaoping.
Succession struggle.

Answer 18

1973

Question 19

Death of Mao.

Answer 19

1976

Question 20

Pragmatic economic reforms begin under Deng, but no loosening of political control.

Answer 20

1978

Question 21

Official admission of Mao’s errors, but emphasis on his achievements.

Answer 21

1981

Question 22

Crushing of democracy movement in Tiananmen Square massacre.
Fall of Communism in Eastern Europe.

Answer 22

1989

Question 23

Define Red Guards.

Answer 23

Loose groupings of young people between the ages of 12 and 30, mainly teenage school and college students.
They were initially formed to attack teachers who were insufficiently revolutionary.