lesson 9 - flash cards
Q: What does PRC stand for and when was it established?
A: People’s Republic of China, established in 1949 after the communists took control.
Q: What is Maoism?
A: A form of communism styled by Mao Tse Tung, the leader of the Chinese Communist Party.
Q: Who were the Chinese Nationalists and what was their role before the Japanese invasion?
A: The Chinese Nationalists were the largest political movement in China before the Japanese invasion and fought against the communists in the Chinese Civil War.
Q: Why was the establishment of the PRC significant for the USSR and the USA?
A: For the USSR, it provided a powerful communist ally outside of Europe. For the USA, it was a blow to containment efforts and signaled the spread of communism beyond Asia.
Q: What was the Treaty of Friendship?
A: An alliance between China and the USSR, signed in February 1950.
Q: How did Chinese communism differ from Soviet communism in 1949?
A: The USSR was an industrial superpower, while China was a developing agricultural country with more peasants than factory workers. Mao’s leadership style also differed from Stalin’s.
Q: What influenced Mao Tse Tung’s political views and actions?
A: Mao was influenced by Marx’s work and established the Communist Party in China. He led the PRC from 1949 and launched the Great Leap Forward in 1957.
Q: What was the Great Leap Forward and its outcome?
A: A program launched by Mao in 1957 to modernize China, which led to massive starvation and was considered a failure.
Q: What did the USSR provide to China under the Treaty of Friendship?
A: The USSR provided $300 million in loans and sent 20,000 advisors to support China’s development.
Q: What did China have to do in return under the Treaty of Friendship?
A: China had to pay interest on loans, buy Soviet goods, and give two sea ports to the USSR.
Q: How did the USA view the PRC after its establishment?
A: The USA refused to recognize the PRC and instead recognized the Nationalists in Taiwan as the legitimate government of China.
Q: How did the USA try to stop the spread of Chinese communism in the region?
A: The USA pumped millions of dollars into the economies and military of Taiwan and Japan.
Q: By 1949, where had communism spread beyond Europe?
A: Communism had spread to Asia.
Q: What was the nature of the alliance between the USSR and China?
A: Though different, the USSR and China became allies under the Treaty of Friendship.
Q: How did the USA respond to the establishment of the PRC?
A: The USA refused to recognize the PRC and backed the exiled Nationalist government in Taiwan.
