New Power Structure, 1949

Question 1

Role of CCP

Answer 1

Co-ordinated government.
Set economic targets & education syllanbus
1949 = 4.5m –> 1950 = 5.8m people.
Party Cadres enforced Party policies & ensured loyalty.
Cadres monitored work units, Danwei, controlling permits for travel/marriage, access to housing + food.
All-China Federation of Democratic Youth, indoctrinated youth.
All-China Federation of Women mobilized women support on issues like birth control + divorce rights.
Difficult to consolidate power in rural areas.

Question 2

Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (gov)

Answer 2

09/1949, Beijing, organized by CCP.
CPPCC made of 600 delegates from a range of minority groups = broader appearance + greater legitimacy.
Provisional parliament until 1954.
Passed essential legislation.
Appointed ministers for new Central People’s Government
Created Common Program.
Instructed Politburo

Question 3

Common Program

Answer 3

Temporary constitution established by CPPCC.
Set rights (gender equality) & educational opportunities.
Gave power to PLA + reason for police to crush communist opponents.
Made Mao Head of State.
Updated 1954.

Question 4

Politburo

Answer 4

Made up of 14 important Communist leaders.
Instructed by 5 Man Standing Committee, headed by Mao. Include Zhou Enlai + Liu Shaoqi.

Question 5

Bureaucracy

Answer 5

CCP needed bureaucrats to establish new regime + rebuild economy.
Bureaucracy needed to introduced land reform + a centrally planned economy, and to run cities.
State officials: 1949 = 720k –> 1959 = 7.9m.

Question 6

PLA

Answer 6

1950, worlds largest army (5m) & consumed 40% of military budget.
Not effective in peacetime, so condensed to be more professional.
Indoctrinated 800k new recruits every year into CP for 3yrs.
1953 = 3.2m –> 1957 = 2.5m.
Rounded up bandits + gangs.
Attacked Xinjiang, Buddhist Tibet, & chased remaining GMD out of China.
Helped rebuild infrastructure.
1950, Korean War, fought UN. Heroic tales of model soldier sacrifice: commitment and discipline.

Question 7

Democratic Centralization

Answer 7

Village councils elected representatives.
Could not vote in favor of a different political party.
Political decisions made at top level by senior officials.

Question 8

Mao’s Dominance in Gov

Answer 8

Leader of CCP + Head of State.
Collective leadership argued in Politburo to an extent.
Personal prestige and influence having led the CCP to victory in the civil war.
‘Mao Zedong Thought’ became guiding principles of the new government.

Question 9

Mao’s Ideas

Answer 9

Follow USSR, focus on industry.
Friendship > slavery.
Continuing revolution - each generation should actively participate in revolution so revolutionary zeal didn’t fade.
Mass mobilisation- revolutionary enthusiasm > experts in developing economy. Large population was main asset.