Reform + Control 1962-66 15. Social Change

Question 1

How did life change for People in school?

Answer 1

• In 1956 less than 50% of children were in school, 20yrs later over 96% were
• In each district there were ‘key schools’ which prepared the best teachers and students for high roles in the PRC
• During the GLF child mortality rates were high not only due to starvation but due to accidents with machinery in fields

Question 1

How did life change or women and families at this time?

Answer 1

• New CCP propaganda emphasised their domestic roles
• Slogan ‘longer, later, fewer’ was used to restrict family size and increase birth control
• In Hebei Provence cadres
  claimed 70% of the pop were using contraception

Question 2

What was life like for university students?

Answer 2

• Remoulded to more stem subjects due to demand of specialists
• Due to Sino-Soviet Split there was no longer the opportunity to go to USSR to learn
• Early 1960s ‘learn from the peasant’s movement’ due to lack of employment

Question 3

How did the CCP monitor Children and indoctrinate them?

Answer 3

• The young pioneer’s youth group was set up for children ages from 6-14 to monitor their peers and control others
• Propaganda and PLA

Question 4

How was Culture controlled between 1962-66?

Answer 4

Censorship and control:
- Crackdown on western influences and book publishers had to send work of to be approved
- In Shantou 1953 300,000 books were burned in 3 days
- Western influences, nightclubs, jazz and Hollywood films were banned which was overseen by a drama reform committee

Opera:
- CCP officials like Jiang Quing didn’t feel like opera reflected the revolutionary reality of culture, she said it should portray class heroes, so she made her own
- Opposed by the ministry of culture but she did persuade the party to form a 5-man group to control the culture

Film:
- Film was used as propaganda and in the 1960s 603 feature films were released
- Mobile projection units were created to allow peasants to view free of charge
- During the HFC there was a brief outpour of films criticising the party

Question 5

What were the policies towards Daoism and Buddhism groups between 1962-66?

Answer 5

Daoism and Buddhism - Withdrawal from the sect’s campaign arrested and executed those who didn’t withdraw from their religion and priests were sent to laogais
- In later 1950s monasteries were destroyed and turned into prisons; monks forced to work
- 1959 Tibetan revolt saw the Dalai lama flee to India and the Panchen lama take over, however he criticised the famine and blamed Mao so was arrested in 1962

Question 6

What were the policies towards Muslims between 1962-66?

Answer 6

• Lived in northwest China and were supressed after revolts by the PLA
  -As part of the 1953 Chinese Islamic Association children that were taught in Mosques began attending state schools
• Han Chinese people were encouraged to move north-western for population balance

Question 7

What were the policies towards Christianity between 1962-66?

Answer 7

• Placed under suspicion due to western imperialism influence when missionaries in 1950s were exiled, churches stripped of symbols, sacred objects, training of priests was banned.
• Study sessions for members of Christian congregations to reform ‘themselves’
• Didn’t stamp out Christianity but did reduce by 1.7million