The Jianxi Soviet

Question 1

When did Mao form the Jianxi Soviet? Where?

Answer 1

1927, Jingangshan

Question 2

When did Mao relocate to Ruijin?

Answer 2

1929

Question 3

How many men did Mao have in the Communists’ First Workers’ and Peasants’ Army?

Answer 3

10,000

Question 4

What was the significance of Jianxi in terms of developing Mao’s ideology? (3 pt)

Answer 4

• Mass line was developed
• Importance of the peasants
• Revolutionary spirit (more so in Yan’an)

Question 5

When was the First All-China Congress of the Soviets? Where?

Answer 5

November 1931- Ruijin

Question 6

What was the significance of the First All-China Congress of the Soviets? (2 pt)

Answer 6

• Mao was proclaimed Chairman of the executive committee of the new Chinese Soviet Republic
• Mao’s policies were declared to be persued

Question 7

What was Mao’s main job in the Red Army?

Answer 7

Instil in them a sense of self-worth, discipline and direction- he was Chief political commissar

Question 8

The Red Army were conscripts. True or false?

Answer 8

False- The red army were a volunteer force with conscription being frowned upon

Question 9

How were the captured Nationalist soldiers treated?

Answer 9

They were sent home with money or offered political training to join the communists

Question 10

What were the socialist indicators in Red Army Policy? (4 pt)

Answer 10

• Officers wore no badges
• Officers had no privileges
• Officers were forbidden to beat common soldiers
• Soldiers could voice concern or praise officers at large meetings

Question 11

What were the 3 main rules of discipline?

Answer 11

1. Obey all orders in all your actions
2. Do not take a single needle or piece of thread from the masses
3. Turn in everything captured

Question 12

What were the 8 points for attention?

Answer 12

1. Speak politely
2. Pay fairly for what you buy
3. Return everything you borrow
4. Pay for anything you damage
5. Do not hit or swear at people
6. Do not damage crops
7. Do not take liberties with women
8. Do not ill-treat captives

Question 13

How did the Red Army win respect?

Answer 13

They did not act as other armies, rather as a people’s army:

• Points for attention
• Carried out chores in their spare time

Question 14

What was Mao and Zhu’s general fighting strategy? Did it work against Chiang’s extermination campaigns?

Answer 14

Guerrilla Warfare:
The enemy advances, we retreat
The enemy camps, we harass
The enemy tires, we attack
The enemy retreats, we pursue

Yes

Question 15

How did Mao go about land reform in Jianxi? Why was this criticised?

Answer 15

• he took a pragmatic approach
• based on social relations in the villages
• moderate, common-sense
• land was redistributed to everyone including rich peasants to support their families

He was not killing and burning enough according to the 28 Bolsheviks

Question 16

When was Mao replaced as general political commissar for the Red Army? Why?

Answer 16

October 1932

Because Mao’s ideology about the peasants was seen as heretic and his guerrilla tactics were viewed as roving bandit ideology

Mao’s input was further reduced when the Central Committee moved to Ruijin in January 1933

Question 17

What social reform did Mao implement in Jianxi?

Answer 17

• reading classes for soldiers and peasants
• campaigns against foot-binding, forced marriage and child slavery
• divorce and marriage rights for women
• establishment of a ‘people’s bank’ and a red postal service

Question 18

How big was the Jianxi Soviet in its final year 1933?

Answer 18

• 30,000 km2

- 3 million people

Question 19

When were the Futian Purges?

Answer 19

October 1930

Question 20

What were the Futian Purges?

Answer 20

Began with- Mao instigated purges against Red Army units with suspected loyalty to Li Lisan and had been reluctant to follow Mao’s orders. 1000 were executed and 3000 others were tortured

Continued with- 8th December- survivor Liu Di freed his fellows held in Futian and protested against Mao. Mao called them under the pretence of sorting their differences then executed them

Finished with- 20,000 killed as public denouncements ensued and investigators extracted confessions