theme 1: Establishing communist rule 1949-57 Flashcards
when was the Qing dynasty defeated and what was the situation afterwards
1911, after rival warlords threw china into chaos
who were the GMD and CCP?
GMD was the nationalist party of china
CCP was the communist party in china
why did GMD and CCP form a united front
Japan invaded in 1937
why did japan surrender
America dropped bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945 (surrender that year)
when was there a civil war
1946-49 communist won
why was there goodwill towards communists after civil war
they had ended years of conflict
how did the civil war help maos position
civil war consolidated his power as he showed his ability as a military commander
how was the economy crippled after civil war?
nationalist scorched-earth tactics worsened situation
food supply critical due to requisitioning
agricultural methods were primitive and unproductive
industrial development hampered by underinvestment and non skilled workforce
inflation rate after civil war
1949 inflation rate at 1000%
population 1949 and 1953
540 million 1949
590 million 1953
cost of civil war in terms of lives
approx 20 million
in 1949 what did CPPCC do
appointed the Central Peoples government
drafted new constitution
passed laws
approved common programme
what was the common programme
1949 - 54
a temporary constitution to steer china through next 5 years. gave a wide range of personal freedoms such as gender equality but in reality gave police and army the right to supress any counter-revolutionary activity
what was the CPPCC?
Chinese people political consultative conference
passed laws, chose state symbols.
acted as prov gov until 1954
what was china split into?
6 regions with 4 communist officials in charge of each region 2 of which were military, sometimes 1 person held all posts such as Gao Gang in Manchuria
1954 new constitution subdivided them into 21 provinces
what happened in new constitution 1954
6 regions subdivided into 21 provinces with 2 urban centres shanghai and Beijing
china confirmed a communist country
National People’s congress became new legislature
despite democratic appearance communist party controlled elections
relationship between PRC and communist party
PRC run by com. membership of communist party reserved for those who could prove ideological commitment. out of 500 million population 4.5 million were members
what did every employed citizen have to be in
a work unit (danwei)
did the government encourage mass participation in party groups
yes, groups such as youth league and womens federation
PLA role
1950 largest army with 5 million men. consumed 40% state budget. reduced to 3.5 mill in 1953 and 2.7 million in 1957 under defence minister peng duhai
as it became smaller it was more technically advanced
when was the new code of conduct and what did it say
1956 meant PLA helped peasants on farms