Theme 2 Flashcards
Agrarian reform law
Aim: destroy landlord class
Peasants could seize land from landlords
Many peasants didn’t want to seize the land
In some areas peasants already owned land
Land ownership and agricultural production organised by class
North- land reform has already begun
South- communist influence was weaker and landlords more influential
Mutual Aid Teams
By 52 40% of households were in a MAT
Small scale
Peasants looked resources
Enthusiastically accepted- mimicked what was already happening
Agricultural Producers Cooperative
Bigger than MATs Reduced economic freedom Peasants didn’t want to share land Rich peasants resistant to join Only 14% of peasants joined Production output was falling short
Attacks on landlords
Rounded up and forced to admit crimes
Easy targets
Violence used- more by peasants settling arguments
Communes 1952
Each one has its own factory producing industrial goods
Pooling resources would be more efficient
Private farming abolished
Everyone was together- are in mess halls
In theory women could escape domestic duties
Life in communes was harder for women
Four Pests Campaign
Mao believed birds were eating grain
People ordered to kill sparrows, rats, flies and mosquitos
Crops began to die as they were eaten by caterpillars and weren’t cared for
First 5 year plan- reasons
End of Korean War Land reforms broke bourgeois control Inefficient agriculture Behind west and USSR Soviet influence- focus on heavy industry, desire for high growth, centralised control, combination of saving and investment
First five year plan- preparation
New currency- renminbi
Tight govt spending
Interest brought down
Reorganised tax
First five year plan- targets
High growth in coal and steel Self sufficiency Investment in advanced technology Construction of modern industrial plants High levels of grain procurement at a fixed price
First five year plan- successes
Annual growth- 16% Heavy industry x3 Industrial output grew 15.5% Railway volume x2 Industrial working glass grew from 6-10 million Investment focused on industrial projects near cities Heightened CCP influence Standard of living increased
First five year plan- failures
Dependent on loans from USSR- high interest rates- peasants left with little selling crops at low prices
Low supply of consumer goods
Little investment in education and healthcare
Lack of organisation despite soviet advice
Not enough food
Value of agricultural output grew 2.1% decline from 14.1%
Second five year plan- aims
Improve international prestige
Create communism
Increase food yields
Modernise Chinese economy
Walking on two legs- improved agriculture and industry at same time
Politics in charge- mass enthusiasm can make anything happen despite lack of talent
Second five year plan- outcomes
Worsened international prestige Damage to food crops due to steel focus Shortage of raw materials- factories closed Awful conditions in communes Targets led to workers obsessing Peasants scavenged for food Famine
Famine- reasons
Poor weather- Drought reduced flow of yellow river More than 60% of land was affected Typhoons Foreign aid removed Mao’s influence- No aid sent No one questioned Mao after anti rightist campaign
Famine- consequences
47 million people died
Mao withdrew from politics
Liu shaoqi and Deng Xiaoping took over
