Unit 1: How serious were the problems facing the PRC, when it was set up in 1949? Flashcards
What were the problems facing the PRC in 1949?
Resistance
Power
Opposition
Support for Mao
Productivity
Food
Economy
Farming
Lack of industrial revolution
What was the problem of Resistance?
Minor problem
Many non-communist saw communist life as tolerable because Mao said he would work with all social groups who had China’s interests at heart which everyone saw as a realistic option.
What was the problem of Power?
Minor problem as the Civil War greatly strengthened Mao’s position at the top of the party.
Once the war was over, Mao was unquestionably regarded as the architect of the new China, and his authority could not be easily challenged.
He had all the devoted loyalty of the PLA.
What was the problem of opposition?
Minor problem, as Mao made sure that political opposition was impossible.
He returned to a political system where all power lay at the top with him and the CCP members, which was reinforced by military power as and when necessary.
What was the problem of Mao’s support?
The support for Mao was a minor problem as Mao made sure that the Red Army treated the peasants more fairly than the GMD and by organising land redistribution from landowners to poor peasants attracted large amounts of peasant support for the communists.
What was the problem of productivity?
Major problem as China’s industrial output dropped because the Japanese seized the most productive areas and their bombing raids caused serious damage to Chinese industries and productive capacity fell further due to scorched earth tactics of retreating nationalist forces. Therefore, China’s industrial output stood at only 25% of its pre-war level.
What was the problem of food?
Food was a major problem, as the food production in 1945 was 30% lower than it had been in 1937. Henan province suffered from a famine – 3 million dead. Wartime food requisitioning was used to feed the growing PLA and urban population – relied on countryside surpluses.
What was the problem of the economy?
The economy was a major problem as the GMD had paid for the war by borrowing and printing more money, which caused hyperinflation. The rate was at 1000%. Chiang also took off with China’s foreign currency reserves when he fled to Taiwan.
What was the problem of farming?
Farming was a major problem as China was still an agricultural country producing rice and wheat.
Farming methods were labour intensive, using only the basic levels of mechanisation.
The Great Depression meant that food prices rose rapidly.
The peasants needed to become more productive. This was not the case as more peasants were moving to the cities, which increased the demand for food.
What was the problem of industry?
The lack of an industrial revolution was a major problem for China as Western Europe in the 19th century had experienced one.
The most advanced industrial area was in Manchuria, which belonged to the Japanese it since 1931.
Chiang Kai Chek set up the National Resources Committee in 1932 to channel investments elsewhere and had a staff of 30,000 technical experts which provided some improvement,
but overall industrial development was hampered by a long-term underinvestment and under-skilled workforce. Therefore, industrialisation was a major need.
