1.1: State Of China 1949 (to 1957) Flashcards
(13 cards)
PLA
Largest army in world by 1950, 5M men
800,000 conscripts per year (2 year course): indoctrination
Controlled population
Mythic, defeated Jap and KMT
Social problems 1949
chaos, people are starving, traumatised (disabled, veterans…)
Inequality
Difficult indoctrinating Chinese into Comm.
Incorporation of ethnic groups
Literacy is 15% - difficult to employ in skilled jobs
Economic Problems 1949
hyperinflation = no trade
reduced food supply (lack of workers)
Industry destroyed by war and stolen by Soviets
KMT stole reserves (imperial treasures, gold…)
Scorched earth by KMT: to take resources away
lack of industrialisation and mechanisation
Political Problems 1949
factions within CP
Conflict with West - USA/NATO (capitalism)
No involvement in NATO (China represented by Taiwan)
CP no experience dealing with national gov.
Tension with the Soviet Union (Mao ignored Stalin’s advice to give up other regions)
Positive aspects life 1949
won civil war
Support of peasants
Control of government to implement ideology
Resources available for Industrial revolution
Economic Progress by 1957
businesses under gov control
Korean War=industrial resources from the USSR.
Sino-Soviet Treaty loans $300 million of military and industrial aid.
Soviet experts to help modernise cities and industries
Economic Failures by 1957
prioritised enforcing power
diverted needed resources to KW instead of developing econ (50% state budget 1951)
Soviet expertise came at high price (paid high salaries)
overall: FAILED
Political Progress by 1957
Crackdown on crime: organised crime (Triads) and lower level (prostitutes and bandits)
KW Mao forces Politburo to follow him against their wishes
Campaigns increased Mao and the CCP’s power using the PLA
Constitution and gov structure gives Politburo power
Political Failures by 1957
100 flowers campaign showed dissatisfaction
overall: SUCCESS
Social Progress by 1957
Korean War united Chinese people, boosted pride
more freedom (early stages 100Fs)
Women “freed” from chores in communes, etc…
Social Problems by 1957
War delayed investments in education and health
Population more controlled (terror campaigns)
1 million died in war
overall: FAILED
International Progress by 1957
Prestige boosted, century of humiliation ends
Security threat solved
North Korea is an ally
International Problems by 1957
USSR/China competition for best communist country (China won as they had sacrificed more)
China resented lack of USSR involvement
China now official enemy of USA, who increased involvement in Tibet and Vietnam
overall: SUCCESS (china could be an enemy!!!)
