3.2- Changes in industry Flashcards
What was Mao’s first 5 year plan?
Mao wanted to continue to develop China’s industry and modernise the country. SU demonstrated it being successful through communist system and central planning. Many Soviet advisers were welcomed into China providing knowledge for Mao to launch the industrial programme. Land reforms were begging to provide more food for an urban workforce so he felt confident he could follow his plan for industry.
in December he announced his first 5 year plan focusing on expansion of heavy industry coal, iron and steel. Ambitious targets set to expand industry. Plan was put into operation at start of 1953 and until 57. Very successful urban population were willing to work to achieve goals of China. Land rich with natural resources that could be exploited.
What were the results of the first 5 year plan?
Although there was overestimated production figures the achievements of the first five year plan were
1) Coal production doubled
2) Electrical power production increased by three time the previous levels
3) Steel production increased by four times the previous
It was claimed that the rapid improvement in industrial production showed the communist system was better than capitalism system it had replaced. Central planning had been accompanied by the removal of private buisnesses as businessmen were brought into partnership with the state or taken over completely. Results were impressive enough for Mao to feel confident China could begin a new more ambitious programme new announcement of a second 5 year plan
What were the reasons for the great leap forward?
Second 5 year plan (Great leap forward) was announced with great excitement to eight party congress in May 1958 by Liu Shaoqui. China would overtake Britain as an industrial power less than 15 years
Mao believed that anything could be achieved by the people’s republic of China if it just had the will to succeed.
He was convinced communism better than capitalism that this had been proved by the SU success in being first country to launch a satellite into space.
H believed that the policy of collectivisation would produce sufficent food to feed the expanding industrial workforce and have enough to sell abroad and buy machinary
Mao also wanted to reduce China’s dependence on the SU and he believed the Great leap forward provided the rapid industrialisation that would make this possible.
Mao believed this would cause real progress. Mao was convinced that China could leap from rural economy to industrial one without disadvantage affecting capitalist country as it moved towards a modern economy. Mao believed China would be able to increase its agricultural production and industrial production at the same time. Soon China ends dependence on SU.
What were the key features of the Great Leap Forward?
The involvement of the whole population
to achieve the targets
Collectivisation of agriculture change from the APC’s to collectives essential in increasing supply of food for the urban workers
Backyard furnaces whole of China was involved in the campaign to produce steel. As many as 600,000 furnaces were set up in backyards in towns and villages on collective farms men left the fields to work at the furnaces melting down their farming tools
Private owning buisnesses come to an end and all businesses were taken over by the state. The CCP took control of what was produced by industry and to achieve another step towards communist system by removing private property and profits
Massive projects giant bridges canals and dams were constructed. The Chinese newspapers praised the economic achievement of communism
What were the effects of the great leap forward?
The GLP produced some outstanding achievements of labour. In 1958, 11 million tonnes of steel were produced. Huge rise in production of coal wood cement and fertiliser.
Collectivisation failed and 50,000 died in the famine
Steel produced n backyard furnaces was poor quality and had to be thrown away by the officals w collected it only steel produced in large factories was useful
Production in buisnesses decrease as without the provide motive no reason to work hard
Soviet experts left China in 1960 Chinese not yet sufficiently trained
Mao admitted the great leap forward failed. Mao resigned as head of state and for the net few years was rarely seen in public
