Mao Flashcards
(24 cards)
When was the CCP founded and during what era?
1921, during the Warlord Era.
What was the Northern Expedition (1926-1928)?
A campaign where the CCP & NRA formed an organized a United Front to defeat warlords and unify China.
What was the Jiangxi Soviet (1928-1934)?
Mao’s base where he developed peasant revolution ideology and showed ruthlessness during the Futian Incident purge (1930).
What was the Long March (1934-35) and its significance?
CCP’s strategic retreat that increased their popularity and shifted tactics to guerrilla warfare.
What happened at the Zunyi Meeting (1935)?
Mao gained leadership within the CCP, marking a turning point in party strategy.
What was the Xi’an Incident (1936)?
Chiang Kai-shek was captured by his own generals; CCP and Nationalists formed a united front against Japan.
What was the Rectification Campaign (1942-44)?
Mao’s campaign to enforce obedience and establish ideological control in Yan’an.
When was the Chinese Civil War and what was the outcome?
1946-1949; CCP defeated the GMD, establishing the People’s Republic of China.
What was Maoism?
Mao’s adaptation of Marxism emphasizing peasant-led revolution and continuous revolution.
Describe the structure of government under Mao.
Six regions led by chairman, party secretary, military commander (PLA), and political commissar; real power held by Mao and the Politburo.
What was the ideology of the CCP under Mao?
Marxist revolution through class struggle, importance of peasants, two-stage revolution, continuous revolution, self-criticism, and ruthless determination.
What was the ‘Reunification Campaign’?
PLA military campaigns to impose control over regions like Tibet and Xinjiang, enforcing martial law and repressing opposition.
What were the ‘3 Antis’ and ‘5 Antis’ campaigns?
Anti-corruption campaigns targeting waste, corruption, red tape (3 Antis), and bribery, spying, tax evasion, fraud, theft (5 Antis).
What was the 100 Flowers Campaign (1957) and its effect?
Mao invited criticism of the CCP; when criticism grew, he cracked down on ‘Rightists,’ arresting many.
What was the Great Leap Forward (1958-62)?
Mao’s plan to rapidly industrialize and collectivize agriculture; resulted in mass famine and 40 million deaths.
What caused the famine during the Great Leap Forward?
Poor planning, focus on steel production, uneducated peasants, and rigged production figures.
What was the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976)?
Mao’s campaign to reassert control, purge ‘revisionists,’ and enforce continuous revolution through youth and Red Guards.
Who were the Red Guards?
Youth terror squads who attacked intellectuals, destroyed ‘Four Olds’ (old customs, culture, habits, ideas).
What was the impact of the Cultural Revolution on education?
130 million youths stopped schooling; schools closed; education undermined.
What was the Laogai system?
Labour camps for political prisoners used for ‘re-education’ and slave labour; harsh conditions with high mortality.
What were ‘Barefoot Doctors’?
Rural peasants trained in basic healthcare to serve countryside populations, expanding access to medicine.
How did Mao use culture and propaganda?
Culture was used as propaganda to promote proletarian values; arts strictly controlled, with only approved works allowed.
What role did Jiang Qing play in culture?
Controlled arts during Cultural Revolution, promoting ‘Eight Model Operas’ and suppressing traditional and Western arts.
How did Mao view religion?
Mao was strongly anti-religion, seeing it as a threat to communist ideology.
