Mao Flashcards

Question

Conditions in which authoritarian states emerged: weakness of political system Weakness of the Republic after the revolution that took down the Qing dynasty

Answer 1

After the Xinhai revolution, there was not a strong government to take control. President Yuan Shikai ruled like a dictator or emperor, yet he was weak in foreign policy. He gave in to the ‘Twenty one demands’ of Japan. When he died, he left China essentially without a central government. This led to the rise in power of the warlords

Answer 2

Between 1928 and 1937, Jiang Jieshi tried to consolidate his power over China. However, several factors prevented the Guomindang from gaining total political control: Not all the warlords had been defeated (Jiang Jieshi had allowed them to continue) and some provinces were still under their control. The communists, who were now located in Jiangxi province, were gaining more influence among the peasant population. Mao Zedong was able to establish the first ‘Chinese Soviet Republic’ which had total population of 3 million by 1932. The Japanese invaded Manchuria in 1931 after the Mukden Incident and created the state of Manchukuo headed by a puppet emperor Puyi (the last descendant of the Qing dynasty). *reminder The Mukden Incident occurred in 1931. A plot was organised by a group of Japanese officers. Part of the southern Manchurian railway in Mukden was blown up, and the responsibility for this act was attributed to local Chinese rebels. The Japanese army used this event to attack and take over Manchuria, which the Japanese renamed Manchukuo.*

Answer 3

After China lost the first Sino–Japanese War in 1895, tension continued to grow with Japan. This increased with the 21 Demands issued in 1915. Japan invaded and took over Manchuria in 1931 and then invaded further into China in 1937 which began the Second Sino–Japanese War. During this war as well as significant military defeats and losses, millions of civilians were killed and there were horrors such as the Nanjing Massacre. The CCP took advantage of this war to expand the territory under their control in the North and rural areas. The GMD was weakened by war with the Japanese, so they could not defend this land.

Answer 4

Jiang Jieshi was more concerned with the increasing influence of the communists on the local chinese population rather than the threat posed by the Japanese. As the war progressed, the unpopularity of the Guomindang and the nationalists increased for the following reasons: They could not prevent the atrocities perpetrated against Chinese civilians (for example, the Nanjing Massacre of 1937) nor could they stop the advance of the Japanese army which by 1941 had taken many cities such as Shanghai and Guangzhou (Canton). Jiang Jieshi made military decisions that killed hundred of thousands of Chinese people. For example, in order to stop the Japanese advance, Jiang Jieshi without warning, ordered the destruction of the Yellow River’s dykes which flooded the villages located on the river bank and killed many peasants in the process. The conduct of the GMD towards the local population was dreadful. Stories of nationalist troops looting and vandalising villages as well as raping women were common and widespread. This was in comparison with the Chinese Red Army which had to follow a specific code of conduct to treat civilians well.

Answer 5

As soon as the Japanese surrendered in 1945, the Civil War between the communists and nationalists began. Factors explaining the communist victory include: The land reform was maintained. As the CCP won more territory, they continued land reforms. Many landlords and rich peasants were arrested, humiliated, put on trial and killed by angry and frustrated peasants. Hundred of thousands of Chinese landlords died during the Civil War. The prospect of owning lands increased the number of communist recruits. Mao’s military leadership. When Peng Dehuai was dismissed from his position of commander, he was replaced by Lin Biao. In 1947 Mao Zedong gave Lin Biao a military task: train the Red Army into a more conventional one in order to defeat the GMD. It took about a year to achieve this goal. In 1948, the Red Army was renamed the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). In contrast with Jiang Jieshi, Mao Zedong never interfered with his field commanders and trusted their decisions. Once ready, the PLA used an offensive strategy coupled with guerrilla tactics against the nationalist army. By autumn 1948 the GMD was driven out of Manchuria, then the following were taken by the PLA: Shandong, Beijing (Pekin), Nanjing, Wuhan. In August 1949, the GMD stronghold of the province of Guangzhou (Canton) was captured and on 1 October 1949, Mao’s proclaimed the People’s Republic of China. Jiang Jieshi and the nationalist forces fled to the Island of Formosa (Taiwan).

Answer 6

The GMD entered the war with a larger number of soldiers and more resources than the communists. They had 2.8 million troops, 6,000 artillery pieces, airplanes and the support of the USA against 320,000 (though some statistics indicate 800,000) Red Army troops, who only had 600 pieces of artillery (J.D Spence, The Search for Modern China, 1990). Despite their overwhelming advantage, Jiang Jieshi and the nationalists lost the civil war against Mao Zedong and the CCP. This was due to communist strengths but also the nationalists’ weaknesses: GMD troops were badly trained, tired and morale was low after seven years of fighting against the Japanese. Most soldiers had not received their wages, food was scarce and many deserted to join the CCP army. The GMD was not able to win any significant battle against the PLA between 1946 and 1949. During the Nanjing Decade, Jiang Jieshi failed to build on support from the masses. Their support lay with businessmen and landlords while the large peasant population suffered due to corruption, inefficiency and inflation. When the Civil War broke out, the majority of the peasants already supported the communists. There was internal divisions within the GMD, some rival factions opposed Jiang Jieshi as leader (such as the left GMD and the Democratic League). Many high ranking officers deserted the GMD to join the CCP. Jiang Jieshi was known to be a poor judge of character. He nominated military commanders not on ability but because he thought they were loyal to him. As mentioned in economic factors, the Nationalist government could not deal with the rampant inflation. Jiang Jieshi resorted to intimidation and coercion to maintain political domination over the territories under his control.

Answer 7

Mao wrote many political pieces in Yan’an, which members were expected to follow. If people were found to be disloyal, they would go on trial and confess their crimes. This Yan’an Rectification movement was the CCP’s first major act of coercion to force Mao’s ideology. The CCP ‘remolded’ the minds of the members, and these tactics would be used repeatedly.

Answer 8

The Futian Incident in 1930 is another example of Mao’s ruthlessness. This incident is critical in Mao’s rise to power as it reflected his authoritarian methods and marked the start of Maoist purges. He ordered the arrest and torture of members of the Red Army suspected of being GMD agents or supporters of the urban-proletarian revolution, and hundreds were executed. The estimates of the number of those killed varies between 700 to 1,000 people.

Answer 9

The agrarian policies implemented by the CCP between 1928 and 1949 were extreme in their objectives, but were also implemented with violence. They often involved the confiscation and the redistribution of the land of landlords and rich peasants to the poorer peasants. At times, the exploited peasants did not wait for official instructions, and violence and murder were widespread

Answer 10

the CCP contrasted dramatically with the GMD in terms of how the army interacted with civilians. The rules Mao instilled, persuaded people that the CCP were more civilised and cared more about the Chinese people. Also, the policies were related to improving the lives of peasants, so their membership in the party grew exponentially from 1937 to 1945. These policies promoted literacy, medical care and land reform.

Answer 11

October 1st 1949

Answer 12

Legal methods, including creating new laws and new institutions, are necessary for the consolidation and maintenance of power. After the CCP came to power, they were able to create a new government with a new constitution, new laws and new law-making bodies, which were all controlled by new party members. Normative, standard positions and bodies existed, but the party held all real power in the prerogative state by controlling the government. Party cadres (devoted CCP members) held the most power, and the CCP now could hold mass political control over their 6 million members by 1954.

Answer 13

At first, there was a degree of political pluralism Political pluralism is the recognition and affirmation of diverse political views within the government in order to peacefully coexist. to create stability in China, and a feeling of cooperation within the new state. During the Chinese Political Consultative Conference (also known as the PCC) in Beijing on 21 September 1949 several decisions were made, including electing and appointing the leaders. Delegates from various (non-opposing) parties attended to establish a new state. The most significant points of the conference are: Mao Zedong was elected Chairman (Head of State) Zhu De, Liu Shaoqi and Gao Gang were elected vice chairpersons Zhou Enlai was appointed first premier (prime minister) by Mao Zedong the Organic Law was also adopted (essentially a constitution). The organic law is a law, or system of laws, that forms the foundation of a government, such as a constitution.

Answer 14

Before the constitution, between 1950 and 1953, the CCP launched a series of campaigns (named ‘reunification campaigns’) to consolidate its power. While some were done through political means (Xinjiang) others needed more violent methods (Tibet).

Answer 15

In 1954, the socialist constitution was created based on the PCC and the Organic Law. It reaffirmed the regime and established the rights of the people, including equality among the Han majority and the minority groups. It set up a normative legal system in China. Judges were appointed by the government, and all citizens had the right to a fair trial. However, this was not genuinely implemented until after the death of Mao.

Answer 16

Everyone in China under Mao Zedong had to belong to a danwei, or work unit. This is how the CCP could implement party policy. You needed permission from your work unit to get married or have children. You were assigned a home and provided food to eat with others in the unit, and you could be punished for not obeying policies.

Answer 17

The dangan means ‘record’. It is a file containing private and professional information for every Chinese person. It documented information such as education (school records and grade transcripts), family background (including photos), job history (promotion, level of work, an appraisal from employers), political activity (entry into the Communist Youth League and the Communist Party), achievements and mistakes made and even self-criticism. The dangan more than the danwei or hukou, instilled a culture of fear among the population as it was the most intrusive and was the one which could elevate someone’s position as much as it could destroy his or her life. The government and the work unit had access to these files.

Answer 18

The hukou was a very old system of household registration (birth, death, movement of people, family members). Under the dynastic rule, it was used for taxation and conscription purposes. Its objective changed during Mao’s era. In 1955, it became a way to control rural–urban migration when China was going through rapid industrialisation. Millions of people were moving into the cities from rural areas in search of better economic opportunities, but now migrants needed a certificate to move. You were also registered as having agricultural or non-agricultural status, with the latter having better benefits, and conversion being almost impossible.

Answer 19

Where? a province located in the north-west of China, What made it different? has changed political status since 1644. It was an imperial province during the Qing dynasty, then became a semi-independent region during the warlord era and the Republican period. Its population was mainly made up of Uighurs (a minority group) and other groups, and most followed Islam as their main religion, unlike the Han who were the majority in most of China. What happened? When China was proclaimed the PRC in October 1949, the province was ruled by a coalition government made up of Guomindang members and local leaders. The CCP feared the region would either start a separatist movement, or become part of the Soviet Union. Just after the PLA moved to the region, the provincial authority proclaimed its allegiance to the CCP and by 1951, Xinjiang was under the PLA’s control. In Chinese historiography, it is referred to as the Peaceful Liberation of Xinjiang. It gained an autonomous status in 1955. As an autonomous region, Xinjiang has its own local government and more legislative rights than other provinces in China. It also has a higher percentage of a particular minority ethnic group.

Answer 20

in 1957, the Hundred Flowers campaign was created to encourage constructive criticism of the party However, when people started attacking Mao and other leaders, and accusing the party of corruption, Mao ended the campaign and began to attack the critics, forcing them to take back what they said. This became the Anti-Rightist movement. This was lead by Deng Xiaoping (discussed below), and over 500,000 people were declared rightists. Some were sent to be ‘re-educated’ in the countryside.

Answer 21

When? Mao announced the ‘three-anti campaign’ in 1951, which then transformed into the five-anti campaign in 1952. Why? The purpose was to rid China of corruption and enemies of the state. What were they against? The first three reforms were in corruption, waste and inefficiency, and aimed towards CCP members, government officials, and former Kuomintang party members. This expanded into the five used to attack capitalists: bribery, fraud, industrial sabotage, tax evasion and theft of government property. What was the effect? In these campaigns, Mao declared certain members of the government and then the middle class as enemies of the state. This lead to trials and purges, but also extreme psychological pressure. As a result, many victims were terrified and humiliated, and some were tortured and/or killed, or sent to labor camps. There were hundreds of thousands of (questionable) suicides, as well.

Answer 22

By 1949, the news and all information was censored in China, and journalists were ‘re-educated’. This ‘re-education’ spread to institutions such as schools, universities, and government and became known as thought reform. Everyone needed to learn party doctrine and become loyal to the state. This would sometimes be done by publicly confessing past mistakes. You could also show your loyalty by denouncing others as enemies of the state. It became so extreme that children would denounce their parents, as loyalty to Mao was more important than loyalty to one's family. The most ‘dangerous’ enemies were either executed or sent to labour camps. Due to all of the purges, the CCP was the only political party by 1952.

Answer 23

after World War II Korea was split between a communist Soviet-backed government in the north, and a non-communist US-backed government in the south. North Korea invaded South Korea and they fought back. Mao supported the invasion, but it was not a Chinese initiative, as Mao’s priority was the reunification campaigns. However, China eventually became heavily involved, sending many troops over the course of the war. This war also led to the ‘Hate America’ campaign. The war made Mao popular, but also had major effects on the economy.

Answer 24

When? occured from 1953–1957. Who helped? The first Five Year Plan was modelled on Stalin's plans for industry. The Treaty of Friendship signed with the USSR in February 1950 included a loan of $300 million by the USSR over five years and assistance from Soviet consultants and experts. With the help of over 11 000 advisers, Chinese people learned how to build bridges with iron, steel plants and electrics powers stations. Effects The first Five Year Plan helped the CCP increase control over its people and showed to the citizens of China as well as the rest of the world that China and the CCP were capable of creating astonishing engineering works such as the bridge across the Yangtze River.

Answer 25

When? The campaign was launched in February 1957. What was it? In the beginning, most intellectuals were reluctant to express their opinions and were afraid of being arrested, publicly tried and executed having witnessed the outcome of the ‘Three-Anti’ and the ‘Five-Anti’ campaigns. However, by May 1957, millions of letters attacking the communist system and its policies were sent to the government. Rallies on the streets, posters and articles in magazines protested against political corruption from party officials and censorship. They also protested the low living standards of most Chinese people while the party cadres were living a privileged lifestyle. This flow of negative and unconstructive criticism against the party took Mao Zedong by surprise. How long did it last? the campaign was abandoned in June Who was put in charge of this? Mao Zedong put Deng Xiaoping (Teng Hsiao-p’ing) in charge of leading the Anti-Rightist campaign. How did Mao's cult of personality thing make this worse? A document was drawn up where Mao expressed his opinion and estimated that about ten per cent of people were rightists. This was misunderstood by the local officials who thought they had to find ten rightists for every hundred people. What were the effects? In July a new crusade against the intellectuals was launched, the anti-rightist campaign. The people who had spoken out became enemies and rightists. The rightists were denounced in front of their colleagues in a struggle meeting (for example, a professor was once criticised for using a metaphor ‘there are a thousand miles between the party and the masses’ to express his opinion on how the relationship between the party and the people was not as close as they used to be. He was accused of being a rightist and had to apologise in front of a mass of people). Between 500,000 and 700,000 Chinese were labelled as ‘rightists’, and most were sent to the countryside for labour reform.

Answer 26

When? 1958 to 1962 Why The objective of this campaign was to modernise China’s economy (agriculture and industry) by using its vast population of 600 million people in large rural communes. What were the effects? The campaign resulted in few successes and one spectacular failure – it led to one of the worst famines China has ever experienced. Demographers used official census figures to estimate that 20–30 million people died. Dikotter suggested a higher number of 45 million deaths The other consequence of this failure was Mao Zedong’s decision to step back from the day-to-day running of the country. He resigned as Head of State but kept his position as Chairman of the CCP. Who was in charge of day-to-day politics afterwards? The government was now under the control of three men: Liu Shaoqi as President, Zhou Enlai as Prime Minister and Deng Xiaoping as the CCP General Secretary.

Answer 27

When? between 1966 and 1976. What? The Cultural Revolution was a social and political movement. Why? On the surface one of the objectives of this movement was to remove all capitalist and intellectual elements from China, but in reality it was Mao Zedong’s attempt to eliminate his rivals in the government (mainly Liu Shaoqi and Deng Xiaoping) and revive his image (cult of personality) after the catastrophic consequences of the Great Leap Forward What was the policy at the beginning? The goal at the start of the Cultural Revolution was to get rid of the Four Olds – old ideas, old culture, old customs and old habits. Old books were burnt, porcelain from the Ming dynasty destroyed, museums ransacked, historical heritage sites damaged and traditional street names were changed to new revolutionary ones. In Beijing, more than 70 per cent of the city’s cultural artifacts were destroyed in August and September 1966. Why were intellectuals attacked? For Mao Zedong, socialism could not be achieved without these attacks and destructions, he needed to eradicate religion and intellectuals as they both had the capability to influence people’s beliefs and minds. While temples, shrines and religious statues were destroyed, intellectuals (mainly teachers) were physically tortured, beaten to death or sent to prison. Who was doing the attacking? The people who carried out these attacks were the Red Guards – students from elementary to high schools and it was for them the social norm to humiliate, attack and kill enemies as these orders were given by Mao Zedong.

Answer 28

Why? In order to guide the Cultural Revolution, Mao Zedong relied on several people such as Lin Biao and several committees and groups. Who? It was a hard-line political group of four Chinese Communists Party officials: Mao Zedong’s wife Jiang Qing, Zhang Chunqiao, Yao Wenyuan and Wang Hongwen. What? They set a precedent for radicalising the arts and triggered the beginning of the Cultural Revolution. The Gang implemented harsh policies and were feared for their cruelty. They embraced Mao Zedong’s ideology of ‘Permanent Revolution’ and pushed to apply it at every level of society – the Gang of Four wanted the class enemy to be struggled against and destroyed.

Answer 29

When? in 1968 Why? The situation escalated as the Red Guard became more violent and difficult to control. (Too communist) Effects Mao Zedong ordered them to return to schools, and the more radical groups were violently suppressed by the PLA. A new movement called ‘Up the mountain and down the countryside’ (the urban-to-rural migration) was implemented where students from urban areas were sent to the countryside to experience a peasant’s life. Between 1968 and 1976, 15 to 17 million young people were sent to different rural areas all over China. This movement deprived an entire generation of their youth, ripping millions of families apart. Many did not go back to school or university when they were allowed to return home. What did they become known as? They are also known as the Lost Generation of the Cultural Revolution.

Answer 30

People's communes Farmer's land was taken away and they would eat in communes of an average of 5000 families in one commune Backyard furnaces Crop production experiments dumping seed piles feet tall over the land which reduced yields in Anhui from 400 jin per mu to less than 200 jin per mu Moderately productive land was left unplanted based on the belief that concentrating manure and effort on the most fertile land would lead to large productivity gains per-acre. local leaders were pressured into falsely reporting ever-higher grain production figures to their political superiors. up to 10 times their actual production amounts forced the state to give more food than they could spare Four pests campain Encouraged people to kill pests such as sparrows which caused an influx of locusts as their predator was dead which ate a lot of their crops

Answer 31

He did not have a secret police! The CCP had created a society of watchers where everyone was watching and spying on everyone ready to denounce neighbours, friends and even family members.

Answer 32

The number of casualties during the Cultural Revolution is not easy to measure, even today, particularly because of the collapse of government and police authority in some places. Death estimates range from the thousands to the millions.

Answer 33

What makes this place special? Since 1644, China had tried without success to establish control over Tibet because many Chinese had always regarded the province as being part of China, even though Tibetans claimed otherwise. What happened? On 7 October 1950, the PLA invaded the eastern part of Tibet with the pretext of liberating it from Western imperialist powers (the Tibetan government had a record of about ten foreigners in the country at that time). The region was poor with little infrastructure, no paved roads and a limited communications system. Its army of 8,000 men was poorly equipped and not well-trained, which led to its rapid defeat against the 40,000 PLA troops. On 23 May 1951, the Chinese government imposed the 17 Point Agreement for the Peaceful Liberation of Tibet which confirmed Chinese sovereignty over the province. How did Tibet respond? the Great Leap Forward lead to the starvation and death of millions of people. In 1959, there was an uprising that led to mass arrests of Tibetans and increased social and religious control of Tibet.

Answer 34

What makes this place special It was also the headquarters of the KMT. What happened? During the reunification campaign (1949-50), it was purged of Nationalist forces who were forced to flee to Formosa (Taiwan). An estimated 28,000 people were executed during this campaign.

Answer 35

three anti campaign - against people in the party The Three Antis campaign (san fan) focused on waste, corruption and bureaucratic inefficiency. The main targets were CCP members, government officials and business managers. Within the first month of the campaign (December 1951) over 1000 officers were denounced five anti campaign - bourgeoisie, merchant, industrialists and business people As in the Three Antis campaign, those convicted had to confess their crimes in front of everyone in public trials. The Chinese people were even encouraged to support the campaign and denounce people they suspected to be guilty in one of the five elements. It is estimated that about 450,000 private businesses committed one of the 'five evils' Both campaigns had the result intended by purging many people within the Communist Party but also within the bourgeoisie. It also developed the concept of class struggle and showed the Chinese population that it would be futile to attempt to challenge the new regime.

Answer 36

By swimming the Yangtze River in July 1966

Answer 37

1966 Mao’s cult of personality reached its height when he came back after being away from ruling China. At the same time, his thoughts in the Little Red Book were published for everyone in China to read and to have at all time

Answer 38

How many copies were circulated during the cultural revolution? One billion

Answer 39

Every means of propaganda was used from posters, media, literature, films and theatres, music, radio and loudspeakers, and also within the education system and in local committee meetings.

Answer 40

During the Cultural Revolution, it was compulsory for every home to have a portrait or a sculpture of Mao Zedong. Posters during that time portrayed Mao Zedong shining as a god-like figure, often with a smiling face located at the centre, with the sun’s rays coming out from him (seen in The big picture). He was symbolising the father of the nation and being all powerful.

Answer 41

Posters were seen everywhere on the streets and in public spaces such as train stations and parks. They were also found in newspapers and even on stamps and pins. As they were cheap to produce, poor citizens even used them as wallpaper to decorate their homes. These posters were always very colourful, and they often brightened the houses of the poorest Chinese people. Worth noting that a lot of people were illeterate, and most propaganda had to reflect this

Answer 42

Posters could be widely distributed very quickly, but radios and loudspeakers also started to be extensively used after 1949. Both were able to reach the majority of the Chinese population living in remote areas, especially at a time when the transport system was still inadequate and inefficient. They broadcasted government propaganda as well as national anthems.

Answer 43

The use of role models was also used as a propaganda technique to teach the population how to behave. In 1963, Mao Zedong encouraged the whole nation to learn the ‘Lei Feng spirit’. Lei Feng was a Chinese soldier who died at the age of 22. Within a year of this death, Lei Feng became famous for his countless everyday acts helping and serving the people in need. He was depicted as a happy and positive person despite having experienced a difficult childhood with the loss of his parents and siblings at a very early age. Lin Biao promoted his image by publishing his diary which contained positive comments on Mao Zedong. When the Cultural Revolution started, the ‘Learn from Lei Feng’ campaign was launched asking people to obey and to be loyal to Mao Zedong. Many historians today believe that Lei Feng did not really exist and that he was pure fabrication from the CCP, others even argue that he was a composite individual.

Answer 44

Germany under Hitler and the Soviet Union under Stalin also used role models. In the Soviet Union, the cult of Pavel Morozov was developed by the propaganda machine. He was a young soviet who denounced his father to the authorities which led to the arrest and execution of his father. Songs, plays, poems, opera and even biographies were created. It encouraged the children to follow his path and to denounce their parents if they felt their parent had become an enemy of the nation. Horst Wessel, a German stormtrooper, was murdered by two communists in 1930. Joseph Goebbels made him a martyr in the Nazi Party’s struggle with their communist opponents.

Answer 45

What happened? Land reform began even before 1949 in China, of which peasants supported enthusiastically. The land would be confiscated from the landlords, and then redistributed to the peasants who were formerly tenants. Then, the landlords would be publicly humiliated and punished, and the landlord class essentially disappeared. Many landlords faced 'People's tribunals' in their villages where they were tried and executed. How many died? The estimates of how many landlords died at this time are around two to three million.

Answer 46

A struggle session was a form of public humiliation where people had to undertake self-criticism in order to pinpoint the mistakes they made and free themselves from error. This method was a practice used in the Soviet Union starting in the 1920s, and Mao Zedong adopted it for the first time during the rectification campaign in 1941. It was used during the Anti-Rightist campaign and more extensively during the Cultural Revolution.

Answer 47

Who were they? High ranking CCP members who had proven their loyalty, and were very capable. However Gao gang was trying to increase his power within the CCP What happened? In 1954 both were expelled from the Communist Party. Gao Gang was accused of trying to increase his own power within the CCP, attempting to discredit Liu Shaoqi and developing close ties with the Soviet Leadership while Rao was accused of being a rightist for having criticised the economic policies of the first Five Year Plan. Both were publicly denounced for their crimes. What happened to the two ppl Gao Gang ended up committing suicide and Rao Shushi finished his life working on a farm.

Answer 48

In 1966 after Mao got back into power he wanted to like take down the people who were just in power By 1968 Liu Shaoqi and Deng Xiaoping were denounced as ‘capitalist roaders’ and they were demoted and stripped of their party positions. He was put under house arrest for over two years. He died on 12 November 1969 in a prison in Kaifeng in Henan Province, but his death was kept from his family until the death of Lin Biao in 1972. Like Liu Shaoqi, Deng Xiaoping was 'struggled against', put under house arrest with his wife, and publically humiliated. However, his longtime friendship with Zhou Enlai allowed Deng to escape violent attacks by the more radical groups, and he and his wife were sent to Jiangxi province to undertake a re-education programme, If Deng Xiaoping was lucky to escape the violent attacks from the Red Guards, his children were not. His first-born son Deng Pufang was tortured, fell from a high window and broke his spine. He was not immediately treated because of his father’s situation and ended up paralysed.

Answer 49

The Laojiao was a special labour camp known as ‘Education through labour’. They took the form of prison camps or prison farms and were designed to re-educate people, mainly intellectuals. Its main objective was for those being ‘re-educated’ to live and work with farmers and workers. During their re-education they were also required to attend political classes where they had to denounce themselves and criticise their own thinkings. The aim was to re-align their thoughts with the communist ideology. Historically the first ‘re-education through labour’ was used to punish the enemies of the state/counter-revolutionaries during the Anti-Rightist campaign.

Answer 50

The Laogai (Labour reform), often compared to the gulag in the Soviet Union. They were internment camps where criminals were sent. Many of the detention centres were built in places where the weather was extreme: either very hot or very cold. The prisoners were required to carry out hard labour such as digging ditches or building roads during the day. The conditions were dreadful. The number of Chinese who have been detained and/or killed in these camps vary.

Answer 51

The first meeting between Mao Zedong and Stalin took place in Moscow only a few months after the proclamation of the PRC. This was Mao's first trip overseas, and he arrived in Moscow on 16 December 1949, In the treaty, the Soviet Union recognised the PRC as the legitimate government, and provided a 300 million dollar loan to China. This Communist alliance was also significant on a more global scale, as it opened a second front of the Cold War in Asia. Additional Sino-Soviet arrangements were made between 1953 and 1956. For example, it was agreed that Soviet experts would help the PRC to draft the first Five Year Plan. However, the growing suspicion of Mao Zedong toward Stalin’s motives would eventually lead to the sino-soviet split in 1960.

Answer 52

Mao was worried that if the UN was successful in defending South Korea China might be at risk And the USSR was pressuring them to help North Korea In October 1950 a Chinese army (called the Chinese People’s Volunteers or CPV) of 500,000 soldiers under the command of Peng Dehuai crossed the Yalu River waiting for the UN forces to approach the border. This war became the war to 'Resist America and Assist Korea.' (Assist North Korea, more specifically) For no change in borders, the causalties were massive, but Mao propagandised the war as his success.

Answer 53

It was a success because: China has been able to fight the greatest power in the world to a standstill. North Korea remained a communist state. China preserved its border of Manchuria where much of its heavy industry was concentrated. The fighting of the CPV impressed the Soviets which pleased Mao Zedong. It was also a failure because: China experienced heavy casualties- 600,000 soldiers were killed and missing, 103,284 soldiers were wounded. Mao Zedong son’s was killed in an air raid. Russia which accepted to help China by lending military equipment was expecting repayment. Relations with the USA deteriorated further. The USA was now more committed to the defence of Taiwan. In 'Operation Comeback' thousands of POWs renounced communism for freedom

Answer 54

The relationship between Mao Zedong and Stalin had always been quite tense, and it became worse under Khrushchev and Brezhnev’s leadership. There were multiple factors that led to the final Sino-Soviet split: disputes over borders disputes on how to run a socialist revolution personality clashes the consequences of the signature of the Treaty of Friendship Alliance and Mutual Assistance and the Korean War Khrushchev's secret speech of 1956 Khrushchev’s foreign policy China meddling in Soviet international affairs

Answer 55

Bad (woah) they bombed the islands around it a good amount and America said it would defend it against the mainland China was like, uhhhhh we were planning on atacking it But the USSR wasn't backing it up so China backed down and Khrushchev accusing Mao of being a 'Trotskyist'. Which I find funny cause i think its referring to Trotsky the insufferable guy (personality wise) but maybe the best leader for the USSR and not Stalin Either way yea No war

Answer 56

When? 1950 What? The development of a more equitable distribution of land throughout China. The confiscation of land from the landlords and redistributing it to the peasants. Moving China’s traditional agricultural system towards a more modern one. Effect? By the end of the year, about 40 per cent of the land, farming tools, animals and other means of production was in the hand of 60 per cent of the peasant population, and the CCP estimated that by 1953, China’s agrarian reform was completed.

Answer 57

Who supported it and how? It was a plan supported by Stalin and the Soviet Union, which contributed by helping financially (a loan of $300 million) and by sending engineers, scientists, technicians and planners – an estimated 6,000 Russian advisers came to China. The major impacts and results of the First Five Year Plan were: Industrial output doubled with an annual growth rate of 16 per cent. Light industry increased by 70 per cent. Steel production grew from 1.3 million tonnes in 1952 to 5.2 million tonnes in 1956. The largest increases in output were in steel, coal and petrochemical with coal production increasing 98 per cent between 1952 and 1957. Large engineering projects were launched such as the bridge across the Yangtze River. However, most Chinese workers did not have a high literacy level, which eventually held back economic growth.

Answer 58

The great leap forward

Answer 59

Who was in charge? What were policies Peasants working on big projects (between 20 and 25 million) were sent back to work on the countryside and were allowed to own some private plots which helped the peasants to increase their personal income. The communes began to introduce some financial incentives to encourage the peasants to work harder. Rural markets were reopened. The communes were broken into smaller units based on smaller villages. The communal canteens were closed and peasants were allowed to eat at home. The results were positive and grain production recovered by 1965 workers were also offered some financial incentives to help increase production. Industries were asked to make products to help the agricultural sector such as tools or carts. These measures meant that by 1965 industrial output was nearly double that recorded in 1957, and heavy industry had grown at a rate of 17 per cent.

Answer 60

The number of towns with primary schools increased from 50 per cent in 1950 to 80 per cent in 1965 and reached 90 per cent in 1970. During the Great Leap Forward, 30,000 agricultural middle schools were opened. The number of rural graduates from elementary schools increased from 450,000 to 21 million between 1965 and 1977. The literacy rate stagnated at 64 per cent by 1964. University entrance favoured students from a rural background over urban students after the Cultural Revolution. After the Cultural Revolution, the teaching profession became less attractive with low pay.

Answer 61

Mao Zedong’s wife, Jiang Qing (Madame Mao) was made ‘Cultural purifier of the Nation’ and put in charge of revising a number of Beijing Operas on contemporary themes. Jiang Qing ordered new pieces to be written, they were known as 'Yangbanxi' – model art. Between 1966 and 1976, Yangbanxi was the only opera Chinese citizens could see. These plays had to follow strict guidance: there was no love interest allowed, the main character was witty with knowledge of Maoist ideology, and women had to have a higher profile than in traditional opera. They all had a certain political message and model operas were performed on stages, broadcast on the radio, made into films, and sung by millions.

Answer 62

1949 They were allowed to play Russian composers such as Tchaikovsky or Prokofiev. Chinese musical traditions were modernised, meaning some tunes, lyrics and styles considered politically unacceptable were censored. The CCP wanted real revolutionary music, with titles that had a meaning people would understand, not just ‘Symphony Number 5’ which was considered bourgeois and not reflective of people’s real lives. During the great leap forward It was ordered from the top that musicians should create greater pieces than those written by the great masters of the 19th century in the Western world. Every work had to be approved by committee members of the CCP. However, most of them had little to no expertise in music. So, as long as the music was loud, revolutionary and rhythmic it had a good chance of being accepted. how was personal taste affecting music Most musicians knew that Jiang Qing (Madame Mao, or Mao's wife who was a member of the gang of four) did not like the sound of too many trombones, bassoons and tubas, so they were careful when creating their piece of music.

Answer 63

In the traditional Confucian Chinese society, women were considered inferior, obedient and passive. They had no rights and their main role was to bear children, especially male children. When Mao Zedong proclaimed the People's Republic of China, a new set of policies and laws were implemented in order to change the status of women, end their oppression and give them more rights.

Answer 64

When? 1950 ended arranged marriage and child betrothals ended concubinage and the payment of dowries gave the right to divorce either by mutual consent or on the complaint of either the husband or the wife meant that women had to be 18 to be married in order to prevent child marriage, and the man at least 20 years old stipulated in case of divorce that the ex-husband was to support his ex-wife until she remarried abolished polygamy. It gave women the right to own property the right to vote (1953 Election Law) the opportunity to join the government and the PLA the opportunity to return to work after having a child by creating communal nurseries and kindergartens in factories The government also launched a campaign to eliminate prostitution, to forbid footbinding and to make school compulsory for girls.

Answer 65

Women Tibetans Mongolians Etc With ethnic minorities they kinda flip flopped between "You better agree with us!!! >:[" and "pwetty pwease don't attempt to leave our country :<"

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