Unit 1: How effectively did the Communists deal with opposition? Flashcards
(13 cards)
How did Mao gain power?
Mao promised disaffected groups such as peasants land redistribution and intellectuals freedom. Once his power was secure, he broke those promises.
What was the Great Terror, 1950?
It aimed to destroy remnants of nationalist opposition and remove potential future opponents, forcing the population to embrace the new ideology. It began in rural areas and spread to urban areas in April 1951, accounting for 2 million lives.
What were the reunification campaigns, 1949-50?
Guangdong surrendered to the PLA two weeks after the PRC was declared. Xinjiang became a security buffer zone for the PRC. Tibet, an independent entity since 1913, was invaded in October 1950, leading to a campaign to destroy Tibetan identity.
What was the household registration system?
Introduced in 1945 by the GMD, it assigned every employed worker to a danwei for housing, food, and clothing allocation. A class label specified a person’s family background, social status, and occupation.
What was a dangan?
A dangan was a dossier containing detailed personal information on people, affecting access to employment, housing, or pensions.
How was crime dealt with?
Petty criminals were relocated to the countryside and subjected to re-education camps. Workers were encouraged to accuse employers of criminal activities using denunciation boxes.
How were counter revolutionaries dealt with?
Mao suggested killing one in every thousand of the local population to suppress counter revolutionaries, allowing local officials to be implicated in the terror.
What were flies and tigers?
Flies were accused of small-scale embezzlement, while tigers were accused of large-scale corruption.
What was the three antis movement?
Launched in October 1951, it targeted corruption, waste, and delay in government and party. Those accused were investigated and forced to issue humiliating confessions.
What was the five antis movement?
Started in January 1952, it targeted bribery, tax evasion, theft of state property, fraud, and economic espionage, attacking the business community.
What were laogai camps?
Laogai camps housed those who failed to grasp Communism, with two million prisoners by 1953. They contributed 700 million yuan in industrial products. Thought reform was a form of mental torture.
What were the causes of the Hundred Flowers Campaign?
The party was largely uneducated peasants, and China needed innovative ideas for economic production. Mao feared bureaucratic tendencies and wanted intellectuals to critique party members.
How was the 100 Flowers Campaign used to deal with opposition?
The campaign targeted intellectuals in 1957, allowing constructive criticism of the First Five Year Plan. After a flood of criticisms, Mao branded critics as ‘rightists’ and launched an anti-rightist campaign.
