What was the impact of the second five year plan 1958 to 1962? Flashcards
(12 cards)
What was the Second Five-Year Plan May 1958?
Agriculture was to be modernised by the development of the People’s Communes and ambitious new targets for industrial growth were set. In February, economic planning responsibility moved from the state to the Party, so it was local cadres setting targets for specific industrial sectors.
What were Mao’s reasons for launching the second five-year plan?
Mao believed industrialisation depended on agriculture becoming more productive to feed the industrial workforce, freeing peasants to migrate to cities. He was confident in the rapid collectivisation and local cadres’ eagerness to demonstrate revolutionary fervour. Politically, Mao aimed to show independence from the Soviet Union and demonstrate his leadership credentials.
Describe decentralisation under the second five-year plan.
A key change was the decentralisation of economic activity, giving more freedom to the cadres, as Mao believed state bureaucrats would hold back the pace of change.
Describe Backyard furnaces under the second five-year plan.
The steel target for 1958 was raised significantly, leading to a national movement where families constructed backyard furnaces to produce steel. By October, 49% of China’s steel came from local furnaces, but this strained food production and led to negative ecological consequences.
Describe State owned enterprises.
State-owned enterprises (SOEs) had their prices, output targets, and wages set by the state, removing bargaining power for better conditions. While workers had guaranteed jobs and wages, the system was inefficient due to lack of incentives.
Describe construction projects under the second five-year plan.
Mao believed that sheer numbers could achieve results without advanced machinery, leading to work brigades constructing projects with rudimentary tools. Some projects were disastrous, causing increased salinisation and loss of productivity.
What were the successes?
There was some increase in raw material output, such as coal production rising from 131 million tonnes in 1957 to 270 million in 1960, and significant construction projects like Tiananmen Square.
What were the failures?
The plan failed to produce sufficient manufactured goods, with heavy industrial goods halving by 1962. Lack of clear planning and reliance on intuition led to inadequate quality control and issues with export orders.
Describe the Lushan Conference, July 1959.
Mao called the conference to assess the Great Leap Forward’s progress. Peng Dehuai’s criticism of the famine led to his isolation. The conference resulted in the continuation of the Great Leap Forward and increased Mao’s dictatorial control.
What were Liu and Deng economic reform 1962-65?
Reforms allowed communes to be broken up, closed down inefficient projects, announced realistic targets, relaxed persecution of intellectuals, shifted back to centralised control, and restored financial incentives for workers.
What were the results of Liu and Deng’s economic reforms?
Positive results included recovery of agricultural production to 1957 levels, increased oil and natural gas production, and greater quantities of manufactured goods, including China’s first atom bomb in 1964.
Describe the 7000 cadres.
Mao summoned a conference of 7,000 cadres to prevent drift from communist principles. Liu Shaoqi implied shared blame for past mistakes, leading to Mao’s withdrawal from public life and a power struggle between pragmatic and revolutionary approaches within the Party.
