Emergence of Mao Zedong – Part II

1. Emergence of Mao Zedong – Part II

2. Controlling the Newcomers • CCP newcomers enrolled in “schools” to be trained and indoctrinated. These schools were in poor conditions, had little food, and no medicine • Leaving the school would be considered desertion, with execution likely

3. Yenan Terror • Mao used a Chinese KGB to seek out and execute anyone determined to be a spy • Mao asserted that Communist organizations in the Nationalist areas were spy rings. Most of the newcomers came from these areas • Thousands were arrested and thrown into prison-caves

4. Men and women attending the Yenan Academy where they are being trained to become leaders in resistance movement

5. Yenan Terror • The imprisoned came under pressure to confess being spies and to denounce others • Sleep deprivation, whipping, hanging by the wrists, and other forms of torture became the norm • At mass rallies, newcomers were forced to confess being spies and name others in front of large crowds • All forms of relaxation, like singing, dancing, and even humor were stopped

6. Yenan Terror • Thought examination required you to write everything down that wasn’t good for the Party and write down information about other people as well • No outside press was available, no radio, no letters • There was no room for outside thought - everyone was turned into a robot

7. From Hero to Enemy • Chiang had been well-liked: • Chiang got America and Britain to concede their territorial spheres • He did away with the warlords and unified some of the country against the war with Japan • He got China’s permanent seat and veto on the UN Security Council • Chiang wasn’t hated until the Yenan Terror b/c Mao brainwashed them

8. Mao Becomes Supreme Party Leader • In 1945, Mao had a party congress • Most of the delegates at the meeting had been terrorized or were new appointments • Mao declared himself the supreme leader

9. Post Sino-Japanese War • The USSR launched Operation August Storm in the last month of the war against Japan (Aug. 1945) • This was the Soviet invasion of Japanese controlled Manchuria, which the Soviets occupied until the end of the war • Once the war was over, Manchuria was turned over to the CCP, and there was nothing Chiang Kai-shek could do

10. Post Sino-Japanese War • With the dropping of the atomic bombs, Japan unconditionally surrendered • Japanese troops were ordered to surrender only to the Nationalists • However, the Nationalists didn’t occupy some of the areas – the CCP did • When the Japanese withdrew, the CCP were able to take over large areas

11. The Marshall Mission • After WWII, Secretary of State George Marshall negotiated a cease-fire between the Nationalists and CCP • The Nationalists demilitarized 1.5 million troops, most of which belonged to warlords • Nothing was done to help them integrate back into civilian life • As a result, many joined the communists

12. Chiang and Mao together post-WWII with a U.S. delegate

13. Civil War Again • The CCP now had new recruits as well as weapons from the U.S. and defeated Japanese areas in China • In April 1946, serious fighting broke out again between the armies of the Nationalists and CCP • By mid-1947, the Nationalist army was overstretched in occupying all the areas gained, and a successful Communist counter-offensive began in Manchuria and swept the country

14. End of the Nationalists • In Jan. 1949, Chiang resigned from the presidency and asked the U.S. to mediate with the CCP, hoping to retain the south • The CCP, sensing victory, was no longer interested in an armistice. Their advance continued • On October 1, 1949, the People’s Republic of China was proclaimed by Mao in Peking CCP troops marching through Peking

15. Results of the Chinese Civil War • 25% of the world’s population just became communist • U.S. half-heartedly aided the Nationalists because our main concern was Europe (Germany and the Sovietization of Eastern Europe) • The CCP used guerilla tactics effectively, which demoralized the Nationalists

16. 600,000 troops and 2 million refugees fled to Taiwan • Relations between the People’s Republic of China (China) and the Republic of China (Taiwan) were tense and often drew the United States into defending Taiwan

17. Results of the Chinese Civil War • Many Chinese experts (“China Hands”) in the U.S. government were blamed for the loss of China and consequently had their careers destroyed by McCarthy • This caused there to be less Asian advisors in government, possible causing Kennedy to develop a faulty policy in Vietnam • Truman and his Democratic party lost political support, so it caused Lyndon Johnson determined to uphold South Vietnam at all costs

18. Initial Problems • During the Civil War: • There was only a primitive system of communications, transportation, factories, and canals • Modern industrial production was concentrated in a few centers which had come under foreign influence • Unemployment was widespread • Inflation was staggering • The position of women in society was poor

19. Initial Problems • In many areas, opponents outnumbered supporters • Many unsympathetic civil servants had to remain in office • The hostile forces of the Nationalists remained on the island of Taiwan where they could not be pursued because the CCP had no amphibious forces • Hostility from abroad, particularly from the U.S., made the regime defensive

20. Period of Reconstruction (1949-53) • Political Reforms • There were 10 political parties in China in 1949, by 1952, they were all gone • A campaign was launched against counter-revolutionaries and enemies of the state • Churches were closed; Christianity, Buddhism, and Confucianism were denounced

21. Period of Reconstruction (1949-53) • Family Reforms • Marriage Law (1950): • Made marriage free and consensual • Gave equality to women • Women were allowed to inherit property • Many widespread practices were forbidden • Child marriage • Polygamy • Killing or selling of children • Binding the feet of girls

22. Period of Reconstruction (1949-53) • Family Reforms • Women were taken into the workforce • Positions of importance in the state and party were opened to women

23. Period of Reconstruction (1949-53) • Health Reforms • Clinics and child-care centers were set up • There were campaigns to improve hygiene and health • The opium addiction problem was solved by: • Drastic penalties for major suppliers and dealers • Amnesty for petty dealers • Rehabilitation for addicts • Public education campaigns

24. Period of Reconstruction (1949-53) • Economic Reforms • The aim was to control capitalism: • Businesses were confiscated from the landlords, Nationalists, foreigners, and the Japanese • Most businesses became owned by the state

25. Period of Reconstruction (1949-53) • Economic Reforms • Inflation was controlled by: • Fixing wages and prices • Slashing public spending • Increasing taxes • Private banks were closed and a new state bank was established

26. Period of Reconstruction (1949-53) • Agricultural Reforms • Agrarian Reform Law (1950): • Feudal services and forced labor were abolished • Landlords had to refund rent deposits • The property of the rich landlords was divided up by the poor and middle peasants • 1 million ex-landlords were executed • The peasants gained self-confidence and agricultural productivity increased

27. Period of Reconstruction (1949-53) • Industrial Reforms • The CCP had little contact with or knowledge of industry because they evicted foreign control • National Capitalism – state owned large industry, while there was private ownership of smaller ones until 1955/56

28. Maintaining Control • Three-Antis (1951) • Aimed at removing corrupt officials • Corruption, Waste, and Bureaucratism • 10% of officials were fired and or executed • Five-Antis (1952) • Aimed at businesses • Bribery, Tax evasion, Fraud, Theft of gov’t property, Theft of gov’t secrets • 75% of businesses were fined and were now subjected to tighter control