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Mao 1949-1954

Mao 1949-1954. Subtitle. Pre 1949 key facts to remember. Mao’s Communism. Government. Temporary Constitution of 1949 Not democratic as western model Peasants and lower level bourgeoisie given rights Some groups excluded: elite landlords, wealthy businessmen, ex-Nationalists

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Mao 1949-1954

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  1. Mao 1949-1954 Subtitle

  2. Pre 1949 key facts to remember

  3. Mao’s Communism

  4. Government • Temporary Constitution of 1949 • Not democratic as western model • Peasants and lower level bourgeoisie given rights • Some groups excluded: elite landlords, wealthy businessmen, ex-Nationalists • Few opportunities to vote • Other parties allowed to exist but Communists dominate • Military in control of six national districts • Most previous bureaucrats allowed to keep jobs

  5. Government • Constitution of 1954 • Mao head of government and party • Most leaders were communist, if not assisted by party member • Organization of the Chinese people-everyone required to meet regularly, listen to, and comment on policies

  6. Unified China by force • Identified ethnic minorities and put under military control • Tibet offered some resistance and Han Chinese were moved into their lands to eradicate the Tibetan culture • Increased living standards 1949-1954 • Lowered inflation • Lowered government corruption and crime • Party regulars were rewarded with “iron rice bowl” guaranteed employment

  7. Mass mobilization and purges 1949-54 • Citizens encouraged to inform on others • Targeted the intelligentsia – 1951 6500 were sent to courses to learn Communism • Imprisoned artists who did not support party

  8. Mass mobilization Campaigns 1949-54 • Resist USA and aid Korea 1950 • Rallies to encourage suspicion of foreigners • Arrested foreigners • Closed Christian churches • Closed China to foreigners (except Russians) • Suppression of Counter-revolutionaries Campaign 1950-51 • Focused on Nationalists, criminals and religious sects • Three Antis Campaign 1951 • Against corruption, waste and obstruction against both communists and non-communists • Humiliation used to bring into line • Five Antis Campaign 1952 • Against bribery, tax evasion, theft of state property, cheating government • Workers investigated employers—against capitalists! • Two to three million committed suicide following the humiliation

  9. Purges • 1949-54 GaoGang & RaoShushi- • leading members of CCP • Ambitious members of CCP who together tried to take top positions in party • Both accused of “underground activities” • Gao committed suicide rather than face humiliation • RaoShushi imprisoned until death in 1975 • Increased purges during the Cultural Revolution 1966-76 • Purged Mao’s rivals-Group of Five

  10. Land Reform-application of communism to agriculture • 1950- “Dig the bitter roots, vomit the bitter waters”—land reform from within-led by peasants • Encouraged peasants to turn on landlords-executing them on the spot • Redistribute land to the poor • As many as two million landowners killed (though Mao only claimed 800,000) • New farms too small for efficiency so government advocated farmers work together • 1952 grain production 10% higher than 1936 • By 1953, 40% of peasant households belonged to “mutual aid teams” • By 1956 most villages had formed collectives • 1958-Collectivization and the Great Leap Forward • Larger communes—end of private farming all production directed by CCP • Peasants lacked agricultural knowledge to farm on large scale • Man-made famine results in 30 million dead

  11. Industrialization • Soviet Model after Stalin’s Russia • 5 Year Plans-1953-1957 • Goal-speed up industrial production • All private industries to be nationalized • Machinery and chemical production given priority • Infrastructure built—roads, railways, canals to link cities to coal, oil and iron ore deposits • First time China producing own cars, tractors, airplanes, ships and penicillin • Urban populations rose from 57 million in 1949 to 100 million in 1957 • Followed by Great Leap Forward 1958- • Abandon Soviet model in favor of mass campaign combining agricultural and industrial production • assert independence from Russia and independence of China

  12. Improved Living Conditions • Mass Mobilization of health standards • Improved education for children and adults • In 1949 only 10% of China was literate by 1976 70% literate • Improvements in education • Simplified Mandarin script– by 1964 Pinyin only had 2238 characters! • Primary schools in most towns • Used textbooks and schools as means of propaganda to indoctrinate young • However— • always tension between basic education and bourgeoisie values • Education never compulsory or free • Wide range of quality of schools-best for party officials’ kids • Women • End footbinding, concubines and arranged marriages • Allowed divorce if either man or woman wanted • Childcare, education, right to vote, land ownership, communes freed women of all household responsibilities

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