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Communism in Power 1949-1956 - Coggle Diagram
Communism in Power 1949-1956
The Nature of Chinese Communism
‘Mao Zedong Thought’: The thoughts of Chairman Mao dominated the party – e.g. ‘Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun’
Peasants: Unlike Soviet communism, which said that the Revolution would be made by the proletariat in the towns, the CCP looked to the peasants in the countryside
One Party State: The Politburo – the ruling group of 12-24 men – was selected from the Central Committee of the CCP, which was elected from the National Party Congress.
Cadres: The activists of the CCP
Mao Zedong: The sole, unquestioned, absolute leader
Why did Mao want to change China?
The Soviet Union: In the early years of the PRC, Mao looked to the USSR as a model, and as a source of help
Industrial weaknesses: Mao did not understand the economy or how industry grew – hence his failed schemes – but he realised that China was industrially backward and needed to grow to become a superpower
National Resources Committee: The GMD had already begun to stimulate economic growth by setting up an NRC in the 1930s, which directed investment into industry.
Agricultural shortages: The war had led to famine and malnutrition, and Mao wanted to end this; also, agricultural crops could be exported to raise foreign currency
Peasant capitalism: Mao always believed that the peasants were naturally capitalist, not communist, and he wanted to force them to be communist
The first Five-Year Plan, 1952-6
Coal, steel and oil: The output of coal doubled, that of iron and oil tripled
Urbanisation: The number of people living in towns almost doubled
Treaty of Friendship, 1949: In December 1949, Mao signed the Treaty of Friendship, Alliance and Mutual Assistance with the USSR; the Soviets sent experts, aid and loans
Yangzi Bridge: Some high-profile projects were also undertaken, such as the road and rail bridge over the Yangzi River at Nanking
The Yuan: Inflation was controlled by introducing a new currency, the yuan, and by raising taxes on the rich (which reduced the government deficit)
Soviet Aid, 1949-60: Successes and Failures
20,000 experts: The USSR did not supply its 20,000 economic experts free; the PRC had to pay for them. Also Soviet ‘experts’ did not give independent advice, they imposed Soviet ideology … some of their advice (e.g. Lysenkoism) was rubbish
200 construction projects: Including Tiananmen Square – many of Beijing’s ancient houses and structures were pulled down and replaced by Soviet Realism concrete eyesores
$300million loans and aid: 95% of the Soviet money was in the form of loans, at a high rate of interest, plus the PRC was forced to send a substantial portion of its bullion reserves to the USSR
Relations with the USSR: Realisation that they had been exploited was one of the reasons behind the Sino-Soviet split in 1960
An insult to China: Even the Soviet leader Khrushchev described the Treaty of Friendship as "an insult to China"
The first Five-Year Plan: Successes and Failures
Success – bicycles: 1.2million bicycles were produced, though fewer cars – this fitted with a communist, egalitarian ideology
Failure – Soviet Aid: In the event, Soviet Aid was a setback, not a help
Success – economic growth: The economy grew 9% overall; especially, the economy began to rebalance towards industry – peasants began to move into the towns
Failure – Speed of Growth: The speed of growth was not fast enough for Mao Zedong, who wanted a Great Leap Forward
Success – inflation stopped: Inflation was brought under control; people began to use money again, and economic confidence increased