MAO ’ S RED CHINA

1. MAO’S RED CHINA China Under Communist Rule The Great Leap Forward, 1958 & The Crisis of 1959-1961

3. Communism is designed to be a “permanent revolution”. • For this reason, communists are always in a state of war. • Communism is very strict and not very peaceful.

4. Propaganda spread Mao’s message • throughout China, brainwashing the • public. • Propaganda is the advertising of • political points of view. Propaganda • is generally untrue. • Both Russia and China used • propaganda to make the United States • And its economic system seem evil.

5. Economic Reconstruction 1950s • Soviet Union model and assistance • land reform (eliminate landlord class) • heavy industry (state-owned enterprises) • First National People’s Congress (1954) • PRC Constitution • Zhou Enlai • Premier • Foreign Minister

6. Following the Soviet Model • Between 1949 and 1960, China followed the Russian strategy of industrialization. • They built large factories in the cities. • Many Russian engineers came to China to assist in this effort. • Many of the largest factories in China today were built during this period.

8. Rebuilding China Development First Plan • Communist ideology shaped new government • Change in China’s political, economic systems • Government discouraged practice of religion • Also seized property of rural landowners, redistributed among peasants • Put in place Soviet-style five-year plans for industrial development • 1957, first plan doubled China’s small industrial output • Early efforts to build economy successful • Improved economy, reduced poverty China under Mao Having defeated the Guomindang, Mao set about building a Communist China. His first concern was rebuilding a country that had been torn apart by years of civil war.

10. Early Years Improvements in literacy rates, public health • Chinese life expectancy increased sharply over next few decades • Improvements came at a cost • To consolidate Communist control over China, government soon began to eliminate so-called “enemies of the state” who had spoken out against government’s policies • Many thousands—including public officials, business leaders, artists, writers—killed, or sent to labor camps

11. China Modeled on Soviet Union • Soviet Union provided financial support, aid in China’s first years • China modeled many of its new political, economic, military policies on Soviet system • 1950s, territorial disputes, differences in ideology pushed China away from Soviet ally • The Great Leap Forward • 1958, in break from Soviet-style economic planning, Mao announced program designed to increase China’s industrial, agricultural output • The Great Leap Forward created thousands of communes, collectively owned farms, of about 20,000 people each • Each commune to produce food, have own small-scale industry

12. 2013 The First Five Year Plan and The Great Leap Forward

13. First Five Year Plan

14. Setting the Stage • Recall that the Communists ultimately triumphed over the Nationalist Kuomintang government because the Kuomintang was corrupt, disinterested in the people, and did not actively fight the Japanese. • Once in Power, Mao tightened control over China and implemented his own Five-Year Plan to increase industrial and agricultural production. • Mao became “premier,” or dictator, and the Communist Party was China’s only political party.

15. Prelude to the Great Leap Forward • The Hundred Flowers Campaign had revealed conflicting attitudes within the CCP leadership regarding the pace and type of development • Additionally, Mao was very concerned with the increasingly bureaucratic nature of the party and the “loss of vitality” in China • What is a dictator to do?

16. The Communists Transform China • Just as Stalin’s Five-Year Plan had increased production at a very high cost, Mao’s policies were harmful to the people of China. First among these was the collectivization of agriculture that killed over 1 million landlords. • Collectivizationwas a gradual process that began with the creation of 5-15 family “mutual aid teams” and culminated with 100-300 family collectives. • Peasants were summoned to meeting places and forbidden to leavefor days until they “joined” the collective.

17. Soviet Model of Development: Central planning of the economy INITIAL PHASE: 1950-1958 • State ownership of enterprises. • Workers were state employees. • Planned production targets and supply of inputs. • Managers were administrators of state property and enforcers of the output plans.

18. China’s Problems • Overwhelmingly rural, and backward (85%) -- tenancy, share-cropping common • Huge population: 400+ million 1950 • Peasants backbone of revolution; different than Russia where peasants seen as obstacle to progress • Land reform -- get agriculture moving

19. Goal of Five Year Plan • Goal of model – rapid industrialization, self- sufficiency • Extract surplus from agriculture to finance industrial development – • Rationalize process through centralized planning – 5 year plans – production targets

20. First Five Year Plan – 1953-1957 Mao wanted China to “walk on two legs” – develop both agriculture and industry at the same time Soviet Union assisted with $300 million and 10,000 Russian engineers Targeted the development of heavy industry: coal, steel, chemicals, automobile, and transport

21. China’s First 5-year plan 1953-57 • Emphasis on industry steel, machinery, railroads, electricity plants, metallurgy, chemicals • Embrace rational planning – experts, bureaucrats lead

22. First 5 Year Plan 1953-1957  land reform (eliminate landlord class)  development of heavy industry (state- owned enterprises) by 1957, most targets had been exceeded.  serious economic problems remained (unemployment & no funds to build industries)

23. The Communists Transform China • Once agriculture was collectivized with Mao in control, the government now had a monopoly on agriculture, allowing it to buy low and sell high to finance industrialization at the people’s expense. • Private farming was against the law, and those found guilty were punished severely. • In order to satisfy government quotas, food was often rationed, and many peasants nearly starved even in good times.

24. Within China: Build Socialism • In the countryside --- In the City

25. Outside: Friendship with Oppressed Peoples & Socialist Countries

26. Anti-Imperialism

27. Women Hold Up Half the Sky

30. Results: rapid industrial development, but … • Growth of bureaucracy • New patterns of social inequality, privileged elites • Growing gulf between modernizing cities and backward countryside • Ideological decay, loss of revolutionary fervor

31. Effects of the First Five Year Plan Failure to meet the targets established by The National Resource Committee was the equivalent of failing China Overall industrial output increased 15.5% per year (faster than the target of 14.7%) However, less people worked on farms, so food production increased at an average of 2% per year, compared to 14% from 1949-52

32. Effects of the First Five Year Plan • Not building a Socialist utopia of equal prosperity for all Instead • uneven development • inequalities common in capitalism • Making new classes

33. Mao’s New Theory of Economic Development Past economic stagnation led to mental stagnation To Make Socialist Person -- Not sufficient to introduce new technologies or alter Mode of Production as had been done in USSR

34. Mao’s New Theory of Economic Development: From “Poor and Blank” to Permanent Revolution • Present unburdened by Past • Change a matter of human will to overcome objective obstacles extreme volunteerism, optimism “Our revolutions are like battles; after each victory, we must put forward a new task,” Mao 1958

35. Great Leap Forward

36. Great Leap Forward, 1958-60 • In 1958, Mao decided that the Russian strategy of industrial development was not suitable for China. • This urban, large-factory system was not having enough of an impact on the mass of the population in the countryside. • Mao decided to opt for a unique Chinese method of industrialization.

37. Why The Great Leap Forward Program?WhyThe beginning • Why was Mao ready for a change in economic policy by 1958? • Despite 5YP’s successes, Mao felt the time was ripe for the transition from socialism to communism • Disliked the sprawling bureaucracy and increasing individualism • Feared an entrenched system, which would be more difficult to alter • Disheartened by disappointing grain yields • Also hoped for “spontaneous energizing of the whole nation” as he was very concerned with the lack of revolutionary spirit in China • Sino-Soviet relations were deteriorating, desired self-sufficiency • What is the significance of the phrase poor and blank? • Despite China’s economic “backwardness” Mao felt this description of China’s peasantry was desirable-they were more eager for change • Also more likely to become “red and expert”

38. Great Leap Forward (1958-1960) • abandon the Soviet model of economic development • Soviet “scientific planning” • mass mobilization • people’s communes

39. China Virtually Isolated Planning Disaster • Failure of Great Leap Forward led to criticism of Mao • Soviet criticism, withdrawal of Soviet industrial aid widened rift between two Communist nations • By early 1960s, relations had broken down completely; China virtually isolated in world community • Plan was disaster; small commune factories failed to produce quantity, quality of goods China needed • Combination of poor weather, farmers’ neglect led to sharp drops in agricultural production • Famine spread through rural China; tens of millions starved to death between 1959 and 1961 The Great Leap Forward

40. THE GREAT LEAP FORWARD During this trip I have witnessed the tremendous energy of the masses. On this foundation it is possible to accomplish any task whatsoever. - Mao • Mao’s Goal: Making China an Industrial Powerhouse • Second 5-Year Plan: The Great Leap Forward

41. Goal of Great Leap Forward: Permanent Revolution • Constant process of ideologically inspired mass activism Producing “Great Leaps” Forward and “Cultural Revolution”

42. Ideology and Politics in Command • Central planning abandoned

43. Economic Development • Maoist Vision: • De-centralized System • Close gap between urban-rural • Industrialize countryside • Xiafang: technicians, intellectuals, youth to the countryside • commune

44. To create a Socialist Utopia: Dazhai Commune

45. ORGANIZE POPULATION INTO PRODUCTION UNITS • TOTAL CARE -- HEALTH, • EDUCATION, WELFARE • INSPIRE WITH CONTUNOUS IDEOLOGICAL WORK

46. Great Leap Forward: 2nd Five Year Plan When? 1958-1962 Why? To bring another success to the PRC success in carrying out land reforms success in other campaigns to attack the reactionaries

47. Mao believed the country should focus on industry and food. Mao made a five year plan and called it The Great Leap Forward

48. Great Leap Forward • The Commune is Like a Mighty Dragon, Production is awe-inspiring

49. To achieve self-sufficient economy disliked Soviet way of industrialization (putting heavy industry first) China would not do with high-tech factories which depended on foreign capital and assistance to show that the Chinese way of industrialization was better than the Soviet way or the capitalist way

50. To end diplomatic isolation China was being isolated from other countries (capitalism) due to its practice of communism To catch up Britain and US and to break off diplomatic isolation To raise international status of China