SubTheme 2 Modernization and Transformation of China Chapter

Sub-Theme 2 Modernization and Transformation of China Chapter 4 Exploration in socialist road Topic 1: Major Mass Movements, 1950 -76

Major Mass Movements, 1950 -76 Time Track Year Events 1950 Land Reforms began 1953 First Five-Year Plan began 1958 Three Red Banners movement began 1966 Cultural Revolution began 1976 Cultural Revolution ended

Major mass movements, 1950 -76 The dynamic process by which Mao Zedong would give shape to his new society ‘Coming from the masses, going to the masses’ Land reforms, 1950 -52 • Before 1949, the land of the landlords had been shared out among the peasants • In 1950, Mao followed this policy with a Land Reform Law • The villagers were classified, encouraged the poor peasants to struggle against the landlords • During 1950 -52, land was given to the 300 million landless peasants

Major Mass Movements, 1950 -76 Agricultural collectivization, 1952 -56 Collectivization 1: Set up mutual-aid teams, 1952 • Agricultural production was carried out collectively Collectivization 2: Set up lower-stage agricultural producers’ cooperatives, 1953 • Profits were shared out among the members according to the amount of land, tools and hours of work they put in Collectivization 3: Set up higher-stage agricultural producers’ cooperatives, 1955 • Private ownership was abolished • Peasants were paid according to how much work was contributed

Major Mass Movements, 1950 -76 The Three Red Banners movement v Started during the Second Five-Plan(1958 -62), to mobilize people to increase agricultural output in a short time The General Lineand forindustrial Socialist Construction, 1958 • ‘Going all out, aiming high and achieving greater, faster, better and more economical results in building socialism’ The Great Leap Forward, 1958 -60 • The goal: to mobilize China’s entire 600 million population to overcome the limitations of economic scarcity • ‘Walking on Two Legs’: industry and agriculture would be developed together • Example: making steel by backyard furnace, aiming to catch up with Britain in steel

Major Mass Movements, 1950 -76 People’s Communes, 1958 -84 • Super-cooperatives formed by cooperatives • Expected to become self-sufficient for most of its needs • Formation：commune → bridge → team • Life supposed to be lived communally • The government tried to persuade people to join communes by a tremendous propaganda campaign The assessment • The larger number of small factories proved to be inefficient and wasteful • Food production slumped, causing severe famine • The communes proved to be too large to be run efficiently, causing a lack of initiative of the workers

Major Mass Movements, 1950 -76 The Cultural Revolution, 1966 -76 The background • Mao’s position was insecure after the failure of the Three Red Banners. He also opposed to the policy of the new leaders • He called on and mobilized the masses to be ‘Red Guards’ to launch the The course Revolution • Cultural On 1 August 1966, ‘Red Guards’ were formed to struggle against ‘revisionism’ • Everything related to ‘bourgeois customs’ was condemned • In 1971, the coup d’etat launched by Lin Bao failed, Deng Xiaoping was rehabilitated • In 1976, the Gang of Four were arrested, the Cultural Revolution finally ended

Major Mass Movements, 1950 -76 The effects • Caused great disruption and ruined millions of lives • Work stoppages in the factories and the countryside--- the economic and industrial recovery was sacrificed • The creation of a generation lacking education • The disruption of education and culture • The stability of the Chinese government and its leaders was questioned, damaging China’s international status

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