The Sino-Soviet split Quiz

Why did Khruschev’s secret speech of 1956 frustrate Mao?

It criticised Stalin and these criticisms linked to Mao. Mao saw the speech as an attack on his position.

What three demands were made by the USSR of China in 1958?

Joint Pacific naval fleet, longwave radio station based in China to control Russia’s submarine fleet, Soviet navy be permitted to carry out repairs in Chinese ports.

What particular matter still caused Mao’s resentment of Khruschev?

Refusal to supply nuclear weapons to China

Which Islands did Mao fear could be used as a springboard for a GMD invasion of the PRC?

Quemoy and Matsu

What was Khruschev’s attitude towards Mao

A rash maverick who’s views were not grounded in reality

Why was Khruschev concerned by Mao’s actions during the Taiwan crisis of 1958?

Concern that Mao’s action could turn a local matter into a global conflict and that the USSR’s position with the USA could be adversely affected

What were Mao and Khruschev’s view on political ideology?

Mao believed in worldwide revolution, Khruschev favoured peaceful co-existance with capitalism

Mao accused Khruschev of revisionism – what did this mean?

Thinking revolving around the revision of Marxism. Change becomes less radical and militant and more gradual – evolutionary rather than revolutionary

Which particular event demonstrated to Mao that Khruschev was revisionist?

Attempting to improve relations with Tito and Yugoslavia which had been expelled from the COMINFORM by Stalin for accepting Marshall Aid after WW

What was the ‘Little Red Book’ published in 1961?

A compilation of Mao’s speeches made compulsory reading for the PLA and included in the school curriculum – symbol of attack on revisionism

What was the basis of the first five year plan?

Adopting a Soviet style command economy based on Heavy industry

What were the key features of the Great Leap Forward (2nd 5 year plan)

Communes, mass mobilisation, decentralisation from Beijing to the provinces

What did Mao believe would be more important than technical expertise?

Mass unskilled labour

Which conference in 1959 was called to discuss the progress of the GLF?

Lushan

Whom was denounced at this conference for raising concerns about production?

Peng Dehuai (defence minister)

What did the purge highlight and develop?

The Sino Soviet split – China moved further away from the Soviet model of industrialisation

Why were the USSR concerned about the GLF?

If it was successful, it could place China as the leader of global communism

In what year did the USSR withdraw economic assistance signalling the end of the Sino-Soviet friendship agreement of 1950?

1960