Mao's China, 1945-1976

Flashcards about Mao's China, 1945-1976

What party did Chiang Kai-shek lead during the Chinese Civil War?

Guomindang (GMD)

What were the four key advantages the CCP had that increased as the GMD weakened?

Supported land reform, was supported by the USSR, had a strong position in rural northern China, possessed experienced guerrilla fighters.

What did the GMD use to control what the media could say, usually to reduce criticism of the government?

Censorship

What was the significance of the Huai-Hai Campaign?

It was the last major battle of the Civil War and a turning point.

What was one effect of the Huai-Hai Campaign?

Morale among GMD troops was low--thousands deserted to join the PLA.

What idea did Mao develop that said strong motivation made people better fighters than having advanced weapons?

The 'people's war'

What was the purpose of the National People's Congress defined in the 1954 constitution?

To make laws

What was the purpose of the State Council defined in the 1954 constitution?

In charge of the government ministries and decision-making

What does the term 'democratic centralism' refer to in the context of the CCP?

Once a decision was made, discussion stopped and everyone in the Party had a duty to carry it out

What was the purpose of attacking landlords during the CCP's land reform?

Speed up the process of land reform by attacking landlords who refused to hand their land over to the peasants.

What were 'red' categories in the political classification after the civil war?

'Friends of the revolution' (soldiers of the PLA, poorer peasants, etc.)

What were 'black' categories in the political classification after the civil war?

'Enemies of the revolution' (landlords, counter-revolutionaries, etc.)

What was the 'three antis' movement?

Targeted CCP officials who had links to the old GMD government so loyal CCP members could replace them.

What were the three problems with government that Sanfan dealt with?

Corruption, waste, government inefficiency

What was the 'five antis' movement?

Targeted the wealthy Chinese capitalists who ran industry looking for any evidence of wrongdoing

What were the five key problems that the 'five antis' movement focused on in industry?

Fraud, tax evasion, theft of government secrets, theft of government property, bribery

What made Mao suspect experts and bureaucrats?

He feared the CCP was becoming bureaucratic, inefficient and corrupt.

What was the result of intellectuals and students speaking out against the CCP during the Hundred Flowers campaign?

They were humiliated and forced to confess in public mass meetings, and sent to prison labor camps for 're-education'

What was the CCP's slogan for land reform?

'Land to the tiller'

What did the four freedoms give peasants?

Good reasons to improve their land, increase the amount they produced, and increase the amount they sold for profit

What were mutual aid teams?

A group of peasant households that worked as a team for big farming jobs, sharing tools and equipment

What did gradual changes in farming ensure?

Peasant support was essential to the CCP so changes were gradual and voluntary.

What prompted Mao to insist on radical change rather than gradual, voluntary change in agriculture?

Mao worried that bureaucratic Party rules were crushing revolutionary spirit

What resulted from the government not admitting to the famine in China?

The CCP facing growing lawlessness in famine-struck areas and bandits had to be controlled.

What treaty helped the CCP began the rapid industrialisation of China?

Treaty of Friendship, Alliance and Mutual Assistance with USSR

What motivated Mao's feeling that China could achieve anything leading to a radical and utopian second Five-Year Plan?

The success of the first Five-Year Plan

What were Mao's reasons for implementing the Great Leap Forward?

To combine his idealogy with a chinese approach, keep the Party connected to peasant power, and develop agriculture and industry together.

What policy did Peng Dehuai criticize at the Lushan Conference?

The Great Leap Forward

What caused the CCP to face growing lawlessness in famine-struck areas?

The failure of the Great Leap Forward

Who were Mao's key allies in the early 1960s that helped him try to get back control of the CCP?

Lin Biao and Jiang Qing

What did Mao used the Twenty-Three Articles to do?

To remove his rivals for power and blame revisionists within the Party for the re-introduction of capitalist elements into China

What inspired the Red Guards?

The PLA and its commitment to revolutionary socialism

What did the Red Guards aim to do?

Fight against capitalist roaders in the CCP and protect Mao and 'Mao Zedong Thought'

Why did students support the Cultural Revolution?

Resentment about educational reforms, dislike of strict, traditional teachers, idealism and belief in revolutionary socialism, respect for Mao

What did the Central Cultural Revolution Group tell Red Guard groups across China to do?

Attack the 'four olds' wherever they found them

What was the Socialist Education Movement?

A campaign to remove capitalist elements within the CCP and society, aiming to purify ideology and maintain revolutionary fervor.

What were the 'Four Olds'?

Ideas and cultural habits that reflect pre-communist values and traditions, targeted for elimination during the Cultural Revolution.

What was the Cultural Revolution?

A period of intense social and political upheaval in China, launched by Mao to eliminate capitalist and traditional elements from Chinese society and the CCP.

What was 'Mao Zedong Thought'?

A collection of Mao's quotations and teachings, widely distributed and studied during the Cultural Revolution to promote his ideology.

Who were the 'capitalist roaders'?

Members of the CCP who were seen as deviating from Mao's revolutionary path and embracing capitalist ideas.

What was the role of the PLA during the Cultural Revolution?

The army's support and influence in Mao's efforts to regain control over the CCP and promote revolutionary socialism.

Criticism of the Great Leap Forward that

What was the Socialist Education Movement?

A campaign to remove capitalist elements within the CCP and society, aiming to purify ideology and maintain revolutionary fervor.

What were the 'Four Olds'?

Ideas and cultural habits that reflect pre-communist values and traditions, targeted for elimination during the Cultural Revolution.

What was the Cultural Revolution?

A period of intense social and political upheaval in China, launched by Mao to eliminate capitalist and traditional elements from Chinese society and the CCP.

What was 'Mao Zedong Thought'?

A collection of Mao's quotations and teachings, widely distributed and studied during the Cultural Revolution to promote his ideology.

Who were the 'capitalist roaders'?

Members of the CCP who were seen as deviating from Mao's revolutionary path and embracing capitalist ideas.

What was the role of the PLA during the Cultural Revolution?

The army's support and influence in Mao's efforts to regain control over the CCP and promote revolutionary socialism.

What prompted Peng Dehuai to criticize Mao?

Criticism of the Great Leap Forward that

What did Mao use the Twenty-Three Articles to do?

Allowed Mao to remove rivals and blame revisionists for capitalist elements re-introduced into China

What inspired the Red Guards?

The PLA and its commitment to revolutionary socialism.

What party did Chiang Kai-shek lead during the Chinese Civil War?

Guomindang (GMD)

What were the four key advantages the CCP had that increased as the GMD weakened?

Supported land reform, was supported by the USSR, had a strong position in rural northern China, possessed experienced guerrilla fighters.

What did the GMD use to control what the media could say, usually to reduce criticism of the government?

Censorship

What was the significance of the Huai-Hai Campaign?

It was the last major battle of the Civil War and a turning point.

What was one effect of the Huai-Hai Campaign?

Morale among GMD troops was low--thousands deserted to join the PLA.

What idea did Mao develop that said strong motivation made people better fighters than having advanced weapons?

The 'people's war'

What was the purpose of the National People's Congress defined in the 1954 constitution?

To make laws

What was the purpose of the State Council defined in the 1954 constitution?

In charge of the government ministries and decision-making

What does the term 'democratic centralism' refer to in the context of the CCP?

Once a decision was made, discussion stopped and everyone in the Party had a duty to carry it out

What was the purpose of attacking landlords during the CCP's land reform?

Speed up the process of land reform by attacking landlords who refused to hand their land over to the peasants.

What were 'red' categories in the political classification after the civil war?

'Friends of the revolution' (soldiers of the PLA, poorer peasants, etc.)

What were 'black' categories in the political classification after the civil war?

'Enemies of the revolution' (landlords, counter-revolutionaries, etc.)

What was the 'three antis' movement?

Targeted CCP officials who had links to the old GMD government so loyal CCP members could replace them.

What were the three problems with government that Sanfan dealt with?

Corruption, waste, government inefficiency

What was the 'five antis' movement?

Targeted the wealthy Chinese capitalists who ran industry looking for any evidence of wrongdoing

What were the five key problems that the 'five antis' movement focused on in industry?

Fraud, tax evasion, theft of government secrets, theft of government property, bribery

What made Mao suspect experts and bureaucrats?

He feared the CCP was becoming bureaucratic, inefficient and corrupt.

What was the result of intellectuals and students speaking out against the CCP during the Hundred Flowers campaign?

They were humiliated and forced to confess in public mass meetings, and sent to prison labor camps for 're-education'

What was the CCP's slogan for land reform?

'Land to the tiller'

What did the four freedoms give peasants?

Good reasons to improve their land, increase the amount they produced, and increase the amount they sold for profit

What were mutual aid teams?

A group of peasant households that worked as a team for big farming jobs, sharing tools and equipment

What did gradual changes in farming ensure?

Peasant support was essential to the CCP so changes were gradual and voluntary.

What prompted Mao to insist on radical change rather than gradual, voluntary change in agriculture?

Mao worried that bureaucratic Party rules were crushing revolutionary spirit

What resulted from the government not admitting to the famine in China?

The CCP facing growing lawlessness in famine-struck areas and bandits had to be controlled.

What treaty helped the CCP began the rapid industrialisation of China?

Treaty of Friendship, Alliance and Mutual Assistance with USSR

What motivated Mao's feeling that China could achieve anything leading to a radical and utopian second Five-Year Plan?

The success of the first Five-Year Plan

What were Mao's reasons for implementing the Great Leap Forward?

To combine his idealogy with a chinese approach, keep the Party connected to peasant power, and develop agriculture and industry together.

What policy did Peng Dehuai criticize at the Lushan Conference?

The Great Leap Forward

What caused the CCP to face growing lawlessness in famine-struck areas?

The failure of the Great Leap Forward

Who were Mao's key allies in the early 1960s that helped him try to get back control of the CCP?

Lin Biao and Jiang Qing

What did Mao used the Twenty-Three Articles to do?

To remove his rivals for power and blame revisionists within the Party for the re-introduction of capitalist elements into China

What inspired the Red Guards?

The PLA and its commitment to revolutionary socialism

What did the Red Guards aim to do?

Fight against capitalist roaders in the CCP and protect Mao and 'Mao Zedong Thought'

Why did students support the Cultural Revolution?

Resentment about educational reforms, dislike of strict, traditional teachers, idealism and belief in revolutionary socialism, respect for Mao

What did the Central Cultural Revolution Group tell Red Guard groups across China to do?

Attack the 'four olds' wherever they found them

What was the Socialist Education Movement?

A campaign to remove capitalist elements within the CCP and society, aiming to purify ideology and maintain revolutionary fervor.

What were the 'Four Olds'?

Ideas and cultural habits that reflect pre-communist values and traditions, targeted for elimination during the Cultural Revolution.

What was the Cultural Revolution?

A period of intense social and political upheaval in China, launched by Mao to eliminate capitalist and traditional elements from Chinese society and the CCP.

What was 'Mao Zedong Thought'?

A collection of Mao's quotations and teachings, widely distributed and studied during the Cultural Revolution to promote his ideology.

Who were the 'capitalist roaders'?

Members of the CCP who were seen as deviating from Mao's revolutionary path and embracing capitalist ideas.

What was the role of the PLA during the Cultural Revolution?

The army's support and influence in Mao's efforts to regain control over the CCP and promote revolutionary socialism.

What were some results of the Great Leap Forward?

Mass famine, economic disruption, and widespread social unrest.

What was the impact of the Cultural Revolution on education?

Schools and universities were closed, and the curriculum was replaced with Maoist ideology.

How did Mao use propaganda during the Cultural Revolution?

To create a cult of personality and mobilize the population to support his goals.

How did the CCP use propaganda to maintain power?

It controlled media, promoted the cult of Mao, and suppressed dissent.

What was the aim of the Cultural Revolution?

To remove capitalist and traditional elements from Chinese society and the CCP.

What were some key features of the Great Leap Forward?

Rapid industrialization and collectivization of agriculture.

What happened during the Hundred Flowers Campaign?

Intellectuals and students were encouraged to express their opinions, but later faced persecution.

How did the CCP treat religion and culture?

Attacked traditional beliefs and cultural practices, replacing them with communist ideology.