Aims

To create a modern superpower

• China was seen as “sick man of Asia”

• Industrialisation & urbanisation

• Establish a Command Economy (Marxist-Leninism)

• To export grain to raise money for investments and advanced technology

• To feed the growing urban population

• To increase efficiency & reduce agricultural labour demands to facilitate construction projects etc.

Land Redistribution

Agrarian Reform Law - 1950

• Claimed it would eradicate the exploitation of peasants by the “landlord class”

• Local Party officials organised work teams

  • Calculate how much each peasant owed

  • Labelled “poor”, “middle”, “rich” peasant or “landlord”

Landlords

• Landlords were publicly humiliated and accused of exploitation

• “Speak bitterness” meetings

  • Ordinary peasants passed sentence against class enemies

  • Possessions were confiscated & divided

  • Often executed

• Fitted with Mao’s belief → mass participation

  • Complict with Communists

  • Could claim peasant-led revolution

Consequences

• 43% of land was redistributed to 60% of population

• 1950-52 production +15 p.a

• Landlord class was destroyed

  • 700,000 officially killed (may be more)

• Pleased peasants & consolidated Mao’s power