2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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

5. 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.

7. China under Mao Rebuilding China Development First Plan
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.
Communist ideology shaped new government
Change in China’s political, economic systems
Government discouraged practice of religion
Rebuilding China
Also seized property of rural landowners, redistributed among peasants
Put in place Soviet-style five-year plans for industrial development
Development
1957, first plan doubled China’s small industrial output
Early efforts to build economy successful
Improved economy, reduced poverty
First Plan

9. Improvements in literacy rates, public health
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

10. 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

11. 2013 The First Five Year Plan and The Great Leap Forward

12. First Five Year Plan

13. 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.

14. 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?

15. 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.
Collectivization was a gradual process that began with the creation of 5-15 family “mutual aid teams” and culminated with family collectives.
Peasants were summoned to meeting places and forbidden to leave for days until they “joined” the collective.

16. Soviet Model of Development: Central planning of the economy
INITIAL PHASE:
Soviet Model of Development: Central planning of the economy
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.

17. 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

18. 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

19. First Five Year Plan –
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

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

21. First 5 Year Plan  land reform (eliminate landlord class)
 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)

22. 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.

23. Within China: Build Socialism
In the countryside In the City

24. Outside: Friendship with Oppressed Peoples & Socialist Countries

25. Anti-Imperialism

26. Women Hold Up Half the Sky

29. 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

30. 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

31. 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

32. 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

33. 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