Mao’s Consolidation of Power Terror Andrea, Emma, Deborah

Introduction Terror was used as during Mao's consolidation of power. There were primarily five different ways of terror:Terror was used as during Mao's consolidation of power. There were primarily five different ways of terror: 1. Labour Camps (Lao Gai)1. Labour Camps (Lao Gai) 2. Public Denunciations & Purges2. Public Denunciations & Purges 3. Mass Campaigns3. Mass Campaigns 4. Imprisonments & Executions4. Imprisonments & Executions 5. Social Scrutiny5. Social Scrutiny

Labor camps (Lao Gai) lao-gai prisonslao-gai prisons millions of Chinese sent to these campsmillions of Chinese sent to these camps harsh environments, hard physical labour in the fields or mines.harsh environments, hard physical labour in the fields or mines. over 1,000 camps by the late 1960sover 1,000 camps by the late 1960s estimated that as many as 27 million peopleestimated that as many as 27 million people executed, committed suicide or worked to death in camps.executed, committed suicide or worked to death in camps.

Public Denunciations & purges The purge of Gao Gang and Rao ShushiThe purge of Gao Gang and Rao Shushi Gao became head of the Central Planning Commission to direct the First Five Year Plan.Gao became head of the Central Planning Commission to direct the First Five Year Plan. Gao took side of Mao, criticised Zhou Enlai and Liu Shaoqi for their more cautious approachGao took side of Mao, criticised Zhou Enlai and Liu Shaoqi for their more cautious approach Mao accused Gao and Rao of attempting to build independent kingdoms and of ‘underground activities’.Mao accused Gao and Rao of attempting to build independent kingdoms and of ‘underground activities’. Gao committed suicide and Rao was arrestedGao committed suicide and Rao was arrested

Mass Campaigns The Resist America & Korea Campaign The Resist America & Korea Campaign Korean War 1950Korean War 1950 foreigners were the enemies of Chinaforeigners were the enemies of China Westerners were prosecuted and accused of being spiesWesterners were prosecuted and accused of being spies Churches were closed and priests expelledChurches were closed and priests expelled SuspicionSuspicion

Mass Campaigns Suppression of Counter-revolutionaries Campaign Suppression of Counter-revolutionaries Campaign October 1950October 1950 concentrated on internal threats;concentrated on internal threats; counter-revolutionary = GMD, bandits and religious sectcounter-revolutionary = GMD, bandits and religious sect denounced, investigated, punisheddenounced, investigated, punished Shanghai = 28,332 in less than 1 yearShanghai = 28,332 in less than 1 year Public executionsPublic executions Mao: “Persons who have to be executed to assuage the people’s anger must be put to death for this purpose”Mao: “Persons who have to be executed to assuage the people’s anger must be put to death for this purpose”

Mass campaigns The Three-Antis Campaign The Three-Antis Campaign started in Manchuria, late 1950sstarted in Manchuria, late 1950s targets; corruption, waste, obstructionist bureaucracytargets; corruption, waste, obstructionist bureaucracy mass meetings & denunciationsmass meetings & denunciations self-criticismself-criticism success!success!

Mass campaigns The Five-Antis Campaign The Five-Antis Campaign January 1952January 1952 directed against the bourgeoisiedirected against the bourgeoisie Targets; bribery, tax evasion, theft, cheatingTargets; bribery, tax evasion, theft, cheating Group criticism & confessionsGroup criticism & confessions those found guilty had to face enormous finesthose found guilty had to face enormous fines confiscation of property & labour campsconfiscation of property & labour camps 2-3 million suicides2-3 million suicides people had no freedom and private thoughtpeople had no freedom and private thought

Imprisonments & executions Persecution of former landlords and merchantsPersecution of former landlords and merchants Execution of more powerful landlordsExecution of more powerful landlords Drug dealing was clamped down - dealers shotDrug dealing was clamped down - dealers shot Public executions to terrorise the populationPublic executions to terrorise the population Jung Chang's view: Mao intended most of the population (children and adults alike) to witness violence and killing - aim was to scare and brutalise the entire populationJung Chang's view: Mao intended most of the population (children and adults alike) to witness violence and killing - aim was to scare and brutalise the entire population

Social Scrutiny A nationwide network of work units, street and neighbourhood committees establishedA nationwide network of work units, street and neighbourhood committees established By summer of 1951: Chinese citizens over age of 15 - acquire official residence permits from the police + obtain permission if they wished to move to another areaBy summer of 1951: Chinese citizens over age of 15 - acquire official residence permits from the police + obtain permission if they wished to move to another area Every citizen under scrutiny of their neighbours, workmates + people = encouraged to inform on each otherEvery citizen under scrutiny of their neighbours, workmates + people = encouraged to inform on each other

Results & Conclusion Effective method in consolidating Mao's power in ChinaEffective method in consolidating Mao's power in China Feeling of fear and constant scrutiny from society led to obedience of the Chinese peopleFeeling of fear and constant scrutiny from society led to obedience of the Chinese people Opposition = virtually wiped out or silencedOpposition = virtually wiped out or silenced Prostitution = virtually stamped out by 1953Prostitution = virtually stamped out by 1953 Through ruthlessness and careful organisation, much of crime in China’s cities in years before 1949 = stamped outThrough ruthlessness and careful organisation, much of crime in China’s cities in years before 1949 = stamped out CCP increased control over Chinese societyCCP increased control over Chinese society