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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

2013 The First Five Year Plan and The Great Leap Forward

First Five Year Plan

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.

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?

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 100-300 family collectives. Peasants were summoned to meeting places and forbidden to leave for days until they “joined” the collective.

Soviet Model of Development: Central planning of the economy INITIAL PHASE: 1950-1958 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.

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

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

First Five Year Plan – 1953-1957 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

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

First 5 Year Plan  land reform (eliminate landlord class) 1953-1957  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)

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.

Within China: Build Socialism In the countryside --- In the City

Outside: Friendship with Oppressed Peoples & Socialist Countries

Anti-Imperialism

Women Hold Up Half the Sky

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

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 1949-52

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

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

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