1. 2014 FRQs
Mr. Geoffrion

2. The 2014 DBQ
Thesis must address the relationship between peasants and the CCP
Historical Background: Three Stages: 1) Japans invasion of China (1937), 2) occupation until end of WWII (1945), 3)the establishment of the People’s Republic of China (1949)
If the relationship was different in these three stages, that gives us three groups based on those relationships, If we can describe the relationship based on three different circumstances or benefits, that would be three groups as well.
The context provided in the Historical Background may help with POV

3. Point of View: Mao, as leader of the CCP would rely on the mobilization of the Peasant class as Marxism/Communism requires the backing of the working classes.
Significance: Peasants are supporting the CCP to eliminate external (imperialists) and internal threats.

4. Point of View: Young person may be less attached to old ways and more willing to tear down the old establishment and build something new with the Communists.
Significance: Young peasants support CCP to rebel against the establishment, the landlords and to fight the Japanese.

5. Point of View: Separating the Communists from the peasants is important to the Japanese occupiers. To get the most out of China, they will require peasants to work the land. However local guerrilla units would be a threat to their control.
Significance: Evidence of how much of a threat the Communists were to the Japanese.

6. Point of View: This report could be used by the CCP to attract more peasants to the cause. The inclusion of animals, grinders and peasant quilts may have been included specifically for this purpose.
Significance: Peasants support the CCP to fight the Japanese.

7. Point of View: The CCP instructs their leadership to look out for the peasants specifically to draw more peasants to their cause.
Significance: Peasants join the CCP to fight the Japanese. In exchange the CCP looks after their interests in local matters such as dealing with their landlords.

8. Point of View: Hinton seems to view this as a bad thing, perhaps because the peasants taking matters in their own hands is destabilizing the countryside.
Significance: With the arming of the peasantry during the war, the peasants were able to fight against landlords and moneylenders after the war.

9. Point of View: Communism, by it’s nature does not distinguish between the genders, and therefore laws from a Communist government is likely to promote gender equality.
Significance: Women were granted greater equality under the law.

10. Point of View: Communism is supposed a classless society
Point of View: Communism is supposed a classless society. This law is an attempt to achieve that. Also, the peasants supported the CCP during the war and this could be a reward for that loyalty.
Significance: The communists instituted land reforms to benefit the peasantry.

11. Point of View: The meeting was organized and therefore likely photographed by the CCP; A photograph depicting a peasant, in particular a woman, challenging her landlord could be a powerful propaganda tool.
Significance: CCP promoting land reform and greater gender equality

12. Possible Groups
Group Name
Documents Included
Peasants supported Communism to defeat external threats (Japanese)
1,2,3,4,5,6
Communism gave peasant women more rights
4,7,9
Communism incited rebellion within the peasantry
1,3,4,5,6
Communism redistributed land from the landlords to the peasants
1,2,6,8,9
Possible Thesis: The Relationship between Chinese peasants and the Chinese Communist party between c and c included the peasants supporting the communists to expel external threats, the redistribution of land by the communist party from the traditional landlords to the peasants, and the increase in equal rights for peasant women afforded by the communist party.

13. Additional Documents
A document from a woman in reaction to the marriage law in document 7 to see if the law really gave women more equal rights in practice or just on paper.
A document from the KMT (the Nationalists) to offer an outside perspective on the relationship the CCP was establishing with the peasantry prior to or during the Japanese invasion.
The only document from a peasant is from a teenager. A document from an older peasant would help determine if the CCP’s message was universally appealing to the peasantry.

14. 2014 CCOT
Thesis must address continuities and changes in Interregional trade in one of the regions
Interregional trade: Trade from one region to another
Notice the dates: Relevant Context? Colonization? Trans Atlantic Slave Trade? Sugar?
Southeast Asia is probably the toughest one

15. Place Continuities Changes
Latin America/ Caribbean
-Mostly exported to Europe
-Dominated by Europeans.
-Triangular Trade
-Began with exporting precious metals (gold/silver), later moved to cash crops (sugar).
-Move toward cash crops increased number of enslaved Africans brought to L.A./C.
Sub Saharan Africa
-Slaves were exported from Africa in exchange for finished goods.
-Focus shifted from Muslim dominated Trans-Saharan trade to European dominant Trans Atlantic Trade.
-European control of the Trans Atlantic trade shifted from the Dutch to the British.
Southeast Asia
-pattern of trade goods (what they exported).
-Importance of China as a trading partner.
-Involvement of Dutch, Portuguese and Spanish in trade with Southeast Asia.
-New foods brought in from the New World

16. 2014 Comparative Essay
Thesis must compare and contrast the use of religion to govern in two of the empires
Byzantine: Eastern half of Roman Empire continued after 476 CE (600 BCE-600 CE unit and unit)
Islamic Caliphates: Umayyad and Abbasid ( unit)
Mauryan/ Gupta Empires: Classical India (600 BCE- 600 CE unit)

17. Byzantine and Islamic Caliphates
Religious and Political Authority in the hands of a single person
Orthodox Christianity
Islam (may not be accepted as difference since it’s in the prompt)
Justinian’s Code: Law more secular, based on Roman Laws
Sharia Law based entirely on religion
Government building of sacred buildings (Mosques, Churches)
Special Taxes for non Muslims (Jizya)
Some women, Like Theodora, were trusted government advisors (religion did not prevent them from doing so)
Religion promoted patriarchy in succession of leaders
Laws governing how women dress in Abbasid (but not Umayyad)

18. Byzantine and Mauryan/Gupta
Orthodox Christianity
Leadership played active role in the direction of religious practices (Justinian/ Ashoka)
Religion promoted Patriarchy in succession of leaders
Hinduism, Buddhism
Justinian’s code is a simplification of traditional Roman Law and is therefore, more secular
Ashoka’s Pillar Edicts attempted to govern according to Buddhist teachings
When governed by Hindus, Caste System strictly enforced by government
Religion does not require government to limit social mobility

19. Mauryan/Gupta and Islamic Caliphates
When governed by Hindus, Caste System strictly enforced by government
Everyone equal under Islam, so government did not limit social mobility
Govern According to religious laws (Ashoka’s Pillar Edicts/ Sharia)
Religion promoted patriarchy in succession of leaders
Laws governing how women dress in Abbasid (but not Umayyad)
Government endorsement of religion could change with leadership within an empire. Ex. Ashoka and Buddhism
Government was consistent in it’s endorsement of Islam (although Umayyad were Sunni and Abbasid Shia)