By W. A. Boyce. INEQUALITIES BETWEEN RICH AND POOR Many peasants were on military service and were away from their villages Small units of land No farm.

By W. A. Boyce

INEQUALITIES BETWEEN RICH AND POOR

Many peasants were on military service and were away from their villagesSmall units

of land

No farm machinery, no fertilisers

Old-fashioned methods of farmingby hand.

The ordinary people lived in great poverty, poor housing, working long hours, often in dangerous conditions, for low pay, poor health, little education.

In the countryside, most of the land was owned by a few rich landowners

In the cities, factories and businesses were owned by an elite rich.

Years of foreign and civil wars had caused widespread damage to Chinese industry.

Lack of investment

Outdated machinesDamage to

transport systems –roads, rail, bridges

PROBLEMS FACING CHINA IN 1949

FARMING INDUSTRY

Mao wanted China to be a great military power which could dominate other countries. But China was poor and over 90% of its population were peasant farmers. If China was to be strong, prosperous and independent, then both Chinese industry and farming had to be reformed.

HOW WAS THIS TO BE ACHIEVED?1. FIVE YEAR PLANS were introduced - based on the Russian model. Russian advisers were brought in to help.

2. IRON AND STEEL - Mao made iron and steel production the central focus of his industrial reform programme. Why?

3. FARMING REFORMS - The cost of modernising industry would have to be paid by selling Chinese farm produce. Mao saw that Chinese farming also needed to be reformed.

MAO’s REFORM PROGRAMMES

INDUSTRY FARMING

1953-1957 - 1ST FIVE YEAR PLAN

1950 - LAND REFORM ACT

EXPANSION OF HEAVY INDUSTRIES: IRON + STEEL, COAL, MACHINERY

1952 – MUTUAL AID TEAMS

COLLECTIVISATION

1953 – CO-OPERATIVE FARMS

1955 – COLLECTIVE FARMS

1958-1963 - 2ND FIVE YEAR PLAN:

THE GREAT LEAP FORWARD

THE ‘BACKYARD’ STEEL CAMPAIGN

COMMUNES EXTREME COMMUNIST LIFESTYLE

FARM PRODUCE TO PAY FOR

FOREIGN MACHINERY

PEASANTS USED TO HELP EXPAND STEEL PRODUCTION

The steel works at Anshan in Manchuria, built in the 1950s

‘Heavy industries’ are those basic industries that a country needs to develop before other areas of its economy can expand.

Iron

Coal

SteelOil

Cement

Chemical Fertiliser

Identify the various materials that were needed to construct the features shown below. How does this help answer the question above?

Nanjing Bridge over the Yangzi River

Steel -bridge spars

Girders – Steel

Steel -Deisel engine

Steel – railway lines

Steel - pipes

Iron -Railings

Steel - Motor Vehicles

Iron – lamp posts

Ships

IRON COAL CEMENT OIL RUBBER

WHO IS BEING SHOWN ON THIS POSTER?

WHAT MESSAGE DO YOU THINK THIS POSTER IS MAKING?

That Communist Russia and Communist China are close friends, and should help each other. That Chinese people can learn from Russia’s example.

The idea for Five Year Plans was borrowed from Stalin’s Russia. It involved the ideas of:

NATIONALISATION -

CENTRAL PLANNING -

TARGETS / QUOTAS -

INCENTIVES -

Private businesses and industries are taken over and run by the national government – state control.

All decisions about the economy are decided by the central [national] government.

To increase output the government sets production ‘targets’ which have to be met within a 5 year time span.

To encourage workers [and supervisors] to work harder to reach the targets set, ‘incentives’ are offered eg. bigger food ration, better apartment, better schooling for their children.

We will protect the honour of the Red Flag!

The Five Year Plans were accompanied by major propaganda Campaigns

What was the idea behind this poster?

We devote our greatest strength to socialism!, 1954

Production figures before the start of the 1st Five Year Plan.

Expected production figures at end of 1st Five Year Plan.

Compare 1957 figures with 1952 figures.

SS

S

F???F???S

Were these failures?

Transport raw materials to the factories, deliver machinery to the rural villages, 1955

Probably a mix of feelings:- PRIDE: in helping to build a strong, modern and industrialised China.

- CONCERN: due to increasing shortages both of food and luxury and consumer goods. Why were there shortages?

FOOD - Most surplus farm produce was being sent overseas to buy machinery for China’s industries.

LUXURY AND CONSUMER GOODS - The Chinese economy was focused on developing heavy industries, there were few resources available for consumer products - soap, clothing, etc.

HOW DID CHINESE PEOPLE FEEL ABOUT THE FIVE YEAR PLANS?

- CONCERN: movement of peasants from countryside into the cities to work in the new industries. More mouths had to be fed.

PAST EXAM QUESTIONS ON THE FIVE YEAR PLANS:

2006

(b) (i) In what ways did Mao Zedong change the organisation of agriculture and industry in the years 1949-59?

You may use the following information to help you with your answer:

(15)

Land Reform

Collectivisation

1953-57: First Five Year Plan

1958: Great Leap Forward

2004

6a (1) What is meant by the term ‘Five-Year Plan’? (3)

2003

(b) (i) In what ways did Mao Zedong change agriculture and industry in China in the years from 1949 to the beginning of the Cultural Revolution in 1966?

(15)

You may use the following information to help you with your answer

Collectivisation

Communes

Five Year Plan

Great Leap Forward