Theme 1 - Establishing Communist rule, 1949-57

Key developments, 1911-49

• Qing dynasty - 1644-1911
• Warlords - 1911-21
• GMD - 1921 (still warlords)
• GMD tried to destory Communists - Communists escaped in 'Long March'
• GMD and communists allied agaisnt Japan
• USA dealt with Japan, CCP gained support in the countryside
• GMD and CCP civil war
• GMD defeated and Chiang Kai-Shek retreated to Taiwan,

How serious were the problems facing the PRC when it was set up in 1949?

The aftermath of the civil war of 1946-49

• Relatively good for CCP
• Ending conflict made Communists popular
• Communists proven they were well organised
• Attractive becuase Mao declared openess to developing China
• Mao proven himself as military leader - backing of PLA
• Mao wanted to make political oppostition impossible
• Communists had large support in peasantry
• Shown ability to handle urban areas aswell (Harbin)

The state of China's industry, agriculture and national infrastructure

The immediate impact of war

• Japan seized/destroyed most industrious areas (Manchuria). GMD used scorched earth - fall in industry
• Peasants used in war, food requisitioning to PLA, flees to cities to escape Japanese - fall in agriculture.
• Hyperinflation caused by GMD printing money. Financial situation bad
• Russia seized some industry when fighting Japanese

The longer-term situation

• Agricultural society - used traditional manual labour with no machinery
• Demand for food high during war (for exports + people) - needed to become more productive
• China had failed to industrialise
• GMD set up state-owned industry (NRC) - remained so after 1949
• Infrastructure undeveloped/unmodernised and destroyed by war

How successful were the Communists in creating a political system that would give them control of power within the PRC?

• Needed to establish system quickly
• Preparations in January 1949, official in October
• Communists unified with other groups until strong enough in early 1950s
• Temporary bodies set up with provisional constiitution - Communists led government
• Government control of the press - system recieved positive publicity

The organisation of the government

• Meeting of the CPPCC - mainly communist with 14 other parties
• CPPCC appointed Central People's government and 'Common Program'
• Illusion of freedom (equality etc.) - a new society
• Conceded a period of cooperation with capitalists needed - 'New Democracy'
• Legislation - central government rubber-stamped Politburo and GMD laws abolished
• Divided into 6 regions headed by senior Communist officials (Peng, Deng, Lin)

The 1954 constitution and increasing bureacracy

• 1954 - new constitution
• Communists officially in charge
• National people's congress, State Council, Politburo
• Power was with higher officials
• 6 regions dvided into 21 provinces,5 border egions, 2 urban centres
• Bureacrats increased - Mao unhappy - felt it slowed down revolution

The role of the Communist Party

• CCP in contol of the country
• Politburo powerful, but top officials found it hard to oppose Mao
• Party membership given to those who were loyal/commited - cadres at local level
• Mass participation in Party groups - Youth league + Women's Federation
• Every employed citizen belonged to work unit led by Party cadre
• PLA represented perserverance of revolution - huge army, but reduced in peacetime
• PLA became more efficient as it became smaller
• …