Establishing Communist Control 49 - 57 Suggested paragraph headings and notes for an essay on this topic. Task: Use the notes on the following slides to write the essay on slide 2 or choose one of your own choice.

The role of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) was the key factor in establishing communist rule in China in the years 1949–57’. How far do you agree with this view? Introduction: Briefly set out the position of the CCP in 49 and the problems which needed to be overcome in order for the party to establish full control over China.   Attack the question & include a clear line of argument. Briefly mention the factors which helped the Communists establish control. Suggested main paragraphs (Always aim for 5. The order may need adjusting)    Paragraph 1 (address the stated factor): e.g. Role of the PLA. You can write more than one paragraph on the stated factor if you wish. Paragraph 2: Use of terror and violence Paragraph 3: Popular policies and economic improvements. Paragraph 4: Propaganda Paragraph 5: Early willingness to work with opponents to establish political legitimacy. Conclusion: Summarise your argument by listing the points you have covered in your answer. Consider significance by clearly stating which of your points is the most significant and explaining your choice.

Introduction: Briefly set out the position of the CCP in 49 and the problems which needed to be overcome in order for the party to establish full control over China.   Attack the question & include a clear line of argument.   Briefly mention the factors which helped the Communists establish control. In 1949 – China still not a single unified nation. Nationalist forces still present on the mainland. Warlords controlled vast areas. China was bankrupt and millions had died in the Civil War. Peasants in the countryside had little understanding of Communist ideas and middle classes in the cities viewed communism with suspicion. Party membership less than 5 million in 1949 in a country of 500 million. By 57 Mao’s power was absolute and the communists had imposed its monopoly of power across the whole of mainland China. Add line of argument and factors to be discussed.

Paragraph 1 (address the stated factor): e.g. Role of the PLA PLA – key tool in the consolidation of the Communist regime. Played a key role in helping to extend CCP control from Beijing over the entire country. PLA – most effective means of implementing terror and its loyalty was beyond question. Led the first campaigns of terror to bring outlying provinces into line by preventing independence movements to flourish and protecting China’s vulnerable frontiers. Led 3 reunification campaigns in Tibet and Xijiang and Guandong. Invaded Tibet in 1950 and attempted to wipe out all traces of a separate Tibetan identity. Mandarin enforced as the official language. PLA imposed a regime of terror aimed at wiping out all traces of a separate Tibetan identity. PLA army also sent to Muslim province of Xinjiang and coastal region of Guandong where 28,000 opponents were executed. Guandong purged of nationalist forces. However both Tibet and Xinjiang never truly pacified. The PLA, according to Benson, was the ‘power behind the party’ and was vital in the party’s consolidation of power. Possible final sentence link: Having tightened its military grip over China, Mao’s government turned its attention to extending it’s political control.

Paragraph 2: Use of terror and violence Great Terror began in 1950. 1 million death toll – Conservative estimate. Deterred opponents. Landlords denounced by peasants. Intellectuals denounced and retreated to a state of passive compliance. Anti Campaigns – 3 and 5 antis – aim to destroy ‘bureaucratic capitalist classes’ and frighten masses into line. 130,000 ‘bandits and criminals’ rounded up in Guangzhou. Campaign to suppress counter revolutionaries launched in Oct 50. Focused on the internal threats to the Chinese revolution. Definition of ‘counter revolutionary’ included anyone who had links with the Nationalist regime as well as criminal gangs. Using the excuse of the Korean war and the need to hunt down spies, the communists were able to mobilise the mass of the population to participate in a wave of terror. Laogai – used to spread fear and terrorise population. Over 10million in Laogai every year. Anti movements used a justification to attack class enemies and those who had cooperated with the Nationalists. Consolidation of control culminated in the 100 flowers campaign which purged intellectual opposition. A nationwide network of work units, street and neighbourhood committees was established to assist the Party in its efforts not only to identify and punish all those suspected of counter revolutionary crimes but also to exert control over the whole population. ‘Dangan’ dossiers held by party officials contained records and personal details of every individual – helped authorities maintain political and social control. Dossiers determined whether a person gained employment and housing.

Paragraph 3: Popular policies and economic improvements – helped win support for the regime and helped the consolidation of power. Evidence: Wartime inflation brought quickly under control. New currency introduced. Inflation 1000% in 1949. 15% in 1951. 1st FYP 1952 moderately successful. Annual growth rate of 9%. Particularly impressive when the Korean war required China to finance a major war effort. Living standards did improve in the cities (but at the cost of personal freedoms) In countryside early land reforms enabled peasants to become landowners - popular with the peasantry and helped to win their support. Between 1950-52 approx. 2 million landlords executed. Attacks on criminal gangs also popular. Women liberated from unhappy marriages – Marriage law 1950.

Paragraph 4: Propaganda to win support for the regime and deter opponents. Propaganda became a constant accompaniment to everyday life – wall posters, loud speakers. Newspapers published to explain benefits of Communism. Outdoor cinemas, radios also used. Korean war gave the CCP propaganda opportunities to portray itself as the protector of China against capitalist imperialism. Peoples daily newspaper published long lists of political criminals alongside gruesome details of their punishments to deter opponents. The endurance and heroism of Chinese troops in Korea was celebrated by a number of films, plays and works of literature. Political commissars embedded in PLA units were given the role of passing on communist ideology to peasants.

Para 5: Early willingness to work with opponents to establish political legitimacy. Initial policies of CCP were pragmatic and conciliatory to help establish the Communists political control. Officials, Civil servants and industrial manages who had not fled to Taiwan with the Nationalists were invited to stay in their posts and provided PRC with the necessary continuity of admin. By late 51 the communists has trained enough ideologically committed cadres to replace them and they were then purged and executed. CCP acted quickly to establish their political legitimacy – appeared to allow a wide range of groups to have a say in drafting the new constitution but made sure real power lay in Politburo where Mao’s authority was unchallengeable. Mao was prepared to tolerate in the short term the existence of other political parties. 10 political parties in 1949. By 1952 only CCP remained. In order to asset control PRC divided up into six massive regions with separate political and military leadership. A new system of government was established in which the dominant position of the Communist party was legitimised. Leading members of the Party held all of the key posts in both the government and the PLA.

Conclusion: Summarise your argument by listing the points you have covered in your answer. Consider significance by clearly stating which of your points is the most significant and explaining your choice. Notes: In the first 4 years after the communist victory in 1949, the party had firmly entrenched itself as the the governing party in the new People’s Republic of China. At all levels and in all provinces and regions (except Tibet), the CP established a firm grip on the government of China. Through the many mass campaigns the experience of participating in revolutionary activity was extended from the countryside to the cities and into all areas of life. In this way many more people than the relatively small CPC membership became committed to revolutionary struggle and the survival of the regime. Those who were not committed were repressed and terrorised to such effect that all sign of opposition had been eradicated.