Thesis Rationale Thesis: The Five Year Plan helped China to be independent and powerful under Mao’s political ideology. In October 1949 Mao announced his vision for a new peaceful China. The Five Year Plan was from 1953 to 1957 and the goal was for China to become an industrial superpower. Mao believed the way to accomplish this was by having the government take over all the businesses and have none run by the people. Mao put his plans into action through party workers placed in each local area. Mao wanted to utilize raw materials to improve transportation across the country. In only five years their land was covered with railways which transported vital goods all over China.

Thesis Rationale Thousands of Russian scientists and engineers supervised millions of Chinese on almost 700 major projects. They focused their improvements on heavy industries such as steel, coal, and chemicals. Not only did they focus on improving the industries, but they also sent students for training in Russian colleges and universities. Mao also focused on the building of new production plants, the neglect of light industry, and the necessity to feed workers. Many peasants moved into cities to take jobs created by all the new industries. About 90% of peasants stayed behind in the country side and grew large crops in co-operatives where they joined with one or two families and to grow crops more efficiently.

Thesis Rationale Mao wanted to make sure all the industries were started from scratch and the old ideas did not get in the way of their modernized country. He did this by starting his industries in previously small cities so their would be ample material and no old ideas. The Chinese people were highly motivated and surpassed all the goals set by Mao for the Five Year Plan. Towns and Cities populations soared with all the new tenants looking for jobs in the new industries.

“It will take many years to raise China from her low economic position, China must use elements of urban and rural capitalism which help the national economy. Our present policy is to control not eliminate capitalism.” “Our revolutions are like battles; after victory, we must put forward a new task,” The Five Year Plan helped China to be independent and powerful under Mao’s political ideology.

KEY Red Quote Spoken by Mao in the Early 1950’s: Mao created the Five Year Plan to bring order and prosperity back into China. China’s government was in debt and their currency was worth very little. China had participated in years of war which had brought the economy down into this poor state. Mao realized this in 1949 and began to put his goal into action by attempting to make China an industrial power. He started his campaign in 1953 by having the government taking over all the businesses.

KEY The 1958 Mao quote in yellow: represents Mao’s drive to improve China’s industry and production. Mao’s work ethic to do so included modernizing like the westerners had done so. Once there was an efficient amount of products for Chinese industry Mao had already started another industrial project. Thousands of Russian scientists an engineers supervised millions of Chinese on almost 700 major projects.

KEY Agricultural Propaganda Poster in Top Left: During the First Five Year Plan the government had a powerful monopoly on the agricultural business. Since they had a strong grip on the agriculture business, in 1953 the Chinese government outlawed private farms and urged the people turn their farms into cooperatives. By 1957 about 90% of the farms in China had turned into cooperatives. Due to these cooperatives there were less farmers in China. After the cooperatives were dominate in China food production only increased at about 2% per year, whereas in it was increasing at 14% per year.

KEY The following documents address the motives of Mao’s attempt to improve industrialization in china and the historical information below: Industrial Production Graph, and the black and white Industrialization image to the right of the yellow quote: Throughout Mao’s rule industrial production began to advance. Mao’s main goal was to make China into an industrial superpower and to achieve this, he mainly focused on the production of raw materials. Industrial Production began to increase immensely between 1952 and Almost all the targets set for the production of raw materials were achieved. New industries could start from scratch without old ways interfering with their work and or goals. The goals were then set up to making millions and thousands of tons of new raw materials. The black and white picture to the right of the yellow quote represents how the Chinese politics had an influence on the increase of production of raw materials and vital goods. In 1953 all businesses were taken over by government.

KEY Mao’s Social Reforms: during the 1950’s attempted to modernize and improve many of the various aspects of life in China. Not only did Mao attempt to change China industrially but he also made economic changes. Mao’s various reforms helped in many different ways such as health care, cleanliness of cities, businesses and banks became under state control, and education was improved. Through Mao’s various ideas to help improve China, he created opportunities for the citizens and a more organized state. One example of a reform Mao created was the Agrarian Reform Law in 1950, which allowed peasants to run and make the decisions at courts.

KEY The Yellow Propaganda Poster in the Middle: Represents what the Chinese did with their improved industry. The raw materials from the heavy industries would be used to improve transportation. To improve transportation they built planes, trains, and engines; in five years china was crisscrossed with railways. China could now move vital goods and raw materials over great distances. Elizabeth Dietrich, Kevin Raftery, Kayla Simon, Kaitie Kirsch, Jake Markowski