Read the summary and the most important questions on Access to History for the IB Diploma: Origins and development of authoritarian and single-party states | 9781444156461 | Michael Lynch

• 4 China under Mao Zedong, 1949-76

• 4.2.1 The Creation of the People's Republic of China

• When did Mao declare the People's Republic of China?

  1st October 1949; in Beijing

• What is a simplistic explanation of Mao's political approach?

  1. China was to be a one-party state
  2. Chinese people were to conform to dictates of new government

• What was the structure of the PRC?

  • Country divided into 6 regions
  • Each region would be controlled by a bureau

  
  
  Bureau would be made up of:
  

  1. Chairman
  2. Party Secretary
  3. Military Commander
  4. Political commissar

• What was the effect of the structure of the PRC on different elements of society political power within China?

  As both the Military Commander and the Political Commissar within the different bureaus would be made up of officers from the People's Liberation Army (PLA) China was basically under military control. 

• Why would Mao choose to have such a strong military element to the organisation of the PRC?

  1. China had been deeply unstable (see background to PRC) and the military with their authoritarian control Mao saw as the best means of stabilizing China
  2. CCP didn't have popular support everywhere; for example out of 540 million Chinese there were only about 4 million members of the CCP and in many areas opponents outnumbered supporters. Therefore this military element Mao saw as necessary to guarantee the continued rule of the CCP. 

• How did the CCP claim Chinese government functioned?

  1. All power rested with the peasants and workers
     
  2. Party officials and government were just 'servants' to the Nation
  3. All party officals were elected

• What aspects of CCP government made it less democratic than they made out?

  1. Only the CCP could stand for election
  2. All other parties were outlawed
  3. Even those who stood for independents had to acknowledge publicly that the CCP had absolute right to rule
  4. government carried out by Politburo which was controlled by Mao Zedong
  5. This didn't mean that Mao controlled every policy; but did mean that nothing could be done which he didn't approve of
  6. Mao had absolute authority

• 4.2.1.1 The Imposition of Military Control

  This is a preview. There are 1 more flashcards available for chapter 4.2.1.1
  Show more cards here

• When did 'reunification' campaigns take place?

  1950 (year after establishment of PRC)

• What were the 'reunification campaigns'?

  1. The Chinese government euphemism for forcibly bringing invaded provinces into line in 1950
     
  2. Main purpose was to impose martial law
  3. Repress any sign of an independence movement

• Where did the 'reunification' campaigns take place?

  1. Tibet (Xizang)
  2. Xinjiang (Sinkiang)
  3. GuangDong (southern province) - (Kwantung)