Grade 10 World history, Week 24, Lesson 24: The People’s Republic of China, 1946–1991

The People’s Republic of China, 1946–1991

Textbook: pp. 110–114

GoalDescribe neutrally and factually the establishment of the People’s Republic of China, the “Great Leap Forward”, the “Cultural Revolution” and the era of reforms.

New words

People’s Republic of China · Xitoy Xalq Respublikasi“Great Leap Forward” · «Katta sakrash»“Cultural Revolution” · «Madaniy inqilob»“reform and opening-up” policy · «ochiqlik va islohotlar» siyosati

Explanation

After the Second World War the civil war between the Kuomintang and the Communists resumed in China (1946); on 1 October 1949 Mao Zedong proclaimed the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in Beijing, while Chiang Kai-shek’s government moved to the island of Taiwan. The PRC at first carried out land reform, brought industry under state control and implemented the First Five-Year Plan (1953–1957) with Soviet help; in 1950 Chinese volunteers took part in the Korean War. The “Great Leap Forward” of 1958–1962 was a campaign to force rapid growth in industry and agriculture, which led to a severe famine and millions of deaths (estimates vary). The “Cultural Revolution” of 1966–1976 involved political struggle, mass campaigns and persecutions and harmed education and the economy; in the 1960s Sino-Soviet relations broke down. In 1971 China’s seat at the UN passed from the Republic of China government on Taiwan to the PRC, and in 1972 Nixon visited China. Mao died in 1976; from late 1978 the policy of “reform and opening-up” began under Deng Xiaoping: household contracting in the countryside (early 1980s), special economic zones and foreign investment. The political system stayed one-party; in spring 1989 students demonstrated in Beijing and other cities, and the protests were suppressed in early June with force at Tiananmen Square (figures on casualties differ).

Worked examples

A note on the textbook: it places the “Great Leap Forward” in the 1960s; in fact it ran in 1958–1962, while the “Cultural Revolution” lasted 1966–1976.

Result of the reforms: China’s economy grew at a high rate throughout the 1980s and food production in the countryside rose. At the same time elements of a market economy coexisted with strict party control.

Class activity

Timeline: arrange eight events of PRC history by year and choose a colour for each period (construction, campaigns, reforms).

Practice

When was the People’s Republic of China proclaimed?

In which years did the “Great Leap Forward” take place and what were its consequences?

With which leader are the reforms in China associated and when did they begin?

In which year did the PRC take China’s seat at the UN and in place of whom?