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Land reform, collectivisation and the First Five-Year Plan
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The CCP promised land to the peasants and modern industry for China. Between 1949 and 1957 it changed both.
Land reform
The Agrarian Reform Law (1950) took land from landlords and gave it to peasants.
At village meetings, peasants were encouraged to accuse landlords, and very large numbers of landlords were killed.
This destroyed the old landlord class and tied peasants to the CCP.
At village meetings, peasants were encouraged to accuse landlords, and very large numbers of landlords were killed.
This destroyed the old landlord class and tied peasants to the CCP.
Towards collectivisation
Mutual aid teams: families shared tools and labour.
Agricultural cooperatives: land was farmed together; peasants were paid partly for the land they put in.
Higher cooperatives (from 1955 to 56): land was owned collectively, and payment was for work only. Joining became enforced, not voluntary.
Agricultural cooperatives: land was farmed together; peasants were paid partly for the land they put in.
Higher cooperatives (from 1955 to 56): land was owned collectively, and payment was for work only. Joining became enforced, not voluntary.
The First Five-Year Plan, 1953 to 57
Aims: rapid growth of heavy industry: coal, steel, cement and electricity.
Soviet support: loans, thousands of advisers and help building factories.
Successes: targets were largely met; output of steel and coal rose sharply; new bridges and railways.
Failures: consumer goods and farming were neglected, and there was heavy bureaucracy.
Soviet support: loans, thousands of advisers and help building factories.
Successes: targets were largely met; output of steel and coal rose sharply; new bridges and railways.
Failures: consumer goods and farming were neglected, and there was heavy bureaucracy.
Give one reason why the Soviet Union mattered to the First Five-Year Plan.
- China had little industrial experience.
- The USSR provided loans, advisers and factory plans.
- So Soviet help made fast industrial growth possible.
Answer: Soviet loans and advisers supplied money and expertise China lacked.
1950 Agrarian Reform Law: landlords lost land (and often their lives). Mutual aid teams, then cooperatives, then enforced collective farms (1955 to 56). First Five-Year Plan (1953 to 57): heavy industry with Soviet help; targets largely met.
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