Use of force

• Force


  The means of making somebody comply or overcoming resistance to what you want to have in order to protect life or property or to take a person into custody
• Anti-landlord campaign


  1. Mao rounds up landlords

  2. Puts them on trial in front of peasants

  3. Peasants declare them guilty

  4. Landlords are beaten and executed
• Estimates of deaths from the anti-landlord campaign range from 200,000 to 5 million in the first 3 years of Mao's rule
• Laogai


  Camps set up for people charged with crimes against the government, where they are subjected to harsh labor and re-education
• The Laogai system was legitimized in 1951 and still exists today
• Crimes that could lead to being sent to the Laogai

  • Criticizing Mao, the government, or communism
  • Landlordism
  • Counterrevolutionary activities
  • Common crimes
• By 1954, the list of crimes punishable by being sent to the Laogai had grown to 50 offenses
• Mao used the threat of the Laogai to maintain power and control over the people