3.2

• What year did Mao introduce the First Five Year Plan?

  1952
• What was the primary goal of the First Five Year Plan?

  To boost China’s heavy industry, including coal, iron, steel, and petroleum
• Why was industrialization necessary for China according to the study material?

  To become a successful modern communist power
• Where was most industry located in China in 1949?

  Manchuria
• What impact did the Chinese Civil War and War with Japan have on industry?

  They destroyed a lot of Chinese industry
• What was the outcome of the First Five Year Plan in terms of coal production?

  Coal production doubled
• By how much did electric power production increase during the First Five Year Plan?

  Three times
• How much did steel production increase during the First Five Year Plan?

  Four times
• What were the reasons for the success of the First Five Year Plan?

  • Soviet advisors provided expertise
  • Increased food production due to land reform
  • Rich natural resources in China
  • Urban population willing to work hard
  • Private businesses brought under state control
• What was the aim of the Second Five Year Plan?

  To overtake Britain as an industrial power in less than 15 years
• What was the alternative name for the Second Five Year Plan?

  The Great Leap Forward
• What did Mao believe about the potential for success in China?

  Anything could be achieved if there was the will to succeed
• What was Mao's view on communism compared to capitalism?

  He believed communism was superior to capitalism
• What did Mao believe about food production during the Great Leap Forward?

  He believed enough food was being produced to feed the expanding urban workforce
• What was one of Mao's beliefs regarding China's dependence on the USSR?

  China was too dependent on the USSR and needed to be more self-reliant
• What were the key features of the Great Leap Forward?

  • Involvement of the whole population in production
  • Collectivisation of agriculture into communes
  • Establishment of backyard furnaces for steel production
  • Complete control of businesses by the government
  • Construction of massive projects like bridges and dams
• How many tonnes of steel were produced in 1958 during the Great Leap Forward?

  11 million tonnes
• What were the negative impacts of the Great Leap Forward?

  • Collectivisation failed, leading to 50 million deaths in famine
  • Poor quality steel from backyard furnaces had to be discarded
  • Decline in business production due to lack of profit motive
  • Departure of Soviet experts before adequate training of Chinese
• What was Mao's admission regarding the Great Leap Forward?

  He admitted that the Great Leap Forward had failed
• What was the political consequence for Mao after the Great Leap Forward?

  It seriously damaged Mao politically and he resigned as Head of State
• How did Mao's absence from public life after the Great Leap Forward serve him politically?

  It meant he was not in power to get the blame for the famine