How important was the First Five-Year Plan to China’s social and economic development by 1960?
Level
O LEVEL
Year Examined
2022
Topic
CHINA, c.1930–c.1990
👑Complete Model Essay
How important was the First Five-Year Plan to China’s social and economic development by 1960?
How important was the First Five-Year Plan to China’s social and economic development by 1960?
The First Five-Year Plan (1953-57), based on the Soviet model, was crucial to China’s economic development by 1960. However, social changes were arguably more significant and were driven by a broader range of factors, including the Agrarian Reform Law and the Hundred Flowers Campaign.
The First Five-Year Plan nationalised private businesses and industries, establishing a command economy with production targets. The focus on heavy industries like coal, iron, and steel led to significant increases in output. For instance, steel, coal, and iron production doubled or tripled within the five years, surpassing the initial targets. This growth was fueled by Soviet loans and expertise, and led to the development of new infrastructure, including railways, and the rapid expansion of cities and industrial towns. Local targets encouraged workers to be more productive, promising better wages, food, and accommodation.
However, alongside the economic changes brought by the First Five-Year Plan, other factors played a more significant role in social development. The Agrarian Reform Law of 1950 had a profound impact on rural society. Land was seized from landlords, many of whom were arrested and executed, and redistributed to peasants. This policy aimed to empower the peasantry and gain their support for the Communist regime. By 1956, 95% of peasants were part of cooperatives and collective farms under state control, effectively turning them into wage earners.
Furthermore, the 1950s witnessed a range of social reforms. Healthcare became free, and the number of rural doctors increased significantly. The CCP discouraged traditional Chinese medicine and promoted preventative healthcare. Education also improved, with primary education becoming compulsory and literacy rates soaring to 90% by the early 1960s. The Hundred Flowers Campaign in 1957, though short-lived, encouraged development in the arts and culture.
The Great Leap Forward, launched in 1958, also had a significant impact on both social and economic development. This radical program aimed to rapidly transform China into a socialist society by combining agricultural and industrial production in communes. While the Great Leap Forward ultimately failed and led to widespread famine, it demonstrates that social and economic changes were driven by a complex interplay of factors, not solely the First Five-Year Plan.
In conclusion, while the First Five-Year Plan played a vital role in kick-starting China’s industrial development by 1960, social changes were perhaps even more transformative. These changes were driven by a broader range of policies, including the Agrarian Reform Law, social reforms in healthcare and education, and the short-lived Hundred Flowers Campaign. It is important to note that all these policies were interconnected and aimed at establishing a socialist society, highlighting the multifaceted nature of China’s development during this period.
Source:
CHINA, c.1930–c.1990, History Essay
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The First Five-Year Plan played a significant role in China's social and economic development by 1960.
I. Nationalization of Industries
- Nationalization of private business and industry led to centralized planning and control.
- This allowed the government to prioritize heavy industry development, setting production targets.
II. Industrialization and Economic Growth
- Focus on heavy industry (coal, iron, steel, oil, and cement) boosted production.
- Steel, coal, and iron all exceeded targets set, doubling or tripling production over five years.
- Reliance on Soviet loans and expertise facilitated industrialization.
III. Urbanization and Infrastructure Development
- Cities and industrial towns grew rapidly, necessitating new infrastructure such as railways.
IV. Improved Living Standards
- Local targets incentivized workers to increase productivity, resulting in access to better wages, food, and accommodation.
Impact on Social Development
V. Agrarian Reform and Collectivization
- Agrarian Reform Law, 1950, redistributed land and established collective farms, improving rural livelihoods.
VI. Social Reforms and Healthcare
- Healthcare became free, increasing access to rural healthcare professionals.
- Traditional Chinese medicine was discouraged, and preventative medicine was promoted.
VII. Education and Literacy
- Primary education became compulsory, leading to increased literacy rates of up to 90% by the early 1960s.
VIII. Great Leap Forward
- Communes, combining agriculture and industrial production, aimed to accelerate economic development, though with mixed results.
Conclusion
While the First Five-Year Plan contributed significantly to China's industrialization and economic growth, it was not the sole factor in the country's social and economic development. Other factors, such as land reform, social reforms, and the Great Leap Forward, also played important roles.
Extracts from Mark Schemes
How important was the First Five-Year Plan to China’s social and economic development by 1960? Explain your answer.
YES
The First Five-Year Plan nationalised private business and industry as per the Soviet model; centralised planning and command based economy using production targets; focus on heavy industry (coal, iron, steel, oil and cement); local targets used to encourage workers to be more productive and gain access to better wages, food and accommodation; steel, coal and iron all exceeded targets set; most heavy industry doubled or tripled in production over the 5 years; heavily reliant on Soviet loans and expertise; cities and industrial towns increased in size rapidly as well as new infrastructure like railways, etc.
NO
More important: Agrarian Reform Law, 1950 saw communal ownership of land; landlords arrested and executed; cooperatives and collective farms set up with state control and eventually ownership, with peasants becoming wage earners; by 1956, 95% of peasants in collectives; 1950s social reforms – healthcare made free; more rural doctors; CCP discouraged traditional Chinese medicine and promoted preventative medicine; education improved and primary education compulsory; literacy rates rose to 90% by early 1960s; Great Leap Forward, 1958 saw development of communes; combined agricultural and industrial production; backyard furnaces produced poor quality steel; Hundred Flowers Campaign in 1957 encouraged development in arts and culture, etc.