How important were Mao’s agricultural policies to the modernisation of China by 1960? Explain your answer.
Level
IGCSE
Year Examined
2023
Topic
CHINA, c.1930–c.1990
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How important were Mao’s agricultural policies to the modernisation of China by 1960? Explain your answer.
How important were Mao’s agricultural policies to the modernisation of China by 1960?
Mao Zedong's agricultural policies played a significant but ultimately mixed role in the modernisation of China by 1960. While his initial land reforms and collectivisation efforts led to short-term gains in agricultural production, the disastrous Great Leap Forward proved detrimental, resulting in widespread famine and undermining his earlier progress.
Mao's land reform, initiated in 1950, aimed to redistribute land from wealthy landlords to poor peasants. This move was largely popular and facilitated the collectivisation of agriculture. By 1956, 95% of the peasant population lived in collective farms, signifying the end of private ownership. This collectivisation, combined with the introduction of new machinery and farming methods, initially boosted food production. Cooperatives allowed for the pooling of resources and expertise, leading to increased efficiency. The surplus from agriculture could then be used to fund industrial development, a key aspect of modernisation.
Furthermore, the establishment of communes in 1958 aimed to integrate agricultural and industrial development in rural areas. This period saw the development of backyard furnaces for steel production and a surge in iron production, which rose by 45% in 1958 alone. Communes also facilitated the development of schools and hospitals, improving the lives of many peasants. This linkage between agriculture and industry was central to Mao's vision of a modern socialist state.
However, the Great Leap Forward of 1958-1961 proved to be a catastrophic misstep. This ambitious campaign, aimed at rapidly transforming China into a modern industrial and agricultural society, had disastrous consequences. The focus shifted drastically from agricultural production to unrealistic industrial targets, leading to widespread crop failures and a devastating famine. It is estimated that between 20 and 40 million people died of starvation between 1958 and 1960. This period represented a significant setback to China's modernisation efforts and highlighted the limitations of Mao's agricultural policies.
Moreover, it is crucial to acknowledge the significance of other factors in China's modernisation during this period. The First Five-Year Plan (1953-1957), focused on heavy industry, achieved significant success. Production of oil, steel, and iron surpassed targets, contributing to the expansion of urban centres and improvements in infrastructure. Additionally, social reforms in areas like women's rights, healthcare, and education, alongside Soviet aid in the form of loans and expertise, played a crucial role in improving living conditions for many. These factors highlight that modernisation was not solely reliant on Mao's agricultural policies.
In conclusion, while Mao's initial agricultural policies, such as land reform and collectivisation, contributed to short-term gains in production and facilitated the early stages of industrial development, their overall impact on China's modernisation by 1960 was mixed. The disastrous consequences of the Great Leap Forward, resulting in widespread famine and a decline in agricultural output, undermined earlier progress. While agricultural policies played a part, other factors, such as the First Five-Year Plan, social reforms, and Soviet aid, were equally, if not more, significant in driving China's modernisation during this period.
Sources:
Spence, Jonathan D. The Search for Modern China. New York: W. W. Norton, 1999.
Fairbank, John King. China: A New History. Cambridge, Mass: Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 1992.
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Essay Outline: How Important Were Mao’s Agricultural Policies to the Modernization of China by 1960?
I. Introduction
This essay will analyze the significance of Mao Zedong’s agricultural policies in the modernization of China by 1960, ultimately arguing that while these policies had some positive impacts, their contribution was overshadowed by the failures of the Great Leap Forward and the greater success of the First Five-Year Plan focused on heavy industry.
II. Arguments for the importance of Mao's agricultural policies:
A. Land Redistribution:
Implementing land reform in 1950, Mao aimed to empower the peasantry by seizing land from landlords and redistributing it.
This move was initially popular and garnered support for the communist regime, fostering a sense of social equality.
However, the long-term economic benefits of this policy are debatable, as it disrupted existing agricultural practices and potentially hindered large-scale farming.
B. Collectivization and the Development of Communes:
The formation of cooperatives and collective farms, culminating in the communes of 1958, aimed to increase agricultural efficiency and output.
By pooling resources, expertise, and labor, the government sought to modernize farming practices and improve yields.
Additionally, the communes facilitated the development of small-scale industry and mining in rural areas, potentially contributing to rural industrialization.
However, the forced nature of collectivization and the unrealistic production targets set during the Great Leap Forward ultimately resulted in disaster.
III. Arguments against the significance of Mao's agricultural policies:
A. The Great Leap Forward and its Catastrophic Consequences:
Mao's ambitious but flawed Great Leap Forward, with its emphasis on unrealistic industrial targets, diverted resources and labor away from agriculture.
This policy resulted in widespread famine, with millions perishing from starvation between 1958 and 1960, highlighting the failures of Mao's agricultural policies in ensuring food security.
B. The Success of the First Five-Year Plan and Industrial Development:
In contrast to the agricultural sector, the First Five-Year Plan, with its focus on heavy industry, achieved considerable success.
Production of steel, iron, and oil surpassed targets, laying the foundation for China's industrial development.
This period also saw significant improvements in infrastructure, particularly in rail networks, further facilitating industrial growth and urbanization.
C. Social Reforms and Soviet Aid:
While not directly related to agriculture, the social reforms implemented during this period, including improvements in healthcare, education, and women's rights, contributed significantly to modernization.
Additionally, Soviet aid in the form of loans and technical expertise played a crucial role in boosting industrial development and overall modernization during the 1950s.
IV. Conclusion:
In conclusion, while Mao's agricultural policies aimed to modernize China's rural economy, their impact by 1960 was ultimately limited and overshadowed by the devastating consequences of the Great Leap Forward.
The First Five-Year Plan's focus on heavy industry, coupled with social reforms and Soviet assistance, played a far more significant role in advancing China's modernization during this period.
Therefore, while land reform and collectivization had some initial appeal and might have contributed to social transformation, their contribution to China's overall modernization by 1960 was ultimately overshadowed by their shortcomings and the successes in other sectors.
Extracts from Mark Schemes
How important were Mao’s agricultural policies to the modernisation of China by 1960? Explain your answer.
Yes Mao initiated land reform in 1950 to redistribute land to the peasants from the landlord classes; created cooperatives and collective farms; 95% of the peasant population lived in collective farms by 1956; private ownership ceased to exist and peasants received a wage; led to increased food production as expertise and farms were joined together; new machinery and tools used; newer farming methods shared; development of communes in 1958 allowed for the development of industry and mining in rural areas; backyard furnaces produced 11 million tonnes of steel per year and iron production rose by 45% in 1958 alone; allowed schools and hospitals to be built to educate peasants and workers in communes, etc.
No Great Leap Forward saw many peasants focus on industrial targets at the expense of the harvest; led to mass famine in China with 20–40 million starving to death by 1960; more important – First Five-Year Plan focused on heavy industry and was successful; oil, steel, iron all saw production levels surpass targets; expansion of urban centres and improvements to infrastructure such as rail; social reforms towards women, healthcare and education improved living conditions for many peasant families; Soviet aid in the 1950s through loans of capital and expertise, etc.