Consolidation of power and methods of rule including the use of terror and propaganda (Edexcel A-Level History): Revision Notes

Consolidation of power and methods of rule including the use of terror and propaganda

Dealing with opposition

The steps taken by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) against opponents of communist rule resulted in rural and urban terror.

One of the campaigns implemented by the People's Republic of China (1949) under the CCP was to eradicate the ownership of land by wealthy landlords. As part of the Land Reform, land was coercively taken from the landlords and redistributed to the poor peasants and managed by the state.

A man reads the Land Reform Law of the PRC

The campaign was successful, specifically amongst the peasants, and the CCP grew in popularity amongst them. On the other hand, the campaign saw an estimated 1-4.5 million deaths as violence towards landlords was implicitly tolerated.

Struggle session

To eradicate the dissidents or political opponents of the CCP, the Campaign to Suppress Counterrevolutionaries was launched in 1950. It aimed to suppress opposition and mainly involved the former supporters of the Guomindang, which was composed of academics, businessmen and former officials.

To eradicate the dissidents or political opponents of the CCP, the Campaign to Suppress Counterrevolutionaries was launched in 1950. It aimed to suppress opposition and mainly involved the former supporters of the Guomindang, which was composed of academics, businessmen and former officials.

Five-anti Campaign

Launched by the CCP in January 1952, the Five-anti Campaign targeted capitalists, resulting in a state battle against the Chinese bourgeoisie

The anti-campaigns used spies in businesses and some went door-to-door to the business owners. A business caught doing proscribed acts was shut down. The owners were put on trial, some were put into forced labour, and some were executed. Others who were found guilty committed suicide rather than face punishment. This resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths.

Anti:

Bribery

Theft of state property

Tax evasion

Cheating on government contracts

Stealing state economic intelligence

In 1951, the Three-anti Campaign was launched in Manchuria for the CCP members, Kuomintang members and government officials.

Three-anti Campaign'

Corruption

Waste

Bureaucracy