Maos consolidation of power between 1949 and 1953 was entirely dependent upon terror and repression. Explain why you agree or disagree.

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‘Mao’s consolidation of power between 1949 and 1953 was entirely dependent upon terror and repression.’ Explain why you agree or disagree with this view.

Throughout the years 1949 and 1953 Mao continuously used methods of terror and repression, they were key weapons in the CPC’s struggle to control the population of China after the formation of the People’s Republic in 1949. At the beginning Mao pursued a relatively cautious policy in order to broaden and maintain a coalition of support. However, by 1950 it soon became clear that his main aim was to eliminate all potential threats to his political party and as said by Chang and Halliday, in “Mao, the unknown story” Mao wanted to ‘scare people away from touching state money’ and ‘to instill fear’ to the whole nation to prevent them from challenging him or his government. He completely terrorized the population into submission by making them witnesses of brutal violence in public executions. Additionally he indoctrinated young people into believing certain things as a way of gaining respect, through systems such as the PLA in 1950.

The PLA rapidly became the largest army in the world, with approximately five million men under its command and 41% of the total state budget being spent on it. Not only were its troops well trained in warfare but they also had a role in the countryside, which was to pass on the Communist ideology that they had been indoctrinated to their fellow Chinese citizens. Essentially the PLA were held up as role models for others to emulate. They also were put to work on public works projects, such as the building new developments and rebuilding roads or railways that had been damaged in the wars.

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The ‘machinery’ of repression used by the State included propaganda campaigns to shame the chosen targets, the list of these targets varied from those who appeared to be a threat to the CCP or were linked in any way to a member of the GMD, these posters included large doses of dictatic politicized art which were produced to inoculate the peasantry against the temptations of feudalism and capitalism that Mao saw re-emerging in the countryside.

The police and courts were replaced by Communist Party committees and the number of imprisonments and executions increased dramatically. A major act of terror ...

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