Essay Plan

The first Five year plan was a success. How far do you
Do you agree? (20 marks)

Intro
The reforms implemented by Mao and the CCP in the Five Year Plan (1953-1957),
including the reforms to improve economic growth and transport, the increase of
urbanisation, as well as the focus of increasing the standard of living. These reforms
that were part of the Five Year Plan were largely successful but had their limitations.

P1-Economic growth
Mao’s 5 year plan was successful for many reasons. One key successful aim
of Mao's 5 year plan was the increase in economic growth and the
improvement of transport

Argument
● This reform had many successes. One way the economy was
developed was the increase in industrial output - 156 major industrial
enterprises, 14 electric power stations from nearly 0, 63 machinery
plants.
● Industrial output grew 15.5%.
● Annual growth rate averaged 16% - increased China capabilities and
made it on the right track of being a modern industrial country.
● The industrial working class grew from 6 million to 10 million showing
the great increase in industry.
● Also improvements in transport infrastructure- Railway freight volume
more than doubled. More roads and railways meant faster transport of
key machines - this led to more efficient output and increased economic
growth.
● The CCP was able to provide 7500 trucks by the end of the 5 yr plan
when their target had been 4000. This enabled the cp to transport more
goods across china and resources to where they were needed
● Construction of the first bridge across the Yangzi in Wuhan started in
September 1955. This would open up the route betweenBeijing and
Guangzhou.
Counter Argument
● On the other hand, much of the economic growth relied heavily on the
USSR’s aid- 11000 soviet experts sent to design and construct
factories. $300 mil loan over five years- The reliance meant China had
to repay with grain which meant that the state had to buy crops from
peasants at very low prices and then repay the soviets, the increases
factory workers depended upon a co-operative and healthy working
class, but not enough food was being imported into the cities to feed
them which greatly hampered industrial and economic growth.
● Reliance on the Soviets meant that the economic growth wasn’t self-
sufficient and so Mao had failed to create his autarkic state.
Furthermore all the figures that we have of China's economic growth are
that from the government, these variables may be biased however as
the CCP wanted to boost its prestige and show the world that it was a
growing industrialised power.
● Despite soviet advice china still lacked organisational and management
experience. Lack of cooperation between industries and local producers
created bottlenecks in production which hampered economic growth.

P2-Increased standards of living

Another key aim of mao's five year plan was the rise in the standards of living
of chinese people

Argument
● This reform had many successes as the abolishment of private
business and enterprises meant that the state controlled all the factories
and employed more people. This made the standard of living of workers
improve as they had greater job security.
● In addition to this the state sponsored 800 new modern hospitals which
were free and accessible which is proven by the fact that life
 expectancy was 57 years by the end of the five year plan as opposed to
36 years in 1948.
● The party provided workers with welfare support and provided permits
for marriage and travel which greatly improved their king standards as
the majority of these workers had been impoverished peasants

Counter Argument
● Due to Maos focus on heavy industry, very little consumer goods were
ever produced which greatly decreased the living standards of the
Chinese people.
● Due to the soviet loans the government was forced to buy grain from
the easants at very low prices which meant that easans were extremely
impoverished and lived at subsistence levels.
● There was little investment in improving the healthcare or education
systems. The standard of living especially among the poorest peasants
in rural areas was still very low as they lacked schools and hospitals.

P3-increased urbanisation and food production.

Argument
● More peasants moved into the city due to the demand for more workers
as maps needed for heavy industry increased and so urbanisation
increased, urbanisation helped the output of industry increase
● Industrial working class grew from 6 million to 10 million
● Urbanization almost doubled from 57 million in 1949 to 100 million in
1957
● More farming vehicles from the soviet union to increase food production
● Farms were collectivised and PLA soldiers helped with the farm labour
● China produced 22 million tons in 1953

Counter argument
 ● The value of agricultural output grew only by an average of 2.1 percent
per year, a sharp decline from the rate of 14.1 percent achieved
● Old farming technologies and techniques were still being used and
therefore could not be as efficient.
● Increased urbanisation left less farmers available for farming which
would see not enough grain for the Chinese people as well as for
payment (for USSR) = famine in China