A* essay response to the question: How far do you agree that, in the years 1949-57, the main reason Mao was able to consolidate his power was the strength of his ideology?
Pearson Edexcel Modern History Mao's China, achieved 19/20 and is a useful source of revision for multiple prevalent themes in...
How far do you agree that, in the years 1949-57, the main reason Mao was able to
consolidate his power was the strength of his ideology?
The strength of Mao’s communist ideology was important in the consolidation of his power,
however other factors remained much more influential during the years 1949 to 1957.
Ideology played a significant role in endearing the people of China to Mao and his
communist policies, however it did little to further consolidate his power once in control.
Terror, violence and political reformation in the form of the Anti Movements and the
Reunification Campaign were much more effective in ensuring Moa was able to consolidate
his power across the country. Mao’s ideology played a role, of course, but it was seemingly
less effective than the pressure placed on the Chinese people by political campaigns and
terror.
The foundation of the CCP was ‘Mao Zedong Thought’: his own version of Marxist ideology
that was better suited, in his opinion, to the specific struggles of China during 1949. His
ideas were the basis of the entire Chinese Communist Party, and Mao Zedong Thought was
influential in its own right. After the Civil War ended in 1949, all Chinese adults were made to
study Mao Zedong Thought, many having to be sent back to school in order to do this. A
significant part of this ideology was that, unlike in Marxism-Leninism where the proletariats
were the main driving force of the revolution against capitalism, Mao wanted the peasantry
to lead the communist revolution: as they were the largest population in the country during
1949. To maintain the support of the peasantry, Mao encouraged them to denounce their
landlords and take what was ‘rightfully’ theirs in the ‘Land to the Tiller’ agricultural reforms. It
was a display of communist justice that adhered to Mao's ideology that highlighted the need
to rid the country of private land ownership. Often, party cadres were sent to villages to
‘liberate’ them with the help of local peasants. This included the killing or exiling of landlords
and the redistribution of land to the farmers. In theme with ‘Mao Zedong Thought’ he also
introduced a code of conduct that ensured any troops aiding in the ‘liberation’ of villages had
to treat the peasants with respect. The carrying out of these land reforms showcases the
strength of Mao's ideology, as it was enough to garner the support of many peasants as well
as aid in the consolidation of the CCP’s power; as they now had hold over rural areas as well
as Beijing. His belief that peasantry were important to a communist China ensured he had
supporters all over the country and widened the grasp he had over China. However, it is clear
that Mao’s ideology was not all that ensured the support of China’s peasantry. Around two
million people died in the implementation of this agricultural policy, as landlords were
murdered after being subjected to violent ‘struggle meetings’ where they were abused before
the entire village. Mao Zedong Thought clearly influenced these land reforms and helped
bring about a sort of class consciousness that made higher classes within villages look evil,
however violence and fear also played a significant role in the consolidation of Mao’s power
rurally. The conflict caused by the policy created enthusiasm for the communist cause and
therefore helped consolidate Mao’s power more effectively than simply spreading his
ideology would have done. Therefore, while Mao Zedong Thought played an important role in
the consolidation of his power, it was not the main reason he was able to do so - as violence
was more powerful in garnering support and eliminating landlords who opposed communist
ideals.
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