China - Establishment of the People's Republic | Britannica

When the CCP proclaimed the People's Republic, most Chinese understood that the new leadership would be preoccupied with industrialization. A priority goal of ... China TableofContents China Introduction&QuickFactsLandReliefTheeasternregionTheNortheastPlainTheChangbaiMountainsTheNorthChinaPlainTheLoessPlateauTheShandongHillsTheQinMountainsTheSichuanBasinThesoutheasternmountainsPlainsofthemiddleandlowerYangtzeTheNanMountainsThesouthwestTheYunnan-GuizhouPlateauThePlateauofTibetThenorthwestTheTarimBasinTheJunggarBasinTheTienShanDrainageSoilsClimateTheairmassesTemperaturePrecipitationPlantandanimallifeFloraAnimallifePeopleEthnicgroupsLanguagesSino-TibetanAltaicOtherlanguagesReligionSettlementpatternsRuralareasUrbanareasDemographictrendsPopulationgrowthPopulationdistributionInternalmigrationEconomyGeneralconsiderationsTheroleofthegovernmentEconomicpoliciesAgriculture,forestry,andfishingFarmingandlivestockForestryandfishingResourcesandpowerMineralsHydroelectricpotentialEnergyproductionManufacturingFinanceTradeServicesLabourandtaxationTransportationandtelecommunicationsRailwaysRoadnetworksWaterwaysPortfacilitiesandshippingAviationPostsandtelecommunicationsGovernmentandsocietyParallelstructureConstitutionalframeworkPoliticalprocessRoleoftheCCPAdministrationJusticeSecurityHealthandwelfareEducationCulturallifeCulturalmilieuTheartsLiteratureVisualartsPerformingartsCulturalinstitutionsDailylife,sports,andrecreationMediaandpublishingHistoryPrehistoryArchaeologyinChinaEarlyhumansNeolithicPeriodClimateandenvironmentFoodproductionMajorculturesandsitesIncipientNeolithic6thmillenniumbce5thmillenniumbce4thand3rdmillenniabceRegionalculturesoftheLateNeolithicReligiousbeliefsandsocialorganizationThefirsthistoricaldynasty:theShangTheadventofbronzecastingTheShangdynastyRoyalburialsThechariotArtLateShangdivinationandreligionStateandsocietyTheZhouandQindynastiesThehistoryoftheZhou(1046–256bce)ZhouandShangTheZhoufeudalsystemSocial,political,andculturalchangesThedeclineoffeudalismUrbanizationandassimilationTheriseofmonarchyEconomicdevelopmentCulturalchangeTheQinempire(221–207bce)TheQinstateStruggleforpowerTheempireTheHandynastyDynasticauthorityandthesuccessionofemperorsXi(Western)HanPreludetotheHanTheimperialsuccessionFromWuditoYuandiFromChengditoWangMangDong(Eastern)HanTheadministrationoftheHanempireThestructureofgovernmentThecivilserviceProvincialgovernmentThearmedforcesThepracticeofgovernmentRelationswithotherpeoplesCulturaldevelopmentsTheSixDynastiesPoliticaldevelopmentsThedivisionofChinaSanguo(ThreeKingdoms;220–280ce)TheXi(Western)Jin(265–316/317ce)TheeraofbarbarianinvasionsandruleTheDong(Eastern)Jin(317–420)andlaterdynastiesinthesouth(420–589)TheShiliuguo(SixteenKingdoms)inthenorth(303–439)IntellectualandreligioustrendsConfucianismandphilosophicalDaoismDaoismBuddhismTheSuidynastyWendi’sinstitutionalreformsIntegrationofthesouthForeignaffairsunderYangdiTheTangdynastyEarlyTang(618–626)AdministrationofthestateFiscalandlegalsystemTheperiodofTangpower(626–755)The“eraofgoodgovernment”RiseoftheempressWuhouProsperityandprogressMilitaryreorganizationLateTang(755–907)ProvincialseparatismThestruggleforcentralauthorityCulturaldevelopmentsTheinfluenceofBuddhismTrendsintheartsSocialchangeDeclineofthearistocracyPopulationmovementsGrowthoftheeconomyTheFiveDynastiesandtheTenKingdomsTheWudai(FiveDynasties)TheShiguo(TenKingdoms)Thebarbarians:Tangut,Khitan,andJuchenTheTangutTheKhitanTheJuchenTheSongdynastyBei(Northern)Song(960–1127)UnificationConsolidationReformsDeclineandfallNan(Southern)Song(1127–1279)SurvivalandconsolidationRelationswiththeJuchenThecourt’srelationswiththebureaucracyThechiefcouncillorsThebureaucraticstyleTheclericalstaffTheriseofNeo-ConfucianismInternalsolidarityduringthedeclineoftheNanSongSongcultureTheYuan,orMongol,dynastyTheMongolconquestofChinaInvasionoftheJinstateInvasionoftheSongstateChinaundertheMongolsMongolgovernmentandadministrationEarlyMongolruleChangesunderKublaiKhanandhissuccessorsEconomyReligiousandintellectuallifeDaoismBuddhismForeignreligionsConfucianismLiteratureTheartsYuanChinaandtheWestTheendofMongolruleTheMingdynastyPoliticalhistoryThedynasty’sfounderThedynasticsuccessionGovernmentandadministrationLocalgovernmentCentralgovernmentLaterinnovationsForeignrelationsEconomicpolicyanddevelopmentsPopulationAgricultureTaxationCoinageCulturePhilosophyandreligionFineartsLiteratureandscholarshipTheearlyQingdynastyTheriseoftheManchuTheQingempirePoliticalinstitutionsForeignrelationsEconomicdevelopmentQingsocietySocialorganizationStateandsocietyTrendsintheearlyQingLateQingWesternchallenge,1839–60ThefirstOpiumWaranditsaftermathTheantiforeignmovementandthesecondOpiumWar(ArrowWar)PopularuprisingTheTaipingRebellionTheNianRebellionMuslimrebellionsEffectsoftherebellionsTheSelf-StrengtheningMovementForeignrelationsinthe1860sIndustrializationfor“self-strengthening”ChangesinoutlyingareasEastTurkistanTibetandNepalMyanmar(Burma)VietnamJapanandtheRyukyuIslandsKoreaandtheSino-JapaneseWarReformandupheavalTheHundredDaysofReformof1898TheBoxerRebellionReformistandrevolutionistmovementsattheendofthedynastySunYat-senandtheUnitedLeagueConstitutionalmovementsafter1905TheChineseRevolution(1911–12)TheearlyrepublicanperiodThedevelopmentoftherepublic(1912–20)EarlypowerstrugglesChinainWorldWarIJapanesegainsYuan’sattemptstobecomeemperorConflictoverentryintothewarFormationofarivalsoutherngovernmentWartimechangesIntellectualmovementsAnintellectualrevolutionRiotsandprotestsTheinterwaryears(1920–37)BeginningsofanationalrevolutionTheNationalistPartyTheChineseCommunistPartyCommunist-NationalistcooperationReactionstowarlordsandforeignersMilitarisminChinaTheforeignpresenceReorganizationoftheKMTStruggleswithinthetwo-partycoalitionClasheswithforeignersKMToppositiontoradicalsTheNorthernExpeditionExpulsionofcommunistsfromtheKMTTheNationalistgovernmentfrom1928to1937JapaneseaggressionWarbetweenNationalistsandcommunistsTheUnitedFrontagainstJapanThelaterepublicanperiodThewaragainstJapan(1937–45)TheSino-JapaneseWarPhaseonePhasetwo:stalemateandstagnationRenewedcommunist-NationalistconflictTheinternationalallianceagainstJapanU.S.aidtoChinaConflictswithintheinternationalalliancePhasethree:approachingcrisis(1944–45)NationalistdeteriorationCommunistgrowthEffortstopreventcivilwarCivilwar(1945–49)AraceforterritoryAttemptstoendthewarResumptionoffightingThetidebeginstoshiftAlandrevolutionThedecisiveyear,1948CommunistvictoryEstablishmentofthePeople’sRepublicReconstructionandconsolidation,1949–52Thetransitiontosocialism,1953–57RuralcollectivizationUrbansocialistchangesPoliticaldevelopmentsForeignpolicyNewdirectionsinnationalpolicy,1958–61Readjustmentandreaction,1961–65TheCulturalRevolution,1966–76AttacksonculturalfiguresAttacksonpartymembersSeizureofpowerTheendoftheradicalperiodSocialchangesStruggleforthepremiershipConsequencesoftheCulturalRevolutionChinaafterthedeathofMaoDomesticdevelopmentsReadjustmentandrecoveryEconomicpolicychangesPoliticaldevelopmentsEducationalandculturalpolicychangesInternationalrelationsRelationswithTaiwanLeadersofthePeople’sRepublicofChinasince1949 FastFacts 2-MinSummary Facts&Stats Quizzes Media Videos Images Audio Interactives More MoreArticlesOnThisTopic AdditionalReading Researcher'sNote Contributors ArticleHistory EstablishmentofthePeople’sRepublicThecommunistvictoryin1949broughttopowerapeasantpartythathadlearneditstechniquesinthecountrysidebuthadadoptedMarxistideologyandbelievedinclassstruggleandrapidindustrialdevelopment.Extensiveexperienceinrunningbaseareasandwagingwarbefore1949hadgiventheChineseCommunistParty(CCP)deeplyingrainedoperationalhabitsandproclivities.Thelongcivilwarthatcreatedthenewnation,however,hadbeenoneofpeasantstriumphingoverurbandwellersandhadinvolvedthedestructionoftheoldrulingclasses.Inaddition,thepartyleadersrecognizedthattheyhadnoexperienceinoverseeingthetransitionstosocialismandindustrialismthatwouldoccurinChina’shugeurbancentres.Forthis,theyturnedtotheonlygovernmentwithsuchexperience—theSovietUnion.WesternhostilityagainstthePeople’sRepublicofChina,sharpenedbytheKoreanWar,contributedtotheintensityoftheensuingSino-Sovietrelationship.WhentheCCPproclaimedthePeople’sRepublic,mostChineseunderstoodthatthenewleadershipwouldbepreoccupiedwithindustrialization.AprioritygoalofthecommunistpoliticalsystemwastoraiseChinatothestatusofagreatpower.Whilepursuingthisgoal,the“centreofgravity”ofcommunistpolicyshiftedfromthecountrysidetothecity,butChairmanMaoZedonginsistedthattherevolutionaryvisionforgedintheruralstrugglewouldcontinuetoguidetheparty.Inaseriesofspeechesin1949,ChairmanMaostatedthathisaimwastocreateasocialistsocietyand,eventually,worldcommunism.Theseobjectives,hesaid,requiredtransformingconsumercitiesintoproducercitiestosetthebasisonwhich“thepeople’spoliticalpowercouldbeconsolidated.”Headvocatedformingafour-classcoalitionofelementsoftheurbanmiddleclass—thepettybourgeoisieandthenationalbourgeoisie—withworkersandpeasants,undertheleadershipoftheCCP.Thepeople’sstatewouldexerciseadictatorship“fortheoppressionofantagonisticclasses”madeupofopponentsoftheregime.Theauthoritativelegalstatementofthis“people’sdemocraticdictatorship”wasgiveninthe1949OrganicLawfortheChinesePeople’sPoliticalConsultativeConference,andatitsfirstsessiontheconferenceadoptedaCommonProgramthatformallysanctionedtheorganizationofstatepowerunderthecoalition.Followingthecommunistvictory,awidespreadurgetoreturntonormalityhelpedthenewleadershiprestoretheeconomy.Policeandpartycadresineachlocality,backedupbyarmyunits,begantocrackdownoncriminalactivitiesassociatedwitheconomicbreakdown.Soonitwaspossibletospeakoflonger-termdevelopmentalplans.ThecostofrestoringorderandbuildingupintegratedpoliticalinstitutionsatalllevelsthroughoutthecountryprovedimportantinsettingChina’scourseforthenexttwodecades.Revolutionaryprioritieshadtobemadeconsonantwithotherneeds.Landreformdidproceedinthecountryside:landlordswerevirtuallyeliminatedasaclass,landwasredistributed,and,aftersomefalsestarts,China’scountrysidewasplacedonthepathtowardcollectivization.Inthecities,however,atemporaryaccommodationwasreachedwithnoncommunistelements;manyformerbureaucratsandcapitalistswereretainedinpositionsofauthorityinfactories,businesses,schools,andgovernmentalorganizations.Theleadershiprecognizedthatsuchcompromisesendangeredtheiraimofperpetuatingrevolutionaryvaluesinanindustrializingsociety,yetoutofnecessitytheyacceptedthelowerpriorityforcommunistrevolutionarygoalsandahigherplacefororganizationalcontrolandenforcedpublicorder.Onceinpower,communistcadrescouldnolongercondonewhattheyhadoncesponsored,andinevitablytheyadoptedamorerigidandbureaucraticattitudetowardpopularparticipationinpolitics.Manycommunists,however,consideredthesechangesabetrayaloftherevolution;theirresponsesgraduallybecamemoreintense,andtheissueeventuallybegantodividetheoncecohesiverevolutionaryelite.ThatdevelopmentbecameacentralfocusofChina’spoliticalhistoryfrom1949.