1950 Marriage Law: It granted women equal legal
status, banned arranged and child marriages, legalized
divorce for both sexes, and gave women rights to land
ownership.
Children born outside of wedlock were granted equal rights,
undermining old hierarchies of legitimacy.
CHALLENGES: Traditional attitudes persisted,
resistance to the Marriage Law was strong, and
women were expected to shoulder the 'double
burden' of domestic and work responsibilities.
Religion>
The CCP attacked religion and traditional belief systems,
denouncing Christianity, Buddhism, Daoism, and
Confucianism as “superstitions.”
WAR>
Women were mobilized as part of the CCP's
mass base of support, contributing as nurses,
propagandists, couriers, and soldiers.
Long-term impact: The war created
political conditions for the
transformation of women’s legal and
social status, laying the foundation for
future gender equality campaigns.
DEATH:
Around 3.5 million people were killed during the Chinese Civil War
(1946–1949).
causes of civilian deaths: Around 10 million civilians were killed through
military campaigns and massacres, and about 5 million perished from
famine and disease linked to the war.
POLITICS:
SOCIO-ECONOMIC
PLANS>
The Civil War left the Chinese economy
shattered, with agricultural production
disrupted and millions suffering from
hunger and displacement.
The Great Leap Forward (1957) was Mao's campaign to
modernize China through mass mobilization, which
instead created economic chaos.
POLITICS ✓
The CCP rapidly consolidated power, Mao emerged as the
undisputed leader, and campaigns became a central method
of governance.
Campaign to Suppress Counter-revolutionaries?
Launched in 1950-1951, it was a campaign that set
quotas for executions, leading to widespread killings
of alleged counterrevolutionaries.
Since the 20th century, China has transitioned from a revolutionary
communist state to a one-party authoritarian regime with economic
reforms.
INSTABILITY>
WW2: exacerbated existing political divisions in
China and weakened the Nationalist government,
setting the stage for the civil war.
USA: supported the Nationalist government
during World War II and the Chinese Civil
War, but its withdrawal of support
contributed to the KMT's defeat.
significance of Tiananmen Square - The Tiananmen
Square protests in 1989 were a pivotal moment in
China's political history, highlighting the struggle for
democracy and the government's repressive
response.
effects of the Cultural Revolution on China? The Cultural
Revolution (1966-1976) led to widespread chaos,
persecution, and a breakdown of social and political
order, causing long-term instability.
WIDER WORLD:
RUSSIA>
Sino-Soviet split affect China’s relations with the West?
Sino-Soviet split created an opportunity for
rapprochement between the USA and the PRC,
culminating in Nixon’s visit to Beijing in 1972.
Sino-Soviet Treaty of Alliance? Signed in 1950, it was an
agreement where the USSR provided loans, technical
advisors, and support for industrial projects in China.
KOREA>
The Korean War (1950–1953) became the first
direct confrontation of the Cold War in Asia, with
China playing a central role.
Mao's victory affect international relations in Asia? Mao’s victory
marked the spread of the Cold War into Asia, inspiring
insurgencies and left-wing movements across the continent.
'Bamboo Curtain'? The 'Bamboo Curtain' referred to Asia becoming
the second front of the Cold War, alongside the 'Iron Curtain' in
Europe.