Homework 6; term 3

1. Explain three tactics/methods Mao used to conquer China and secure power acording to this source.

-Pitilessness was considered to be one of Mao's tactics, and it says in this source that it was was on the most powerful of his weapons.

-People were banned from leaving the city, as they wanted to turn Chanchun into a "city of death."

-There were massive civilian deaths.

-"Veto by silence."

2. What are three major differences between the way this source portrays the Communists' treatment of the common people with other sources we've read?

-This source seems to portray the treatment of the common people as much worse and more harsh than the other sources we have read. This source talks a lot about the use of terror to win the war, where I think that the other sources focus more on him winning the support of the peasants. I think that this source talks about him winning the support of the peasants, however I think it is not as signifcant as with the other sources. For instance, the other sources don't talk specifically about the cruel treatment towards children (like how they were pulled apart at the limbs, and other things similar to that.)

3. Explain at least two practices of the Chinese Civil War you learned from this source.

-Soldiers beat up, abused, and tied up refugees, and someimtes they even set them on fire so that they would die.

-There were rallies, which all of the people had to attend. There were people who were designated to be targets, and they had to stand and face the crowds, so that all of the people in the crowd could yell at them with their grievances. They were even allowed to hit them, or use other farm tools against the people.

4. The Communists fought a "total war." Cite two pieces of evidence from this passage that support that view.

-"The entire population was made to live and work flat out, night and day, for the war, and very often in the thick of it."

"Civilians in the communist-held territories were also ruthlessly exploited."

5. According to this source, what part of land reform really mattered to Mao?

-He liked that they worked for a long time without getting tired, even though they only did this because of the terror which Mao put on them.

6. Mao's main aim was to secure power, not to improve the lives of the peasants. To what extent do you agree with that claim?

-I agree with the claim significantly. He treated the people so badly, so that had to be his aim. If he only wanted to improve the lives of peasants, a lot less harsh things could be done. Instead of punishing everyone and making everyone suffer, he could have done things that only aimed at improving the lives of the peasants, instead of destroying everyone else's life as well. Therefore, it is pretty obvious that his main aim was to secure power, because he used terror, which is how people in the past have worked at securing their power as well.