Name:________________________
Date:_______________________
DBQ on Deng Xiaoping
Questions on Deng Xiaoping’s “Speeches and Writings” from The Human Record
“China’s New Course” (Pages 506-507)
1) What is the background of Deng Xiaoping? Why did he lose favor with Mao during the Cultural
Revolution?
2) Following Mao’s death, how did he alter Mao’s policies? What were the “Four Modernizations” that he
pursued?
3) What was the “Fifth Modernization” that reformers demanded? How did Deng react to these demands?
“Maoism’s Flaw” (page 508-509)
4) What mistakes did Mao make related to the economy?
5) By contrast where did Deng begin reforms? Why? What did this reform focus on?
“True Socialism” (page 509)
6) Deng proposed that “a limit should be placed on the wealth of people who become prosperous first” and
“ultimately we shall move on to communism”. Based on your knowledge of China, has this happened
since Deng’s death? Explain.
“Special Economic Zones” (page 509-510)
7) What was Deng’s purpose in establishing a Special Economic Zone like Shenzhen near Hong Kong?
“China’s Foreign Relations” (page 510)
8) Why did Deng seek “opening to the outside world”? In view of what you know of China’s earlier
history, why does this seem to be a wise course of action?
“China’s Political Future” (page 510-511)
9) Why did Deng propose stern measures against student demonstrators? Based on what you know about
his treatment during the Cultural Revolution, why do you think this was a sensitive issue for Deng?
10) Why does Deng state that China needs a “dictatorship”? What do you think he means by the phrase to
“build socialism with Chinese characteristics”?
Your opinion: Why did Deng Xiaoping’s reforms succeed while Mikhail Gorbachev’s reforms failed?