CHINA UNDER DENG XIAOPING
(1976-PRESENT)
After Mao Zedong died in 1976, Deng Xiaoping emerged as China’s new
leader. Although a Communist, Deng seemed willing to change the way of life
imposed by Mao in order to make China into a more modern nation. Deng
aimed to show that not all of Mao’s actions had been perfect. He allowed the
people more freedom of thought, greater contact with other nations, and a new
legal code. He also introduced greater economic freedom by permitting some limited private
enterprises to exist.
THE ECONOMY UNDER DENG XIAOPING: Deng faced many economic problems when he
replaced Moa as leader. The most serious problem was China’s growing
population. Therefore, Deng changed Communism in China by adding
some capitalist features to its economy. For example, farmers were now
able to own land, people could run their own small businesses, and
productive workers could earn bonuses. These reforms were quite
successful. In addition, China started producing more radios, televisions,
and other consumer goods to Western Countries like the U.S.
DENG XIAOPING’S FOUR MODERNIZATIONS OF CHINA: Deng supported the economic
growth that been introduced after the Cultural Revolution and introduced a plan known as the Four
Modernizations of China. The production of food became the nation’s highest goal. To increase food
output, communes, were replaced by family-run farms that used land leased from the state. The
government took some produce for rent but families could keep or sell the remainder. Managers were
given the power to make industrial plants (factories) more efficient; they could also rely on supply and
demand to determine their production levels. Individuals were allowed to own small businesses and
private property. Foreign investment and technology were welcomed.
FOUR MODERNIZATIONS- ECONOMIC REFORMS OF DENG XIAOPING
Responsibility System
Incentive Program
Foreign Capital &
Technology
Entrepreneurship
Allowed peasants to own
land and keep the profits.
The best and most
efficient factory
managers received
bonuses.
Foreign investment is
encouraged in China.
Foreigners could set up
their own business in
special economic zones.
Some private ownership
of businesses was
allowed to make and keep
profits.
Outcome: Crop
production increases
Outcome: Increases
industrial production
Outcome: Helps Chinese
businesses and industries to
modernize.
Outcome: The amount
and quality of goods
increases
WERE DENG XIAOPING’S LIMITED REFORMS SUCCESSFUL? Under Deng, China’s
economy grew and the standard of living rose. New ideas entered China through the newly open doors
to the west but despite these changes, critics of the communist system were still arrested. However,
new freedoms in economics led to ideas of freedom in government and thousands of people, including
pro-democracy students, began to demonstrate.
PROTESTS IN TIANANMEN SQUARE: When Chinese students began to learn about democracy
they wanted more political freedom and civil rights for
the Chinese people. In Beijing, (China’s capital city) in
1989, large numbers of Chinese peacefully protested in
Tiananmen Square for more democracy. Angered by
these demonstrations, the government sent in tanks and
soldiers. As the world watched, Premier Li Peng
ordered tens of thousands of troops into the square to
break up the demonstrations. Many students were
killed; others were executed after brief trials. Still
others were arrested or never heard of again. “The
Tiananmen Square Massacre” showed the world
what Deng and the Chinese government would do when
they believed that the Communist system was being
threatened.
Directions: Using complete sentences, answer the following questions based on the reading.
1. Discuss how Deng Xiaoping tried to modernize China.
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2. How did Deng’s policies differ from those of Mao Zedong?
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3. What led to the Tiananmen Square student demonstrations and why was the world
shocked by its outcome?
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Directions: Based on the Readings, answer questions Multiple Choice questions 4 and 5 below.
4.
5.
Name: __________________________________________
6. List the “Four Modernizations” introduced by Deng Xiaoping.
7. Complete the Venn Diagram
Mao Zedong
(Famous Economic Program: _____________________)
Deng Xiaoping
(Famous Economic Program: ______________________)
MAO ZEDONG
1893-1976
The charismatic Mao led the Chinese Communist Party from
1931 until his death. Starting in October of 1934 during the
war with Chinese Nationalist Kuomintang forces, Mao led the
Communist Army on “The Long March,” a nearly year-long
retreat across China covering thousands of miles. After
defeating Japanese forces during World War II, the
Communists turned on the Kuomintang and established the
People’s Republic of China in October 1949.
Mao embraced a Marxist-Leninist vision of a worker’s
revolution. In 1957 Mao launched the Great Leap Forward, a
massive program of industrial and agricultural nationalization
to catch up economically with the West. Villages were turned
into Chinese “communes” and given unattainable production
goals by the state. Communes were ordered to produce steel
in backyard mills by melting down any metal they could find.
It was a national disaster and led to three years of famine for China. Mao blamed the failure
on the bureaucracy of the Communist Party. In 1966 Mao launched the Cultural Revolution to
purge the nation of any impure communists. He designated young people as “Red Guards,”
empowered to report their parents, families and neighbors for any breach in party thought. In
the violent chaos that followed, many died and millions were imprisoned. The economy
stagnated and Chinese citizens lived in constant fear of arrest. The perpetual revolution only
ended after Mao’s death.
DENG XIAOPING
1904-1997
Born in Sichaun province, Deng Xiaoping was a close
advisor to Mao and a veteran of “The Long March” of
1934. Deng was purged from the government during the
Cultural Revolution, imprisoned, released and arrested
two more times. After Maos’ death, Deng was politically
“rehabilitated.” He was one of the only original Mao
supporters to survive, and in 1978 ascended to become
the new leader of the Chinese Communist Party. Deng
embarked on “The Four Modernizations”— of
agriculture, industry, technology and defense. He
reversed the trend of state centralization, and allowed
gradual individual economic initiatives. Deng had a
saying that had infuriated Mao: “It doesn’t matter if the
cat is black or white, as long as it catches mice.”
But with gradual economic openness came the beginnings of political opposition. In April
1989 protests began in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square. Deng tolerated the protestors for nearly
two months, but on June 3 and 4 troops moved in and brutally repressed the demonstration.
Estimates of the dead and imprisoned range from hundreds to thousands. Despite the
crackdown on political freedoms, it seemed that economic changes were here to stay. In
1993, the National People’s Congress enshrined the term “socialist market economy” in the
constitution.