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SKILL:�Limitations of a Source

Explain the causes and effects of the ideological struggle of the Cold War.

A poster for schools shows the ideal people's commune, with a rich harvest, backyard furnaces, communal facilities for eating and washing, a centre for the elderly and the people's militia," 1958

Mao’s “Little Red Book” was published in 1965. During China's "Cultural Revolution" it became mandatory to own, read, and carry one on you at all times.

8.4�D. ECN

VIDEO #2

Mao’s Little Red Book

What we will learn:

Examine the spread of communism, specifically in China with Mao Zedong creating a ‘Great Leap Forward’ & a ‘Cultural Revolution’

We will examine a secondary source document of a conversation between a teenage peasant girl and her grandfather in a communist controlled area as recounted by an American journalist in 1936.

What we will do:

Source: Marriage law from the People’s Republic of China, 1950

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• Article 1. The feudal marriage system, which is based on the superiority of man over woman, is abolished. The New Democratic marriage system is based on free choice of partners, on equal rights for both sexes, and on protection of the lawful interests of women and children. . . .
• Article 3. Marriage shall be based on the complete willingness of the two parties.
• Article 7. Husband and wife shall have equal status in the home. . . .
• Article 8. Husband and wife are bound to love, respect, and assist each other, to engage in production, to care for the children, and to strive jointly for the building up of a new society.
• Article 9. Husband and wife shall both have the right to free choice of occupation and free choice of participation in work or in social activities.”

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The provisions in Articles 8 and 9 can best be used as evidence to support which of the following claims about women in China in the late twentieth century?

1. Women were an important part of the labor force that the government tried to recruit in implementing its economic policies.
2. The Chinese government strongly encouraged Chinese women to dedicate themselves only to raising their children.
3. Despite making some advances, Chinese women continued to have lower social status compared to men.
4. As more women were elected to leadership positions in China, they shaped legislature to address issues of special importance to women.

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AMSCO 8.4

�Mao Zedong’s

GREAT�LEAP�FORWARD

THREE �READERS

1

AMSCO 8.4

Mao Zedong’s

Cultural �Revolution

2

3

REVIEW: Topic 7.4

Stalin’s �FIVE YEAR PLAN

8.4 Spread of Communism � Mao’s Communist China

THE GREAT LEAP FORWARD

Mao from Stalin’s �5 Year Plan�

1958

Massive increase in factories

Forced Collective Farming

Great leap begins in 1958 & ends in 1961

Mao caused 36 million deaths due to starvation

Mao’s Cultural Revolution 1966-76

- A violent ‘purge’ of anyone against Mao

- Mao → reassert control by radicalizing (Red Book) the youth ‘anti-commuists’

- The ‘Red Guard’; round-up those needed to be purged (teachers, politicians, & parents)

8.4 Spread of Communism

Cuba 1965

Vietnam �1976

Chile�1970

8.4 Spread of Communism�CHILE

Salvador Allende

Socialist Leader

Elected president 1970

Augusto Pinochet

Dictator who ruled Chile from 1973 - 1990

President richard Nixon

Let’s Practice: Limitations

Value of a Source

PROMPT:�Analyze the relationship between Chinese peasants and the Communist Party from 1927 - c.1950

Limitation of a Source

In what way is the �source useful for our knowledge?

In what way does the source prevent us from knowing more?

‘Limitations’ should recognize the good & the bad.

Let’s Practice: Limitations

PROMPT:�Analyze the relationship between Chinese peasants and the Communist Party from 1927 - c.1950

Grandfather, you call villagers joining the Poor People’s league, voting for Communists, having their sons join Communist armies or daughters enroll in schools crimes? These are patriotic acts! Did we have a free school before? Did we ever get news of the world before the Communists brought us radios? Who told us what the world was like? You say the cooperative has no cloth, but did we even have a cooperative before? How about your farm? Wasn’t there a big mortgage on it to landlord Wang? My sister starved to death three years ago, but haven’t we had plenty to eat since the Communists came? You say it’s bitter, but it isn’t bitter for us Young Communist Vanguards when we learn to use a rifle and fight traitors and Japan!

Source: Conversation between a teenaged peasant and his grandfather, from an area controlled by Chinese Communists, recounted by Edgar Snow, United States journalist, 1936.

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Think about historical situation/purpose & consider the limitations of this source.

Possible responses:

Historical Situation or Purpose

LIMITATIONS:

Limitation

Value

The purpose of this document is for an American journalist to report on the Chinese communist movement.

This is a type of ‘man on the street’ interview style and probably does reflects how many peasants feel about about communism, but it is limited in that it is just a random sample and does not give you a real sweep of societies feelings about Mao.

This is a type of ‘man on the street’ interview style and probably does reflects how many peasants feel about about communism, but it is limited in that it is just random sample and does not give you a real sweep of societies feelings about Mao.

TAKEAWAYS

Learning Objective:

• Explain the causes and effects of the ideological struggle of the Cold War.

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Limitations

1. Not always bias�(we all have it & all docs do too!)

2. Recognize the Limitations & the value of a source

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1. Mao’s Great Leap Forward

2. Birth of Communism in China

Bonus Video

Mao’s Cultural Revolution