DENG XIAOPING

And the making of Modern China

Deng’s Rise after Mao’s Death Hua Guofeng was named Mao’s successor,

after he died the Gang of Four (led by Mao’s wife Jiang Qing) made it clear they did not accept Hua as the leader

The Gang tried to attack his ideas and build up military support causing disorder and planned a coup for October 6th

The Gang was summoned on October 5th to a secrete politburo meeting where they were arrested

Rehabilitation of Deng Xiaoping Deng had been kicked out of the party

because of the Gang of Four, he now told Hua Guofeng that he supported him as leader

People worry about how to remember Mao due to the horrible problems that occurred due to the Gang of Four (which he supported)

Hua created the TWO WHATEVERS: (1) Whatever policy Mao created shall be defended (2) Whatever directives Mao issued shall be obeyed

Deng’s Rehabilitation

1977 Deng is reappointed to his official positions within the Party

The Gang of Four’s Cultural Revolution hurt China’s economy, Deng created the FOUR NEEDS: (1) get away from dogma (2) more democracy within the Party (3) correct wrongs done to victims of Cultural Revolution (4) change management, structure and economic policies

Deng focused on “Seeking Truth from Facts” and a rejection of the Two Whatevers in order to focus on the Four Modernizations : agriculture, industry, national defense and science/technology

Demise of Hua Guofeng

Hua’s supporters begin to diminish while Deng’s supporters increase

Calls for democracy led to the “Democracy Wall” where people put up posters with democratic slogans…Deng sees it could get out of control

Deng creates the FOUR PRINCIPLES: (1) Must stay Socialist (2) Must uphold dictatorship of Proletariat (3) Must keep leadership of Communist Party (4) Must uphold Marxism-Leninism and Maoist Thought

April 1979 action was taken against demonstrators

Demise of Hua, Deng’s Economics Hua’s Ten Year economic plan was a flop. By

1980 he was forced to resign…Deng took control

Deng created Open Door Policy 1978 to open trade with the West

Deng created Economic Special Economic Zones (SEZ) that allowed free-market (capitalism) and allowed foreign businesses to come into China

They created more competition and creativity and it worked

Household Responsibility System Deng wanted to increase agricultural

production by moving towards mechanized farming

Collectivization was swept aside, farmers were given control over their labor and what they produced and how much. Surplus food could be sold for profit

Made China largest agricultural producer and increased a revival of local crafts

Industrial Responsibility System Created State Owned Enterprises (SOE) a

percentage of the profits went to the State and the rest went to the workers

Quality became more important than quantity

Improved worker attitudes and productivity Deng promoted effective managers, not

Party bureaucrats to run them It’s not public ownership, but it allowed

more freedom to create new businesses

Consequences…Tiananmen Square With the economic reforms and talk of

“democracy” within the Party people began to demand more freedoms

Hu Yaobang died in April, 1988. He was a communist-reformer. People demonstrated in Tiananmen Square in mourning for him

He Demonstrators had no clear objective, they created a “Goddess of Democracy” as a symbol of their movement

Tiananmen Square 1989

As more people protest, Martial Law was announced

Gorbachev came to Visit, Deng ordered the police to clear the square…

June 3rd & 4th tanks and soldiers arrested protestors and shot those who fought back

100’s of people were killed, the government denied any civilians were murdered

The people wanted freedom and reform but they didn’t know how to go about getting it

Western countries denounced China…but they continued to trade and do business with them

Eastern European Communist leaders approved and supported Deng (except Gorbachev)

People of Eastern Europe became nervous when their own demonstrations occurred…Would the Soviets react the same as Deng had?