People’s Republic of China.The Founding of the People’s Republic of China

and brutal habits like excruciating foot binding were deeply ingrained and deemed ordinary for all females. In the Common Programme, Mao insinuated his intention to eliminate these outdated principles by stating that "women ought to possess equivalent rights as men."

Following the statement "women hold up half the sky," a justification was given and later, in April 1950, the Marriage Law was passed.

Years of discrimination against women came to an end with many positive changes being introduced, such as the prohibition of the sale of females and the outlawing of childhood marriages. Additionally, women were freed from years of subordination and were granted maternity benefit. Infanticide and foot binding were also banned. Women were no longer victims of violent fathers, working women were paid fairly without discrimination, property was jointly owned between spouses, divorce by mutual consent became legal, and Mao's nurseries helped reduce women's workloads. All these measures provided women with greater independence, freedom, and control. However, implementing and enforcing these changes was another challenge despite the announcement of these laws.

Although Mao's ruling attempted to eradicate barbaric customs and establish gender equality, some remote mountain villages still cling to traditional and deeply-rooted opinions that result in the mistreatment of women. Chauvinism and the belief that women are inferior to men remain prevalent in these areas, leading to women being beaten and suffering. Anhua Gao's autobiographical book, To The Edge Of The Sky, recounts her own experience of being beaten by her first husband.

Many wives were subjected to being mercilessly abused for extended periods of up to thirty minutes. Additionally, the introduction of new divorce laws did not necessarily benefit mistreated wives. Seeking a separation often

resulted in losing one's dignity, earned admiration, and potentially even one's children.

While landlords and businessmen may have been hesitant to embrace the Communist takeover of mainland China due to the threat socialism posed to their established way of life, Mao's new directives were a reason for rejoicing among women and men throughout China who had suffered mistreatment for centuries. Finally, there was hope for an end to their suffering.

In the past, living standards differed based on whether individuals resided in regions under KMT authority or in Communist "liberation" zones. Under Kuomintang control, wealthy landlords and businessmen had access to plentiful amenities and held influential positions, whereas those residing in liberation areas already experienced the consequences of communist governance, which often entailed persecution and curtailments of civil liberties. Mao's Common Programme of 1949 advocated for redistributing land and taking away property from "feudal landlords" and "capitalists".

The statement "shall be deprived of their political rights"5 caused concern among the upper classes who had supported the Kuomintang government. Consequently, many fled with Chiang Kaishek to Taiwan. Nevertheless, the Communist Party did not want to lose the expertise and skills of non-working-class people. Mao believed in utilizing their talents. The party did not want to alienate or force them out. 'Small' capitalists could earn up to five percent interest on their investments until the mid-'60s. Private ownership of minor businesses was permitted until 19566.

According to Mao, industrial and commercial enterprises should not be encroached upon. He explicitly stated, "...there should be no encroachment upon industrial and commercial enterprises..

During a speech in 1948, it was expressed that numerous big business owners merged with state-owned enterprises and were subsequently controlled by

the state, while taxes were consistently raised on businesses to coerce proprietors to ally with the government. Moreover, the Communist party seized control of prominent banks, railways, and heavy industry.

By 1953, the government had control over 86% of commerce. The Agrarian Reform Law led to landlords facing trial for oppressive behavior such as charging high rents or mistreating tenants. While some were acquitted, others were imprisoned or killed. Land was then redistributed to better reflect population size, which was previously disproportionate with only 2 individuals owning a significant amount of land.

After the land-seizure in China, the number of landlords who owned almost 30% of the land decreased to only 2.1% of crop area, which was a fairer fraction. Under Communist rule, businessmen and landlords, also known as 'rightists' or 'capitalist roaders', generally lost their privileges but were allowed to live on as lower members of society after confessions. People at the "speak bitterness" meetings shamed oppressive landlords and often coerced them into confessing, thereby degrading and humiliating them further. As a result, former-land owners were reduced to performing lower-paying menial jobs and were stripped of most of their rights.

Without a doubt, individuals who enjoyed a higher social status and power before the Communist takeover experienced a significant decline, particularly those who exploited their status. The peasants, commonly referred to as the all-conquering proletariat, were undoubtedly the most crucial demographic during Mao Zedong's revolution. The faithful masses played a key role in the revolution by providing shelter and intelligence to the Red Army. Mao acknowledged their importance, and as a result of the honest Communist leaders, over 100 million Chinese citizens remained loyal to them prior

to the revolution in 1945.

To understand how Mao's vision of China relied heavily on the peasant population, it is crucial to examine the changes he brought into their lives through the Communist revolution. Pre-revolution, peasants faced high taxes and limited food supply. However, those fortunate enough to live in liberation areas received tools, land, money for food, freedom, and interest-free loans from the Communists. The land redistribution plan especially benefited poor peasants. Additionally, the "speak bitterness" meetings helped the people seek revenge and break free from the oppressive rule of landlords.

Although peasants received around 47 million hectares of land, a significant obstacle was their inadequate tools and equipment, which led to difficulties cultivating their newly acquired land. To overcome this challenge, mutual aid teams were formed—approximately ten families collectively contributing their labor and equipment towards a common objective. By 1952, almost forty percent of peasants had participated in such initiatives, which led to the most substantial increase in food production in the decade. While peasants had to sell some of their harvest to the government at a fixed price, by late 1952, the scale of operations had expanded.

Beginning with the formation of lower-stage co-operatives, which involved thirty to fifty families and typically equated to one village, peasants united and shared ownership of their land, though legally ownership remained with each individual. However, to pay for the cooperative as a whole, a low rent was required. Following Stalin's example, collectivisation carried on until there were too many co-operatives to manage efficiently. This led to the introduction of higher-stage co-operatives or collectives, consisting of 200-300 households. Here, most of the land was handed over to a management

committee, leaving peasants with only a small private plot. While these collectives contributed to increased production and effectiveness during Mao's Five-Year plan, five years after receiving their land, most Chinese peasants were once again nearly landless.

Despite the slowdown, Mao implemented a significant change in 1958 with his Great Leap Forward project, building on the success of the Five-Year Plan. The project aimed to organize China by dividing rural areas into self-sufficient communes of approximately 25,000 peasants, responsible for all aspects of life including education, healthcare, and armed forces. Private plots were banned in some communes, and residents were required to eat in communal kitchens. Although controversial, residents were paid for their work and contributed to various commune funds.

Despite initial criticism, by the end of 1958, 90% of the population had been placed in one of 26,578 People's Communes. One significant aspect of the Great Leap Forward was a focus on industry, encouraging workers to "walk on two legs." Communes worked relentlessly to increase production. Despite having ambitious goals, many peasants throughout China eagerly worked on Mao's numerous projects. With dedicated effort, the 'Blue Ant' workforce succeeded in impressive engineering feats using minimal resources. Despite having little or no equipment, they produced commodities like steel (refined in small backyard furnaces), cement, and fertilizers. Organized Beijingers even built a 209-foot dam in just six months using their bare hands.

Despite Mao's proclamation that "people are more important than weapons" and the immense workforce of The Great Leap Forward, the campaign ultimately failed due to prioritizing quantity over quality in production, leading to impure 'backyard steel' and three years of famine from 1959. However, peasants, who form the

foundation of Communist beliefs, did benefit from the Communist revolution under Mao's rule, though there were still disappointments and tragedies. Overall, it must be acknowledged that despite challenges and failures, the average peasant saw improvements during this time.

Previously, there was much uncertainty about the future with the lower classes having to submit to the every whim of landlords, leaving them oppressed without any opportunities for themselves or their children. The Communists brought some relief by offering equality, respect, semi-freedom, and private land plots. In addition to these influences, many changes have been implemented in China since 1949 that have greatly impacted millions of Chinese. Mao emphasized basic education in the early years of Communist rule and increased literacy rates from a majority illiterate population to over 90% by the mid-1960s. Despite this progress, Mao rejected higher education and all schools were shut down for two years, resulting in a whole generation lacking education.

China saw improvements in both working conditions and hygiene, leading to a reduction of disease. Despite Mao's idolization by the masses, objecting or questioning him was met with harsh punishment due to the ever-present spies. Fear played a significant role in the populace's obedience, but Mao's high-morale, enthusiasm, and trust from the working class granted him a distinct advantage.

Having absolute control, Mao expressed his dislike for sparrows in the 1950s. As a result, the Chinese people effectively rallied together causing the sparrow's extinction, which disastrously resulted in massive crop destruction from unchecked pests. Despite the propaganda machine, Mao's thoughts were distributed through a 'Little Red Book' to nearly everyone in China. Political messages bombarded people on 'big character' posters and in

theatre productions reflecting Mao's sentiments. Encouraging messages such as "the east wind is prevailing over the west" and "Work for China" were constant, along with promises that "One day of socialism can equal twenty years of capitalism" and stories of America and Britain's increasing failures.

Reminders of the harsh conditions before peasant liberation included bitter tasting meals. Lenin's belief that "to forget the past means betrayal" was emphasized. Indoctrination of children with slogans such as "Socialism is good" occurred daily in school. Betrayal was commonplace, with children informing on their parents. After Mao's "100 Flowers" campaign, persecution targeted intellectuals and those who expressed too critical views during the Communist takeover. The Three Antis (and later Five Antis) campaign resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands accused of corruption, waste, and bureaucracy.

Reflecting on the past, it is easy to identify numerous errors committed, but it cannot be denied that the Communists accomplished remarkable achievements. Mao orchestrated a revolution that caused a significant alteration in affairs. However, how were people's lives affected by these changes? Peasants were heavily influenced by Mao's version of Communism. Considering the pros and cons since 1949, I believe that the vast majority of peasants experienced an improvement in their lives. If Chiang Kaishek had continued to lead, they would likely be much worse off in Communist China. I personally think that women benefited the most as a whole group. The Marriage Law and comparable policies significantly transformed their quality of life, and nothing carried out by the Communists worsened their circumstances.

Living under the Kuomintang was worse compared to the current situation and peasant women were benefiting immensely. Landlords and businessmen were the

obvious group who suffered during the revolution. Nevertheless, for those who were classified in this group, they could avoid significant punishment by following Mao's wishes. They would still be demoted to the status of peasants, and the surviving businesses wouldn't generate as much profit for their proprietors.

Even though some landlords and businessmen suffered losses and even death, if you were strategic, the outcome wouldn't be too terrible. However, it's clear that the idealistic days under KMT leadership are a thing of the past.