How did Mao maintain power?

Answer 1

When Mao became chairman of the PRC in 1949, he maintained ultimate power in the People's Republic of China (PRC) in many ways by using numerous methods. He took control politically, economically, and socially and aimed to bring all of China's loyalty towards him and nothing else.

Politically, Mao believed that in order to maintain power he would need to create a single party state. He banned all other political groups and views in government and in the population throughout China. Initially, he allowed for government officials who previously opposed the PRC to remain in their position if they promised loyalty towards the PRC and Mao himself. Later, Mao found it essential to eliminate all possible threats which lead to the purging of possible enemies which included the government officials who previously supported Mao's political opponents.

His aim in China was to industrialize in an effort to match and in time exceed the economies of the western world and the U.S.S.R. To do this Mao announced the First 5-Year Plan which took place from 1952 through 1956, and was dessigned according to Russia's 5-Year Plan. He followed in Stalin's footsteps when making this decision in regard to Stalin's economic plan for the U.S.S.R.

His plan took into account China's enormous population, as he beleived this was their greatest stregnth, and he made the people work to reach his goals. This undoubtedly contributed to Mao's good image with the population, as he appeared to be improving China's world status to acheive the position as a world power.

In 1957, Mao introduced the Hundred Flower Compaign. During this time he announced that he would allow critcism towards the PRC and his time as ruler. THis was said to be an opportunity to improve his reign over the PRC. Slowly, people began to speak out in government, some went as far to oppose Mao himself. Although Mao asked for criticism, he later purged everyone who spoke out against him. His motives are disputible.

Between the years of 1958 and 1962 Mao carried out his second five year plan. He announced his Second 5-Year Plan in Russia and stated that he would not follow the U.S.S.R.'s plan exactly. Instead, he would skip the smaller steps and by doing this Mao believed that he would achieve his goals faster. During this time the workers were called 'Blue Ants' as they wore blue uniforms doing maual labor. To further gain control over China, Mao portrayed the Blue Ants as cheerful and showed them to be singing. This contributed to the want to work for Mao in the purpose of believing they were bettering the country and advacing economically. Moa had used political control to pull the loyalty of the population towards himself.