AQA_2024: AS History - The Transformation of China, 1936–1997 Component 2P: The Emergence of the People’s Republic of China, 1936–1962 (Merged Question Paper and Marking Scheme)

AQA_2024: AS History - The Transformation of China, 1936–1997 Component 2P: The Emergence of the People’s Republic of China, 1936–1962 (Merged Question Paper and Marking Scheme) AS HISTORY The Transformation of China, 1936–1997 Component 2P The emergence of the People’s Republic of China, 1936–1962 Monday 20 May 2024 Materials For this paper you must have:  an AQA 16-page answer book. Instructions Afternoon Time allowed: 1 hour 30 minutes  Use black ink or black ball-point pen.  Write the information required on the front of your answer book. The Paper Reference is 7041/2P.  Answer two questions. In Section A answer Question 01. In Section B answer either Question 02 or Question 03. Information  The marks for questions are shown in brackets.  The maximum mark for this paper is 50.  You will be marked on your ability to: – use good English – organise information clearly – use specialist vocabulary where appropriate. Advice  You are advised to spend about: – 50 minutes on Section A – 40 minutes on Section B. For AS History: The Transformation of China, 1936–1997, Component 2P: The Emergence of the People’s Republic of China, 1936–1962, focus on the following key areas: 1. The Chinese Civil War (1927–1949):  Key Events: Understand the conflict between the Nationalists (Kuomintang - KMT) and Communists (Chinese Communist Party - CCP). Focus on the Long March (1934–1935), which marked a turning point for the CCP and helped Mao Zedong solidify his leadership.  Japanese Invasion (1937–1945): Study the impact of Japan's invasion of China in the 1930s, leading to the Second Sino-Japanese War. This war forced a temporary alliance between the Nationalists and Communists, who both fought the Japanese occupation. 2. Mao Zedong’s Rise to Power:  Mao’s Ideology: Understand Mao’s ideas on Marxism-Leninism, the importance of the peasantry in revolution (as opposed to the urban working class), and his leadership style.  The CCP’s Strategy: Examine the role of the CCP’s guerilla warfare, its appeal to peasants, and its land reform policies, which won it popular support, especially in rural areas. 3. The Founding of the People's Republic of China (1949):  Establishment of Communist Rule: Study the formal creation of the People's Republic of China on October 1, 1949, after the defeat of the Nationalists, who retreated to Taiwan.  Initial Reforms: Focus on the early policies, including land reform, which redistributed land from landlords to peasants, and the suppression of counter-revolutionaries. 4. The Korean War (1950–1953):  China’s Involvement: Study China’s decision to intervene in the Korean War in support of North Korea, and how this solidified Mao’s leadership domestically and positioned China as a major Cold War player.  Impact on Relations: Understand how this intervention helped China secure its position in the international arena, and how it affected Sino-Soviet relations, with China becoming more aligned with the Soviet Union. 5. The Hundred Flowers Campaign (1956):  Political Opening: Examine the Hundred Flowers Campaign, during which Mao initially encouraged intellectuals to voice criticisms of the Communist Party but soon reversed his stance, leading to a crackdown on dissent.  Consequences: Focus on the persecution of intellectuals and the reassertion of Maoist orthodoxy, which showed Mao's willingness to stifle opposition. 6. The Great Leap Forward (1958–1962):  Economic and Social Objectives: Understand Mao’s vision of rapid industrialization and collectivization through the Great Leap Forward. This policy aimed to transform China from an agrarian economy into an industrialized socialist nation.  Failures and Famine: Analyze the failures of the Great Leap Forward, including its inefficient agricultural policies, the forced collectivization, and the resulting famine that caused millions of deaths. 7041/2P IB/M/Jun24/G4002/E5 2 Section A Answer Question 01. Source A From ‘Revolution in a Chinese Village’ by William Hinton, published in America, 1966. Hinton, an American communist, interviewed members of CCP work teams he worked with in northern China, 1948. The communist cadres organised a public struggle session and ordered the entire village to attend. The landlords, who were the targets of the struggle meeting, were led to a stage, bound by hand, and forced to stand. The cadres yelled accusations at them and punched them, but the villagers held back. That evening, the cadres broke the village up into group meetings and reviewed with them the behaviour of these individuals during the Japanese occupation. They assured the villagers that the Red Army held the area securely, so they need not fear later retribution. The next day, the villagers participated more violently. Two of the landlords were marched to the edge of the village and shot. 5 Source B From recollections of the 1950s by a Chinese peasant interviewed in 1969. The interview was conducted by an independent overseas Chinese journalist and published in the West in 1973. After the establishment of the PRC and the 1950 Agricultural Reform Law, we peasants agreed that our landlord received far more in rent, interest and free labour than he was entitled to, and he was ordered to return the surplus to the landless poor of the village. All debts and interest owed to him were cancelled. His land and tools were taken, but he was left with some land for himself, which was the same share as the landless peasants got. He also received a share of the tools like the others. Some of his houses and furniture were taken from him and given to the poor, but he was allowed to keep his main home and its furniture. 5 0 1 With reference to these sources and your understanding of the historical context, which of these two sources is more valuable in explaining the land reform campaigns in China?