Early changes in agriculture, 1949–57: attacks on landlordism; the…

The idea

After 1949 the CCP transformed rural society. Attacks on landlordism involved classifying households by class, mobilising peasants in struggle sessions, and confiscating landlord property; this destroyed the old elite and redistributed land to poor and middle peasants. Land reform gave ownership, but fragmentation and insecurity led to mutual-aid teams, then lower-stage cooperatives where members pooled land for shares, and higher-stage collectives where land became collective property paid for by labour-days. Initially voluntary, from 1955–56 Mao pushed accelerated, enforced collectivisation, so by 1957 most peasants were in higher collectives. This shift centralised control, extracted grain, and set the stage for communes. Assessed by explaining causes, methods, and consequences, using evidence and historiography.

What earns the marks

• Attacks on landlordism: class labelling, struggle sessions, confiscation of land, tools and property, and violence that broke landlord power and redistributed assets.
• Redistribution of land: the 1950 Agrarian Reform Law gave land to poor and middle peasants, but plots were small, insecure and often lacked draught animals or tools.
• Change from voluntary to enforced collectivisation: after 1955 Mao criticised 'rightist' caution and launched accelerated campaigns, so by 1957 most peasants were in higher collectives with little genuine choice.
• Consequences: state control over grain procurement increased, rural inequality was reduced for some, but peasant incentives weakened and resentment grew, contributing to later crises.

Common mistakes and how to put them right

• Treating land reform as a single event.

  Put it right by distinguishing the 1950 law, redistribution, mutual-aid teams, lower cooperatives and higher collectives as stages.

• Assuming collectivisation was always forced.

  Put it right by noting early mutual-aid teams and lower cooperatives were often voluntary, while enforcement intensified from 1955–56.

• Confusing lower-stage cooperatives with higher-stage collectives.

  Put it right by explaining that lower-stage cooperatives paid land dividends, whereas higher-stage collectives abolished private land ownership and paid by labour-days.

Exam tips

• Use precise dates and terms: 1950 Agrarian Reform Law, mutual-aid teams, lower-stage cooperatives, higher-stage collectives, 1955–56 acceleration.
• Link each change to a consequence for peasant livelihoods, party control or grain extraction to reach analysis rather than description.
• When comparing voluntary and enforced phases, explain what changed in policy and why Mao pushed for faster collectivisation.