Pearson Edexcel · A-Level · History
Course version: 9HI0 · Version from Sept 2015
The making of modern China, 1860–1997 - 4 The Sino- Soviet split, 1958–69:…
Full specification wording
Paper 3, Option 38.2: The making of modern China, 1860–1997 - 4 The Sino- Soviet split, 1958–69: The reasons for, and importance of, Mao's growing fears of the Soviet Union, its intervention in Chinese affairs and the perceived Russian threats to his position, 1961–68.
Between 1961 and 1968, Mao's fears of the Soviet Union intensified.
Checked against the Pearson Edexcel 9HI0 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 2 of 3
- 3 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
Between 1961 and 1968, Mao's fears of the Soviet Union intensified. Reasons included ideological divergence and Khrushchev's de-Stalinisation, which Mao saw as revisionism that could undermine his authority. Soviet intervention in Chinese affairs—such as encouraging Uighur refugees to cross the Xinjiang border in 1962 and backing India in the 1962 Sino-Indian War—convinced Mao that Moscow sought to undermine China. Perceived Russian threats to his position included the 1964 ousting of Khrushchev, which Mao feared might inspire internal rivals, and the 1968 Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia, raising fears of a direct attack. The importance lies in Mao's launch of the Cultural Revolution to purge revisionists, his shift towards self-reliance, and the militarisation of Chinese society.
What earns the marks
- Explains reasons for Mao's fears, including ideological divergence over peaceful coexistence and his condemnation of Soviet revisionism.
- Analyses Soviet intervention in Chinese affairs, citing the 1962 Xinjiang border incidents and Soviet support for India during the 1962 Sino-Indian War.
- Assesses perceived Russian threats to Mao's position, such as the 1964 ousting of Khrushchev serving as a warning of potential internal coups.
- Evaluates the impact of the 1968 Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia (Brezhnev Doctrine) on Mao's fear of direct Soviet military intervention.
- Evaluates the importance of these fears, linking them to the launch of the Cultural Revolution, the purging of perceived domestic revisionists, and military preparations.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Reducing Mao's fears to purely ideological differences.
Put it right: Include personal power concerns and specific Soviet actions that threatened his leadership.
Ignoring the 1964 Khrushchev ousting and its impact on Mao's thinking.
Put it right: Explain how it heightened his fear of internal plots by figures like Liu Shaoqi.
Using out-of-period examples like the 1960 withdrawal of experts or 1969 border clashes.
Put it right: Strictly use evidence from 1961–68, such as the 1962 Xinjiang incidents or 1968 Czechoslovakia invasion.
Exam tips
- Use specific examples from within the 1961–68 timeframe, such as the 1962 Xinjiang border tensions and the 1968 Brezhnev Doctrine.
- Distinguish reasons from importance: reasons explain why Mao feared the USSR; importance explains the consequences for China's domestic politics, like the Cultural Revolution.
- Connect Mao's fears of Soviet intervention directly to his perceived threats from internal CCP rivals.
Try the lesson
The start of the Paper 3, Option 38.2: The making of modern China, 1860–1997 - 4 The Sino- Soviet split, 1958–69: The reasons for, and importance of, Mao's growing fears of the Soviet Union, its intervention in Chinese affairs and the perceived Russian threats to his position, 1961–68. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
Which Soviet action in 1960 most directly increased Mao's fear that Moscow was intervening in China's internal affairs?
Listen
Between 1961 and 1968, Mao's fears of the Soviet Union intensified. Reasons included ideological divergence and Khrushchev's de-Stalinisation, which Mao saw as revisionism that could undermine his authority. Soviet intervention in Chinese affairs—such as encouraging Uighur refugees to cross the Xinjiang border in 1962 and backing India in the 1962 Sino-Indian War—convinced Mao that Moscow sought to undermine China. Perceived Russian threats to his position included the 1964 ousting of Khrushchev, which Mao feared might inspire internal rivals, and the 1968 Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia, raising fears of a direct attack. The importance lies in Mao's launch of the Cultural Revolution to purge revisionists, his shift towards self-reliance, and the militarisation of Chinese society. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Explains reasons for Mao's fears, including ideological divergence over peaceful coexistence and his condemnation of Soviet revisionism. Analyses Soviet intervention in Chinese affairs, citing the 1962 Xinjiang border incidents and Soviet support for India during the 1962 Sino-Indian War. Assesses perceived Russian threats to Mao's position, such as the 1964 ousting of Khrushchev serving as a warning of potential internal coups. Evaluates the impact of the 1968 Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia (Brezhnev Doctrine) on Mao's fear of direct Soviet military intervention. A common slip: Reducing Mao's fears to purely ideological differences. Instead, include personal power concerns and specific Soviet actions that threatened his leadership. Exam tip: Use specific examples from within the 1961–68 timeframe, such as the 1962 Xinjiang border tensions and the 1968 Brezhnev Doctrine.
Put the events in order
Put these events in the order they happened, earliest first.
- 1. Soviet encouragement of Uighur refugees across the Xinjiang border
- 2. Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia, raising fears of direct attack
- 3. Ousting of Khrushchev, feared as a warning of internal coups
Key words
Say what each word means before you turn the card.
Sino-Soviet split
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Ideological conflict and revisionism
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Mao's leadership and internal purges
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
See every definition
- Sino-Soviet split
- The division between China and the Soviet Union in which Mao's fears of the Soviet Union intensified between 1961 and 1968.
- Ideological conflict and revisionism
- Divergence including Khrushchev's de-Stalinisation, which Mao saw as revisionism that could undermine his authority.
- Mao's leadership and internal purges
- Mao's launch of the Cultural Revolution to purge revisionists, his shift towards self-reliance and the militarisation of Chinese society.
There is more to this lesson
The full lesson goes on to check your understanding and help you earn the marks. Create a free account to carry on, with your progress saved.
A week of Premium from your first lesson · Then the free plan continues · No card, no charge
Test your understanding of Paper 3, Option 38.2: The making of modern China, 1860–1997 - 4 The Sino- Soviet split, 1958–69: The reasons for, and importance of, Mao's growing fears of the Soviet Union, its intervention in Chinese affairs and the perceived Russian threats to his position, 1961–68.
Active recall beats re-reading. Take an instant quiz now to test what you’ve learned and lock it into long-term memory.
A week of Premium from your first lesson · Then the free plan continues · No card, no charge