Pearson Edexcel · GCSE · History

    Course version: 1HI0 · Version from Sept 2016

    Key topic 2: Economic policy, 1949–65 - 2 Industry and the Five-Year Plan,…

    Full specification wording

    Option 32: Key topic 2: Economic policy, 1949–65 - 2 Industry and the Five-Year Plan, 1953–57: Success and failures of the first Five-Year Plan.

    The first Five-Year Plan (1953–57) achieved significant successes in heavy industry, with coal and steel production exceeding their ambitious targets.

    Checked against the Pearson Edexcel 1HI0 specification (opens in a new tab) on .

    • Point 2 of 2
    • 3 key terms

    Study notes

    From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.

    The idea

    The first Five-Year Plan (1953–57) achieved significant successes in heavy industry, with coal and steel production exceeding their ambitious targets. Urbanisation accelerated as millions moved to cities for factory work, and major infrastructure projects, like the bridge across the Yangtze River, were completed. However, the plan had notable failures. Agricultural output grew too slowly to feed the expanding urban workforce, leading to food shortages. The focus on heavy industry meant consumer goods were scarce and of poor quality. Furthermore, the reliance on Soviet loans created a massive debt burden, forcing China to export desperately needed grain to the USSR, exacerbating domestic shortages and rural poverty.

    What earns the marks

    • Detail the successes in heavy industry, noting that production of coal, steel, and iron often exceeded official targets.
    • Describe the successful completion of major infrastructure and engineering projects, such as the Yangtze River bridge.
    • Explain the failure in agriculture, where output failed to keep pace with the rapidly growing urban population.
    • Analyse the negative impact on living standards due to the lack of consumer goods and the heavy burden of repaying Soviet loans.

    Common mistakes and how to put them right

    • Claiming the plan was a complete failure.

      Put it right: Acknowledge the genuine and significant successes in heavy industrial output and infrastructure.

    • Stating that agricultural production fell during this period.

      Put it right: Agricultural output did increase, but not fast enough to meet the demands of the growing urban workforce.

    • Ignoring the human cost.

      Put it right: Mention the strict discipline, poor living conditions for workers, and the extraction of resources from the peasantry.

    Exam tips

    • Use a balanced approach when evaluating the plan, ensuring you discuss both clear successes and significant failures.
    • Link the failures in agriculture directly to the focus on heavy industry and the need to repay Soviet loans.
    • Memorise a couple of specific production successes (e.g., steel or coal) to use as concrete evidence in your answers.

    Try the lesson

    The start of the Option 32: Key topic 2: Economic policy, 1949–65 - 2 Industry and the Five-Year Plan, 1953–57: Success and failures of the first Five-Year Plan. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.

    Have a go first

    Which of the following was a major success of China's First Five-Year Plan (1953–1957)?

    Listen

    The first Five-Year Plan (1953–57) achieved significant successes in heavy industry, with coal and steel production exceeding their ambitious targets. Urbanisation accelerated as millions moved to cities for factory work, and major infrastructure projects, like the bridge across the Yangtze River, were completed. However, the plan had notable failures. Agricultural output grew too slowly to feed the expanding urban workforce, leading to food shortages. The focus on heavy industry meant consumer goods were scarce and of poor quality. Furthermore, the reliance on Soviet loans created a massive debt burden, forcing China to export desperately needed grain to the USSR, exacerbating domestic shortages and rural poverty. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Detail the successes in heavy industry, noting that production of coal, steel, and iron often exceeded official targets. Describe the successful completion of major infrastructure and engineering projects, such as the Yangtze River bridge. Explain the failure in agriculture, where output failed to keep pace with the rapidly growing urban population. Analyse the negative impact on living standards due to the lack of consumer goods and the heavy burden of repaying Soviet loans. A common slip: Claiming the plan was a complete failure. Instead, acknowledge the genuine and significant successes in heavy industrial output and infrastructure. Exam tip: Use a balanced approach when evaluating the plan, ensuring you discuss both clear successes and significant failures.

    See it

    A flowchart headed by the First Five-Year Plan, 1953–57, which splits into two branches. The Successes branch lists three items: heavy industry, where coal and steel exceeded targets; urbanisation, as millions moved to cities for factory work; and infrastructure, with the Yangtze River bridge completed. The Failures branch lists three items: agriculture grew too slowly to feed the urban workforce; consumer goods were scarce and of poor quality; and Soviet loans created a massive debt burden. An arrow leads from the Soviet loans item to a further item stating that grain was exported to the USSR, worsening shortages and rural poverty.
    It sorts the successes and failures of the first Five-Year Plan, showing how the debt to the USSR led to grain exports that worsened shortages.

    Key words

    Say what each word means before you turn the card.

    Urbanisation

    Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

    Agricultural challenges

    Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

    Living standards

    Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

    See every definition
    Urbanisation
    The acceleration of movement to cities as millions moved there for factory work during the first Five-Year Plan.
    Agricultural challenges
    Output grew too slowly to feed the expanding urban workforce, leading to food shortages, and reliance on Soviet loans forced the export of desperately needed grain.
    Living standards
    Consumer goods were scarce and of poor quality, and the burden of repaying Soviet loans exacerbated domestic shortages and rural poverty.

    Label the diagram

    Some boxes have lost their names. Pick the right name for each number.

    The diagram again, with 3 boxes numbered instead of named. A flowchart headed by the First Five-Year Plan, 1953–57, which splits into two branches. The Successes branch lists three items: heavy industry, where coal and steel exceeded targets; urbanisation, as millions moved to cities for factory work; and infrastructure, with the Yangtze River bridge completed. The Failures branch lists three items: agriculture grew too slowly to feed the urban workforce; consumer goods were scarce and of poor quality; and Soviet loans created a massive debt burden. An arrow leads from the Soviet loans item to a further item stating that grain was exported to the USSR, worsening shortages and rural poverty.

    • 1Box 1

    • 2Box 2

    • 3Box 3

    0 of 3 labelled

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