Global Studies Packet
Communist China #1
Name: _______________________________
Due Date: ____________________________
To Live
During the course of the film, we’ll identify the main characters.
Fugui- ______________________________
Chunsheng- _________________________
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Long’er- ____________________________
Youqing- ___________________________
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Jiazhen- ____________________________
Mr. Niu- ____________________________
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Fengxia- ____________________________
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Describe what happens to the film’s characters and how they are affected by major historical
events. Answer in complete sentences!
1. Introduction: Gambling at the Tea House
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2. The Civil War between the Communists and Nationalists
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CLASS WORK
PAGE 1
3. Communist takeover of China
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4. The Great Leap Forward
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CLASS WORK
PAGE 2
The People’s Republic of China
Use World Cultures: A Global Mosaic to complete this assignment.
The People’s Republic of China (pp. 351-353)
1. Which two groups battled for control of China after W.W.II?
2. Which group won? Who was their leader?
3. List three reasons why Communism appealed to the Chinese.
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4. What two names are used to describe Mao’s book of propaganda?
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5. List four things China did under Mao’s leadership.
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CLASS WORK
PAGE 3
Economic Development (pp. 354-356)
6. List Mao’s three main goals for China.
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7. Describe land reform. Who lost land? Who gained land?
8. Define the following:
 collective farms:
 communes:
9. What was the goal of the Great Leap Forward?
10. List four effects of the Great Leap Forward.
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11. How many people died during the Great Leap Forward? How did they die?
CLASS WORK
PAGE 4
The Great Leap Forward
Use this reading to answer the questions on the following page.
In 1958, Mao launched the Great Leap Forward. The goal of the plan was to improve
China’s economy.
To increase agricultural output, farmers were forced to live and work together on huge
farms called communes. Often, families were separated and forced to live in dormitories.
Farmers worked long hours to fulfill quotas, goals set by the government, but they were
often unsuccessful because they lacked important farm equipment and they were poorly
managed by local Communist leaders.
To increase industrial output, many small factories were established throughout the
countryside. Workers put in long hours, sometimes sleeping at their machines. People
were also urged to increase steel production. People donated their personal possessions
that were made of iron and steel, like tools, pots, and pans. These objects were melted
down in backyard iron furnaces that dotted the countryside.
The Great Leap Forward was a huge failure. It failed due to unrealistic goals and
mismanagement by Communist leaders. From 1959 to 1961, China suffered economic
depression, food shortages, and a decline in industrial output. Millions of people died of
famine.
The Great Leap Forward was abandoned. By 1962, the economy began to recover.
However, a split developed within the government. Mao Zedong and his supporters,
known as the “reds,” lost power. A new group, known as the “experts” took control.
CLASS WORK
PAGE 5
The Great Leap Forward
1. Briefly describe the Great Leap Forward in complete sentences. Who launched it? When did
he launch it? What was its goal?
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2. Define the following terms:
a. communes- ____________________________________________________________
b. quotas- _______________________________________________________________
3. What were two ways that China tried to increase industrial output?
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4. What were backyard iron furnaces used for?
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5. List two reasons why the Great Leap Forward failed.
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6. List three negative effects of the Great Leap Forward.
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7. Briefly describe the two groups within the Chinese government after the Great Leap Forward.
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CLASS WORK
PAGE 6
Communism Comes to China (Part 1)
Use page 389 of your textbook in order to complete these questions.
1. When was the emperor overthrown?
2. Complete the chart about the two parties that competed for power in China.
Name of political party
Nationalists
Leader of political party
Ideas favored by
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political party
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3. Briefly describe the Long March in complete sentences. When was it? Who went on the
Long March? Why did they do this?
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4. List three important statistics about the Long March.
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5. List two reasons why the Long March was successful.
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HOMEWORK
PAGE 7
Communism Comes to China (Part 2)
Use page 389 of your textbook in order to complete these questions.
1. Briefly describe the new country set up by Mao Zedong in complete sentences. When was it
started? What was it called?
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2. What were Mao’s 3 main goals?
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3. Explain why Mao wanted to create a classless society in complete sentences.
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4. List three ways Mao improved the Chinese economy.
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HOMEWORK
PAGE 8
Graph Skills: Area of East Asian Countries
HOMEWORK
PAGE 9
Communist China #1 Study Guide
Each Friday, we will have a quiz on the week’s packet. The most important things to know are
on this study guide.
1. To Live
a. Identify and describe each character
b. Explain how the characters were affected by these historical events:
i. Civil war between the Communists and Nationalists
ii. Communist takeover of China
iii. Great Leap Forward
2. The People’s Republic of China
a. Identify the two groups that battled for control of China
b. Identify which group won and who was their leader
c. Explain how ownership of land changed during land reform
d. Define:
i. Collective farm
ii. Communes
3. The Great Leap Forward
a. Identify who launched the Great Leap Forward
b. Identify the goal of the Great Leap Forward
c. Describe the backyard furnaces
d. Describe how successful the Great Leap Forward was
STUDY GUIDE
PAGE 10