Shifting in the Land Reform Campaign

Abstract

China historically was a powerful nation, which had not only a long and glorious history with a bright culture, but also a strong economy. However, in modern times, China developed very slowly and long-term wars and natural disasters such as floods and drought brought the undeveloped economy unprecedented destruction after the Opium War in 1840. By 1949, China had degenerated into one of the poorest countries in the world, with the largest population of 540 million. China was a typical agricultural country dominated by traditional agriculture, handicraft industries and a big rural population comprising 90 percent of its total population, who did basically not receive even primary education and most of whom were illiterate. They could not even eat their fill and had almost no contact with the outside world. With a modern industry of only 10 percent in the national economy, China’s industry was small and extremely weak. Many industries such as organic chemicals, automobiles, tractors, precision instruments and the airplane industry were not formed at all.