Mao changed the economy and society in China.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (Oct/Nov 2020). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. [1] They were persecuted.
2. [1] The land was taken from the landlords and shared out amongst the peasants.
3. [1] Peasants were invited to 'speak bitterness meetings' where they showed their anger at the way they were treated by landlords in the past.
4. [1] Landlords as a class were wiped out. They were often executed on the orders of a People's Court.
5. [1] As many as 1 million ex-landlords were executed.
6. [1] Some ex-landlords were sent to prison camps to be re-educated.
7. [6] Level 4 Explains TWO reasons
8. [5] Level 3 Explains ONE reason (e.g. Mao launched the Great Leap Forward because he wanted to create a modern economy. He stated that this would enable China to overtake other developed nations and become the richest, most powerful and most advanced nation.)
9. [1] Mao wanted to create a modern economy.
10. [1] Increase agricultural production.
11. [1] It followed the success of the 5 year plans.
12. [1] He wanted to use the peasants to develop industry.
13. [1] He wanted to increase steel production.
14. [1] He wanted to become more powerful than other developed nations.
15. [1] He wanted the workers to live in communes.
16. [1] Communes would make controlling the people easier.
17. [10] Level 5 Explains with evaluation of 'how far' (As Level 4 plus evaluation.)
18. [9] Level 4 Explanation of both sides
19. [6] Level 3 One-sided explanation OR one explanation of both sides (More detailed explanation of one issue to be given two marks.)
20. [3] Mao made reforms in healthcare and education which benefitted everyone in China. Healthcare was free and the number of doctors in rural areas was increased. Education was improved and by the 1960s, over 90% of the population were literate. This meant the workforce was capable of more skilled labour.
21. [3] Although there were some reforms which benefitted women, it was hard to change traditional attitudes. Few women became involved in politics and only 13% of the party membership were women. Changes to the marriage laws were not welcomed in rural society and the process of collectivisation undermined family life. Many women were unhappy that their traditional roles as wives and mothers were taken away. When famine struck in 1958, they were unable to provide for their children and the divorce rate soared as many women left home to try and find work elsewhere.
22. [3] Level 2 Identifies AND/OR describes (One mark for each point)
23. [1] Healthcare improved.
24. [1] Literacy rates went up in China.
25. [1] Women had greater freedom and more opportunities.
26. [1] Forced marriage was banned.
27. [1] Collectivisation damaged family life.
28. [1] Rural society disliked changes to marriage laws.
29. [1] Traditional attitudes took a long time to change.
30. [1] The move to collectivisation and communes was a disaster and there was famine by 1958.