jan 8, 1950 - Agrarian Reform Law

Description:

The properties of Landlords was taken away and given to the peasants

The property of enemies of the state, e.g. Chiang Kai-Shek and foreign nationals, was confiscated.

Led to Struggle Meetings - denounced rich landlords - Over 1 million landlords executed

Causes:

To gain support from the Peasants - Around 80% of China's population were peasants, and most lived in poverty under landlords. Mao had promised land redistribution to the peasants, so the law being passed would allow the CCP to fulfil their promise and gain massive support and loyalty from the peasants.

The destruction of the power of the landlords - The CCP saw the landlord class as enemies of socialism and a threat to the new Communist system, so destroying them would allow a major source of resistance to Communist rule to be eliminated.

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