Unit 2 option 1B: China, 1900–76: Practice Questions

In the context of the early 20th century, which factor contributed most to the downfall of the Qing dynasty and the subsequent chaos between 1900 and 1927?

In the context of Mao's economic policies, what was a defining feature of the Great Leap Forward (1958–62) regarding the organization of rural labor?

Which factor was a primary reason for the initial success of Japanese forces during the outbreak of full-scale conflict in China in 1937?

Which political figure was the primary leader of the Guomindang in the 1920s and is associated with the early attempts to unify China before Chiang Kai-shek's rise?

Between 1927 and 1949, how did Japanese involvement specifically impact the economic performance of China?

State one reason why the warlord period (1916–27) followed the failure of Yuan Shikai to establish his own dynasty.

Describe one way in which the Marriage Law of 1950 sought to dismantle traditional patriarchal structures within the Chinese family unit.

Analyze the role of Soviet economic aid in the implementation of China's First Five Year Plan and how its eventual withdrawal contributed to the Sino-Soviet split.

Between 1900 and 1976, China experienced profound changes in its social and economic structures.

(a) Identify two ways in which the status of women was challenged by the traditional practices of foot binding and arranged marriages in the early 20th century.
(b) Briefly explain how the Great Leap Forward impacted the organization of rural life in the late 1950s.
(c) To what extent did the introduction of 'Barefoot Doctors' contribute to the success of healthcare reform under the Communist regime?

The Marriage Law of 1950 was one of the first major legislative acts of the new Communist regime in China. Discuss the main provisions of this law and evaluate its immediate impact on the status of women in both urban and rural areas.