Mao & Early Policies
Who was the leader of China when the one-child policy was introduced?
Mao Zedong (though the policy was implemented after his death).
What was the main goal of the one-child policy?
To slow population growth and reduce strain on resources.
Which ethnic group was most affected by the policy?
Han Chinese.
What gender imbalance resulted from the one-child policy?
There were significantly more men than women.
What policy replaced the one-child policy in 2016?
The two-child policy.
What political ideology did Mao Zedong follow?
Communism.
In what year did the one-child policy officially begin?
1979.
What were some exceptions to the one-child policy?
Some rural families, ethnic minorities, and parents whose first child was disabled were allowed to have more than one child.
How did the one-child policy affect China’s aging population?
There were fewer young workers to support the growing elderly population
How did the one-child policy impact personal freedoms in China?
It limited people’s choices on family size and led to government interference in personal life.
What was Mao’s initial view on family size and population growth?
He encouraged large families, believing that more people meant more workers and a stronger China.
What was the slogan encouraging delayed marriage and fewer children?
"Late, long, and few."
What happened to families that violated the policy?
They had to pay large fines or faced forced sterilization or abortions.
How did the one-child policy impact the adoption of Chinese children internationally?
Many baby girls were abandoned or put up for adoption, leading to an increase in international adoptions.
What are some arguments in favor of the one-child policy?
It helped slow population growth, reduced poverty, and improved resource distribution.
What event led to a massive famine in China and influenced later population control policies?
The Great Leap Forward.
What government organization enforced the one-child policy?
The Chinese Communist Party.
How did the government discourage families from having more than one child?
Financial penalties, loss of government benefits, and pressure from local officials.
How did the one-child policy affect China’s economy in the long run?
It led to a labor shortage and an aging workforce.
What are some arguments against the one-child policy?
It led to human rights violations, gender imbalances, forced abortions, and an aging population.
Why did Mao’s view on population growth eventually change?
Overpopulation and famine made it difficult for China to provide enough food and resources for its people.
How did China’s government promote the one-child policy to its citizens?
Through propaganda, financial incentives, and strict enforcement policies.
Why were some parents in rural areas allowed to have a second child?
Because they needed more children to help with farm work.
Why did the Chinese government eventually end the one-child policy?
Due to negative effects like population aging, labor shortages, and gender imbalances.
If you were a government leader, what alternative policies might you have suggested instead of the one-child policy?
Encouraging voluntary birth control, improving education about family planning, and offering economic incentives for smaller families instead of strict enforcement.