"Agrarian" land reform in China

• June 1950  pro land reform act passed. Moderate as it allowed richer peasants to flourish, only attacking large landlords and those who exploit.
• villagers did "struggle meetings" were rich landlords and village bullies were denounced and sometimes executed.
• No laws in place to prevent this - led to village anarchy
• Death toll almost 1 million

Consequences (1952):

• 40% of land redistributed
• Gained peasant support
• Ruling elite out of the picture
• Lessened inequality within village, but was no 100% egalitarian
• Created tension between richer and poorer peasants.