China: The Hundred Flowers Campaign

PowerPoint (with 5 slides) and worksheet that examines the causes of Chairman Mao’s Hundred Flowers Campaign in 1957 including the 1956 Hungarian Revolution, economic concerns in China and an attempt to identify and punish opponents of the CCP. The lesson also considers the consequences of the Hundred Flowers Campaign, including the persecution of the Anti-Rightist Campaign.

Activities include

• Quick Quiz Starter on the Thought Reform, 3 & 5 Antis Campaigns
• Analysis activity focused on the 1956 Hungarian Revolt and what conclusions Mao might draw it.
• Matching task on the causes of the Hundred Flowers Campaign with the correct explanation. Ranking activity on how convincing the suggested causes for the Hundred Flowers Campaign are.
• Evidence sorting task to consider whether the Hundred Flowers Campaign was a mistake by Mao or a trap for his opponents.
• An evaluation exercise to test the validity of an historians view of the Hundred Flowers Campaign given the evidence the pupils now know.

Designed for the teaching of Edexcel iGCSE History 4HI1 Paper 2 Breadth Study B4 China: Conflict, Crisis and change, 1900-89.
Lesson Length: 1hr depending on pace