Korean War provided Mao with opportunities to strengthen the grip of the Party and to deal with potential opponents
Great Terror was launched against counter revolutionaries in Oct 1950, as soon as the PLA were sent into Korea
Chinese involvement in Korea also used to promote national unity
CCP orchestrated a propaganda campaign against the USA ' Resist America, Aid Korea'
Mass meetings were organised in workplaces and schools.
Patriotic parades organised.
Anti American propaganda helped create a sense of unity in China.
People were encouraged to donate their money and goods to help finance the war.
Estimated Chinese losses in the war - 1 million
Mao's eldest son was killed.
Financial cost of the war was colossal.
Over half of government spending in 1951 went on the military.
Food supplies for the army were only kept up by forced requisitioning from the countryside
War delayed the development of China's industrial growth and restricted the success of the First Five year Plan
Little money was left to invest in education, health provision and other key areas
China's international prestige was boosted by the war.
The PRC, rather than the Soviet Union, could now claim to be the most powerful communist nation
The Korean peninsula would no longer be the weak point by which China's enemies attacked her
In 1950, China lacked a singular, unified national identity (over 50 national groups with different cultures and traditions)
Collective spirit was forged in mass meetings that whipped up hatred for the USA
Posters depicted Americans as 'bandits, murderers and savages'.
800,000 counter revolutionaries were executed in the first half of 1951
The war had shown that China was no longer a nation to be exploited or bullied by foreign powers.
The war enhanced Mao's personal prestige among the Chinese people.
In total, the war cost the PRC $10 billion, 400000 Chinese soldiers died
The war left the PRC totally dependent on Soviet economic aid and advice.
War enabled Mao to place himself as a rival to the Soviet Union as the leading revolutionary force in Asia.
Forced requisitioning led to famine in some parts of the country
