The 8th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party was held in two sessions, the first 15–27 September 1956 and the second 5–23 May 1958 in Beijing. It was the first Congress of the Chinese Communist Party since the start of it taking full control of mainland China in 1949 and establishing the People's Republic of China. It was preceded by the relatively early 7th National Congress and was formally succeeded by the 9th National Congress. 1,026 delegates and 86 alternate delegates represented the party's 10.73 million members.
The Great Hall of the People was not yet constructed, so it was held in the National Political Consultative Hall.
Legislation The Great Leap Forward was promulgated and unilaterally put in effect.
Representatives Delegates: 1,026 Alternate delegates: 86 Represented party members: 10,730,000
Significance The 8th National Congress was the first Congress to be held in 11 years, and the first Congress since the establishment of the People's Republic of China. Mao Zedong Thought was taken out of the Constitution of the Chinese Communist Party and the cult of personality was denounced; Party technocrats Liu Shaoqi and Deng Xiaoping assume higher profiles. The 8th Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party was elected.
The 8th National Congress concluded in 1956 that class struggle should not be taken as the "key link" in a society that had become socialist and that the CPC should focus on modernization. The Resolution on Certain Questions in the History of Our Party since the Founding of the People's Republic of China affirmed in 1981 that this had been the correct line.
See also
Qualification Review Committee of the 8th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party
External links The 8th National Congress
References