Great Leap Forward Flashcards
(12 cards)
What was the Great Leap Forward?
The Great Leap Forward was Mao Zedong’s second five-year plan in China from 1958-1962. Its goals were to rapidly industrialize China and collectivize agriculture to achieve communism.
Key aspects of the Great Leap Forward
- Peasants contributing to industrial growth
- A target of 60 million tonnes of steel by 1960
- Collectivization of agriculture into communes
What were Mao’s two main goals?
Rapidly industrialize China by shifting production from agriculture to manufacturing
Collectivize agriculture into large communes to boost food production
What were the results of the Great Leap Forward?
- Widespread famine due to unrealistic production quotas and poor policies
- Failure to meet steel production targets due to low-quality “backyard furnaces”
- Millions of deaths from starvation, overwork, and punishment by cadres
- Economic disaster with GDP declining by 30-40%
Wider info
Lushan Conference: 1959 meeting where some leaders criticized the Great Leap Forward, leading to purges
Backyard furnaces
- increase steel production: Mao Zedong aimed to double steel output within a year, believing that grassroots initiatives could achieve this goal.
- To mobilize the population: The initiative encouraged collective effort and participation in industrialization, promoting a sense of community and shared purpose.
What was the quality of steel produced in backyard furnaces?
Low quality, due to poor techniques and the melting down of essential tools and equipment
What were the consequences of relying on backyard furnaces?
Resource depletion: Essential farming tools were melted down, disrupting agricultural productivity.
Labor diversion: Many peasants were pulled from farming to work in these furnaces, exacerbating food shortages as agricultural output plummeted.
Failure of industrial goals: The ambitious targets for steel production were not met, resulting in wasted resources and widespread famine.
What impact did the Great Leap Forward have on Chinese society?
The Great Leap Forward led to one of the deadliest famines in history, with estimates of 15 to 45 million deaths due to starvation and related causes. It also resulted in significant social upheaval, breaking apart families and communities as people were relocated for labor purposes.
What are show farms?
Show farms were experimental agricultural projects established during the Great Leap Forward to demonstrate advanced farming techniques and increase productivity. They served as models for other communes. However, fundemntally failed due to the farming techniques
How did the Five-Year Plan influence the Great Leap Forward?
Mass Mobilization: It relied on mobilizing large numbers of workers for both agricultural and industrial projects, often leading to inefficiencies and poor planning.
Centralized Control: The plan emphasized state control over all economic activities, reducing local autonomy and expertise in decision-making.
What were some consequences of show farms during the Great Leap Forward?
Misallocation of Resources: Resources were often diverted from practical farming needs to support show farms, leading to food shortages elsewhere.
Inflated Success Reports: Show farms frequently reported exaggerated successes that misled officials about actual agricultural productivity, contributing to poor policy decisions.
Disillusionment Among Farmers: Many peasants became disillusioned when they saw no real benefits from these experimental projects, leading to resistance against collectivization efforts.
