Do Now: answer questions 1 – 3 from handout – China’s Drive for Modernization

Reasons for Communist Success Great Leap Forward -Communists promised to distribute free land to China’s peasant farmers (90% of population) -The Soviet Union provided money, weapons & training to communist rebels. -Chinese Nationalist government was corrupt & too weak to stop Mao’s forces -During the 1950s & 60s, Communist ended private land ownership & established huge collective farms. -As many as 20,000 people worked on the land, they worked long hours -The government owned the farms & the crops grown on them

modernize – to update & develop new technology famines – a widespread shortage of food heavy industries – production of steel, mining & machinery turmoil – extreme confusion & disorder

Read the handout – The Great Leap Forward Create your own definitions for the vocabulary words Answer questions 1 – 3 in your notebooks

Was the Great Leap Forward a giant step backward?