1. Lisa Steffen Frederique Kramer
The Great Leap Forward
Lisa Steffen
Frederique Kramer

2. What was it?
1958
China’s attempt to break with the Russian Model of communism
To catch up with more advanced nations
Great Leap forward into modernization of industry

3. What did it include? Militant 5-year plan Promoted technology
Agricultural self-sufficiency
Labor intensive methods
Collectivized farming on a massive scale

4. How did it work? Fields were ploughed over, factories were constructed
Profits and benefits for families were introduced

5. Changes in agriculture
Large agricultural communes created (over )
Ran own collective farms and factories
Many farmers had little knowledge about new farming techniques
20 million people starved

6. Industrialization
Mao wanted to increase steel production drastically and quickly
Many people became workers of the state, and forced into factories
Great industrial investment, but left too little people for food production
Led to starvation

7. Backyard Furnaces Steel furnaces were installed in the communes
People had to give up steel products to be used for the state
No success – steel produced was of poor quality

8. Successes Speed of establishment of communes was astounding
Initially, steel, coal, chemicals, timber, cement etc all showed huge rises, 11 million tons of iron added to industry
Nurseries, healthcare, “houses of happiness”

9. Failures Turning point 1959
30+ million people died, starvation, exhaustion
Cultural and environmental damages
Iron production not increased (furnaces)
Poor arrangement of work
Product quality
Challenges to Mao Zedong's position

10. Interpretations
The millet is scattered over the ground.
The leaves of the sweet potato are withered.
The young and old have gone to smelt iron.
To harvest the grain there are only
children and old women.
How shall we get through the next year?
Peng Dehuai
"The chaos caused was on a grand scale, and I take responsibility. Comrades, you must all analyze your own responsibility. If you have to fart, fart. You will feel much better for it."
Mao