The Great Leap Forward was a sweeping economic and social initiative launched by Mao Zedong, the leader of the People’s Republic of China, from 1958 to 1961. The ambitious policies of the Great Leap Forward had a significant impact on Chinese society and its economy, which left a lasting legacy for generations to follow.
At the heart of the Great Leap Forward was an effort to rapidly industrialize the nation and modernize its rural agricultural system. Through collectivization and investment in infrastructure, technology and manufacturing, Mao aimed to make China a great economic power within a short span of time. This was to be achieved by mobilizing the masses, reorganizing agriculture and the development of heavy industry.
The goal of the Great Leap Forward was to modernize the nation and make it self-sufficient in the production of steel and other manufactured goods. Additionally, Mao wanted to eliminate the gap between urban and rural populations, increase agricultural output and reduce the size of the military. Through communes and collective farms, the government sought to bring about rapid changes in rural areas, as well as increase agricultural production.
There were several methods used during the Great Leap Forward such as:
• Land Reform: This was a process where peasant farmers were encouraged to work cooperatively in communes and collectives, replacing traditional small-scale land ownership.
• Steel Production: It was hoped that China would become self-sufficient in steel production, making it a powerful economic force. Local communes were encouraged to produce their own steel, though this resulted in low-grade, brittle products.
• The Backyard Furnaces: In an effort to increase steel output, people were encouraged to set up backyard furnaces. This resulted in poor quality steel and a massive waste of resources.
• The Development of Heavy Industry: There was an emphasis on the development of heavy industry, such as automobile production. Through investment in infrastructure, technology and manufacturing, Mao hoped to make China a great economic power.
Ultimately, the Great Leap Forward failed in its goals and had catastrophic consequences. A severe famine followed the collectivization of farming, resulting in the death of an estimated 20 to 45 million people due to starvation and disease. Additionally, the poor quality of steel produced by the backyard furnaces rendered much of the investments in heavy industry useless. As such, it can be seen that the Great Leap Forward was an ambitious attempt at rapid modernization and industrialization, but it ultimately failed in its aims.