The Great Leap Forward, which began in 1958, was a movement initiated by Mao Zedong, the leader of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to modernize and industrialize the economy for rapid development. The program was intended to transform China from a predominantly rural, agrarian economy to one that was self-sufficient and capable of competing with industrialized nations. The period lasted from 1958 to 1961, though its impact lasted much longer. In this period, China underwent drastic and rapid transformation and experienced great progress in both industry and agriculture.
Mao Zedong sought to make China an independent and strong country with a modern society. To do so, he turned to collectivization and industrialization. He believed that increased agricultural production and the further development of industrial production would raise the standard of living of the Chinese people. To achieve those goals, Mao launched the Great Leap Forward campaign.
The primary objective of the campaign was to collectivize agriculture, encouraging communes to pool land and resources in order to increase agricultural production. This wasnew approach in agriculture was aimed at making farming more efficient and producing higher yields. Additionally, the Great Leap Forward sought to increase production in small-scale industries such as steel making. In order to achieve this, Mao encouraged citizens to participate in backyard steel furnaces, where they melted down scrap metal in pots and pans.
The Great Leap Forward also sought to reduce gender inequality in the workforce. Mao encouraged women to take on factory roles, although the gender gap between men and women was still significant. Despite this, there were still some positive accomplishments in terms of gender equality in the workplace during this period.
Initially, the Great Leap Forward seemed promising, with luring reports of high agricultural yields and successes in the iron industry. However, the numbers were artificially inflated and could not be backed up by real results as the policies of the Great Leap Forward backfired. Poorly planned communal farming resulted in severe famine, as grain produced by the communes was confiscated by the state and redistributed without any regard to their needs. At least 20 to 45 million people died during the Great Leap Forward due to starvation and disease.
Moreover, the backyard furnaces failed to produce the amount of steel promised by the leadership, resulting in huge economic losses. The government diverted almost all labor resources to steel production to the detriment of agriculture, resulting in a decrease of food production and subsequent famines. Other unintended consequences included a marked decrease in technical and scientific research, leaving the nation ill-prepared for the future.
The Great Leap Forward had a deep and lasting impact on China. Its effects ranged from economic losses, to environmental damage, to social upheaval, to political instability. Economically, the Great Leap Forward resulted in the collapse of the Chinese economy, leading to a massive contraction in GDP and a rise in inflation. Environmentally, the Five Year Plan of the time resulted in a significant increase in air pollution due to the burning of coal and other forms of energy, as well as deforestation due to the clearing of land for farms. Socially, the Great Leap Forward led to a breakdown in traditional Chinese family life due to a shortage of resources and heavy workloads. Lastly, politically, it led to the unleashing of radical ideologies which eventually led to the Cultural Revolution in 1966.
In conclusion, the Great Leap Forward was a drastic attempt to rapidly industrialize and modernize China. The movement initially appeared to be a success, but its policies ultimately backfired and led to disastrous consequences for Chinese society. The effects of the Great Leap Forward were prolonged, leading to economic turmoil, social and political upheaval, and further radicalization. Thus, the Great Leap Forward can be seen as a turning point in Chinese history, as it ultimately shaped the culture and society of modern-day China.