Question

Explain the Great Leap Forward campaign initiated by China.

Hint:

The Great Leap Forward aimed at massive industrialisation with backyard industries. It met problems such as a severe drought (about 30 million deaths) and the withdrawal of Russian professionals.

Answer 1

Step 1: Background of the campaign:
China started the Great Leap Forward (GLF) campaign in 1958. It came under the leadership of Mao Zedong, during the period of the Second Five Year Plan.
The aim was to industrialise the country on a massive scale and to raise output fast.

Step 2: What the campaign asked people to do:
People were encouraged to set up industries in their backyards.
Ordinary families and village groups were asked to produce goods such as steel at home, instead of waiting for large factories.
The idea was to spread industry across the whole country and to involve every person in it.

Step 3: Problems the campaign met:
The campaign ran into many problems. A severe drought hit China and caused havoc.
The drought killed about 30 million people.
Russia also had conflicts with China. It withdrew the professionals it had earlier sent to help in the industrialisation process.
These events upset production and the campaign could not reach its aims.

Step 4: Result:
The campaign failed to deliver the planned growth. It led to heavy loss of life and a fall in output, so it was given up after some years.

Final Answer:
The Great Leap Forward was a Chinese campaign for rapid, large-scale industrialisation through backyard industries. It met severe drought, which killed about 30 million people, and the withdrawal of Russian professionals, so it met with many problems.