What was the Great Leap Forward?
What were the consequences? The GLF was Maos attempt to make China industrially equal to the west in 15 years by promising a better life for people. People worked all-day long, but were enthusiastic to do so. The steel people made was useless, crops didnt meet quotas, and killed crops often meaning less food. Numbers were inflated and left peasantry w/o food. More grain was demanded, and peasants were starving. 30 million people died from famine, but Mao still believed his GLF was a good idea. The Great Leap Forward was Maos initiative to increase production in China to levels of western nations. People were moved to communes. Family life was broken down. Propaganda slogans were Catch stars and moon. One of the major projects was the increase of steel production. This turned out to be a failure. Grain and rice production were also major projects to be taken under. Soon after the communist came to realize this movement had become a failure. The movement however would continue through 19
