Why did the Great Leap Forward fail?
The great leap forward was an ambitious socio-economic program that suffered poor coordination as envisaged in its characteristic Stalinist structure and backyard industry that produce low-quality goods. ( HIST 103: Slide 1 The Great Leap Forward, 10.04.2020). Mao Zedong launched the ambitious program in 1958 to rapidly transform the country from an agrarian economy to a communist society. This was to solve China’s long-standing history of external invasion (Korean War, resist America), civil wars (Chinese Civil War), and political instability from the class struggle for Land reforms (HIST 103: Slide 1 The Great Leap Forward, April 20, 2020).
The Great Leap Forward strategy introduced collective system, oversaw the conversion of Farms into steel industries, and centralized control by the national government (HIST 103: Slide 2, The Great Leap Forward, April 20, 2020). Zedong’s goal was to make China stronger by overtaking Capitalist nations in a short period. The collective systems worked by restructuring families into communes containing thousands of families. The families were militarized as their tools and equipment were surrendered to the course. The communes worked in irrigation and water conservation projects but were unskilled with a lack of machinery and used bare hands. Consequently, less productivity, coupled with inferior quality goods, meant the failure of government strategy.
Secondly, the conversion of farms to steel industries to spur industrialization was another calamity in waiting. The pressure was put on communes to produce steel products that were far much inferior duet bad factories and unskilled workers deployed in the factories. Poor planning meant the diversion of workers into communes to work in steel and industries, thereby denying agriculture the much-needed labor. Consequently, there was low food production and eventually great famine that killed the Chinese population to a tune of 30-50 million government (HIST 103: Slide 2, The Great Leap Forward, April 20, 2020).
Question 2:
- What did the Cultural Revolution do to China?
The Communist Party of China (CPC) led by Mao Zedong, strived for the preservation of the Stalinist structure of governance-communism. This was achieved through cracking down on the remnants of capitalist and traditional Chinese life to reinforce the personality cult-Maoism (History.com). Mao Zedong was a pro violent class struggle (HIST 103: Slide 3, From Civil War to PRC, April 20, 2020). Mao was obsessed with capturing state power and recruited armed youth and propaganda (Little Red Book) to achieve his objectives. People were separated from the population and forced to work on farms. In the event, myriad atrocities such as rape and torture. This resulted in stunted economic growth, displacement of populations, and stalling of education (HIST 103: Slide 4, The Great Leap Forward, April 20, 2020).
- What did Deng Xiaoping do with China (after Mao’s death)?
The death of Mao Zedong in 1976 paved the way for Deng Xiaoping rise to power. During his time, Deng managed to take Chine through steady phases of economic reforms (HIST 103: Slide 4, China in the Cold War, April 20, 2020). Mao left no debt but restrictive policies. Deng’s reign was different as he reconciled the persecuted, opened china economically through modernization of agriculture, Industries, technology, and military. The initiatives made China appealing to foreign investment, becoming his major legacy (HIST 103: Slide 7, CCW, April 20, 2020).
- What happened in Tiananmen Square in 1989?
In the year 1989, student-led demonstrations culminating into a pro-democracy procession called for the liberty of speech and press in China Tiananmen Square (HIST 103: Slide 8, Tiananmen Square 1989, April 20, 2020). The demonstrators were met by the brutality of government troops wielding assault rifles and tanks that killed and seriously wounded them. The students who were calling for more open and democratic governance protested following the death of a former communist leader, Hu Yaobang (History.com). The aftermath of the protest saw many civilians join the student in solidarity against the government (HIST 103: Slide 8, TS1989, April 20, 2020).
Works cited
HIST 103: Slide 8, The Great Leap Forward, April 20, 2020. Accessed from www.drive.google.com/file/d/1FjG_pAw7NfW7itxxjy8YPHwSA0EXOEaD/view?usp=sharing.
History.com. Tiananmen Square Protests. May 31, 2019. Accessed from www.history.com/topics/china/tiananmen-square.
History.com .Cultural Revolution. April 3, 2020. Accessed from www.history.com/topics/china/cultural-revolution