Death Toll: 25 million

Why did 25 million Chinese people die

between 1958-1961?Read through the cards, put the story in an

order and find out why so many Chinese people died.

So what happened ?• Read through the cards and see if

you can piece together what happened during the years 1957-61 to result in 25 million deaths

The Three Bitter Years; The Crisis of 1959-61

• Read through the handout and make notes on;

• ‘Chaos on a grand scale’ –Why did the party official ignore the managers advice? What does this tell you about the CCP ?

• The Backyard Steel Campaign • The Farming Crisis • The rise of the moderates

What impact did the GLF have on different people ?

• Steel worker• Mao• Farmer who is now a steel worker• Farmer who is having to use new

methods• Provincial leader• Old people in the countryside

Read through your information and decide how your character was impacted – would your character survive?

What was the Impact of the GLF on each of these People?

• Steel worker• Mao• Farmer who is now a steel worker• Farmer who is having to use new

methods• Provincial leader• Old people in the countryside

Move into different groups, write down how each character was impacted.

Who do you think suffered the most?

• Steel worker• Mao• Farmer who is now a steel worker• Farmer who is having to use new

methods• Provincial leader• Old people in the countryside

2. School Child

I have been a steelworker for 12 years. Mao has decided he wants more steel and iron

being produced. There used to be 300 workers here, now there is 600. We have to live on site because of the hours we work.

My wife lives with me and sews/washes workers uniforms in the day. We are under

a lot of pressure. I didn’t know anything had changed with the food, we get given our food every week as part of our wages.

Increased wage.More jobs. Longer hours.

More pressure.

2. Mao

If we can produce more iron and steel we will earn lots of money and become a great world power. Other countries are more developed

then we are, we need to catch up and improve. We currently waste too many people

and resources on producing crops. I have found farming methods from the Ukraine

which we can use to make enough grain to feed the whole country whilst everyone else

makes iron and steel. I will set targets for production and I expect them to be met.

New ideas, more money, more

power.

Imagine if this doesn’t work.

1. Steelworker

2. School Child4. Farmer using new methods

3. Farmer who is now a steelworker

I have been a farmer for 15 years. Mao has decided that we must not farm, we must make

steel. I have left my family in the countryside and moved to this steelworks. We all live on site- it is good because we are given food. It is hard work though, I have never tried to make steel and it is all new to me. My wife is left in the countryside

trying to farm enough food for herself, her parents and our baby. It is tough times.

Praise for helping the country.

Having to learn new skills.

Family left in country.

I farm the way my father taught me, he was taught by my grandfather, he was taught by my great-grandfather. Mao has said we must

use knew ways. They will not work with the soil. The soil is too dry for the seeds. We cannot tell Mao the methods will not work because he will

punish us and say we are not helping the country. One farmer told his leader that the methods were rubbish, he was never seen

again. I am trying to make the seeds grow, we have lots of new equipment but nothing is

working.

Money to buy new equipment.

Worry that crops are not growing.

2. School Child6. Old people5. Provincial Leader

Mao has changed the way my province works. In my province there was two factories producing steel, now there are eight. Farmers have had to move to work at these plants and they have left

their families in the countryside. We are only allowed to use the new farming methods

because they should grow lots more crops for less work. We have to reach a very high target.

If I don’t tell Mao I have reached this target I could be arrested for not working hard enough. I

am scared.

If targets are met then praise is given. Pressure to produce

food and iron.

I have lived in the countryside all my life. We have farmed food and exchanged it for goods

with our neighbours, normally my son would help but now he has moved to help produce iron. Any

food our village makes is being sent to the steelworks. We have nothing left. Nothing to eat. One family killed and ate their dog. I don’t know

what to do, how to survive.

. No food left. No people left to help farm.

What impact did the Great Leap Forward have on these people?

Steelworker Mao Farmer who is now

a steelworker

Farmer using new

methods

Provincial Leader

Old People

What impact did the GLF have in these people? Rank- who suffers most? (1=most)

Complete the table to explain how each person was effected by the Great Leap Forward. Listen to each other and share your own expert knowledge!

"The chaos caused was on a grand scale, and I take responsibility. Comrades, you must all analyse your own responsibility. If you have to fart, fart. You will feel much better for it."

What size was Mao after the Great Leap Forward?

I feelI believe that

The country feels that I

am I feel

I believe that

The country feels that

Mao 1950 Mao 1960

Question ??• Was the Great Leap Forward a

success or a failure? Why?