The Great Leap Forward was an economic campaign launched by Mao Zedong in China from 1958 to 1962. Its aim was to rapidly transform China into a socialist society through mass industrialization and collectivization, but it resulted in widespread famine and economic setbacks.
The Great Leap Forward was a campaign initiated by the Chinese Communist Party under Chairman Mao Zedong between 1958 and 1962, aiming to transform China from an agrarian economy into a socialist society through rapid industrialization and collectivization. It followed the establishment of the People's Republic of China in 1949 and sought to propel China to rival Western industrialized nations.
The Great Leap Forward had devastating consequences, leading to one of the most catastrophic famines in human history, with an estimated death toll ranging from 15 to 45 million people. It marked a significant setback for China's economy and social fabric. The policy failure also resulted in political repercussions for Mao Zedong's leadership and influenced subsequent economic reforms, including the eventual shift towards more pragmatic economic policies under Deng Xiaoping.