One of Mao’s reforms was the Great Leap Forward campaign (1958-1961).  This was an effort to improve agricultural and industrial production. Private farms were consolidated into collective farms in hopes of increasing food production for urban areas. However, due to bad harvests, there was a huge decrease in agricultural production. The end results were widespread famine, over 20 million dead, and a decline in support for Mao.

The failure of the Great Leap Forward had weakened Mao's position and power in the Communist Party. To regain his authority, Mao embarked upon a new campaign, the Cultural Revolution. The Cultural Revolution aimed at changing the Four Olds: old ideas, old culture, old customs, and old habits. Mao's Cultural Revolution was focused on bringing the areas of education and the arts in line with communist ideologies. Traditional Chinese culture, such as opera performances, were changed to support pro-Communist ideologies. Professors from the cities were sent to the countryside to work on the farms.

Watch the video below.

What are ways in which Mao was able to get rid of non-communist ideas? Write down your response in your notes.

Click on the image below.

Over one million Chinese died during this time period (1966-1976), which has been viewed as one of the most violent times in Chinese history. This time period was not marked with an optimistic ending. Instead, the Communist party abandoned the reforms of the Cultural Revolution. Today, China is still a communist backed government; however, its economy is a free enterprise one like that of the United States.

Drag and drop the following events in the order that they occurred.