How Did the Two Campaigns Work?
During the Great Leap Forward, Mao attempted to move China rapidly towards communism by organizing rural society into large people’s communes. Agricultural labour was redirected into projects such as irrigation and backyard steel production, while officials exaggerated output figures because criticism could be punished.
The state therefore requisitioned grain that did not truly exist, leaving communities without sufficient food. Combined with failed economic policies and suppressed information, this produced a catastrophic famine in which estimates of deaths vary widely, commonly ranging from 15 million to 55 million.
During the Cultural Revolution, Mao mobilized young people as Red Guards against alleged capitalist and counter-revolutionary influences. They attacked the “Four Olds,” persecuted teachers, officials and intellectuals, and promoted Mao’s personality cult through the Little Red Book. Approximately 16 million young people were eventually sent to the countryside, while political violence and disruption affected millions.
| Campaign | Main aim and method | Principal consequences |
|---|---|---|
| Great Leap Forward | Rapid economic transformation through communes, collectivization and mass production | Famine, economic collapse and a temporary decline in Mao’s political influence |
| Cultural Revolution | Ideological purification and removal of Mao’s rivals through mass mobilization | Political purges, educational disruption, cultural destruction and restored personal control |
A common misconception is that both campaigns were simply economic policies. The Great Leap Forward was primarily an economic and social experiment, whereas the Cultural Revolution was principally a political purge and ideological struggle.
Exam Technique
For a Paper 3 essay, avoid narrating events. Analyse causation and consequence: show how Maoist ideology, coercion and suppressed criticism caused policy failure, then evaluate how each campaign strengthened or weakened Mao’s control.
