Red - Major Impact Headings
Purple - Secondary Evidence
Green - Historiography, Perspective
The impact upon Agriculture
The impact upon the Peasantry
Jiang Qing's popularity rises, intellectual targeted
Impact upon CCP opponents of Mao
"Widespread droughts and floods" - Horn
"Mao correct that agriculture must be the foundation of the national economy" -Horn
"Starvation was worse in the countryside" -Jung Chang
"Cities were prioritised for food supply by the CCP" - Jung Chang
Requisitioning squads took food by force
"Famine claimed 20 million lives" - Spence
"Worst human disaster ever to befall China" - Short
Birth rates declined due to malnutrition
Neglect - Calorie intake declines enormously
Overwork leads to significant death toll
"The greatest famine in all of recorded human history" - Jung Chang
"Cannibalism became common" - Becker
Mao stepped down as Chairman in December 1958
Peng Dehuai criticised the GLF and was purged by Mao
Purge of 6 million CCP members was launched in 1960
1961- Financial incentives introduced for the peasants
Communal canteens were abolished
Coal and steel targets reduced to more realistic levels
Mao had to shoulder part of the blame for the failure of the GLF
Socialist Education Movement launched in 1964
Mao wanted to root out corruption and those guilty of economic crimes
"All hell broke loose in a violent revolutionary storm" - Hubei province Party Official
Little Red Book published by Lin Biao as an attempt to step up Mao's reputation and indoctrination
