Page 128 - Communism in Ambush

After a bloody revolution, Mao
announced the establishment
of the People's Republic of
China.

The "Great Leap Forward" and the Great Famine
Until 1949, Mao had conducted a long guerilla war, organizing a
campaign in the countryside and in the mountains against the central
administration, which controlled the large cities. In order to do this, he
established good relations with the villagers, promising them land and
freedom and assuring them that once Communism was established in
China, they would enjoy great prosperity and happiness. The peasants
believed him and supported him and his guerillas.
But after Mao came to power, everything changed. In the first years
after the revolution, he wanted to take over the whole of China and set
up Communist authorities in every area. In the meantime, thousands
were arrested as "class enemies" and hanged in public. In the mid-fifties,
Mao designed a system similar to Stalin's collectivization and put it into
effect in 1958. This was called the " "Great Leap Forward," but all it suc-
ceeded in doing was to bring torture and a great famine upon the
Chinese people.
The Great Leap began with slogans about doubling all of China's
agricultural and industrial production. Working hours were increased,
and machines worked endlessly. Workers weren't permitted to inspect