1958 Backyard Steel Campaign

1.Details:

  • was one of the main campaign within the Great Leap Forward
  • Mao believed that mass production of steel will improve China’s economy and lead to fast success of industrialization
  • Became national movement; even ministers and generals joined
  • Weakness:
    • Useless because different steel mixed together
    • Authorities knew that self-made worthless but didn’t dare to mention it
    • Deforestation because of backyard furnaces

2.How this helped Mao to consolidate/maintain power

Although campaign did not fulfill its purpose, it was still helpful since it made the peasants feel like they were doing something and support for Mao continued.