The Three Bad Years Flashcards
Why did the CCP continue the GLF after the Lushan Plenum?
For fear of loss of face
Why was it such a tragedy to continue the GLF after Lushan?
Terrible practises were continued and nothing was done to rectify the increasing famine
CCP cadres did not report any famine, they tortured those who did not hand over their grain because they took as much as possible off the peasants so it would look like there is plenty
Peasants who reverted to normal farming methods were sent away to forced labour camps
What happened to crops in 1959 and 1960 that worsened the famine?
Flood, drought and locust plagues
How many died of starvation in the Three Bad Years?
30 million
Which years are considered the 3 bad years?
1959, 1960, 1961
What did Mao do to sympathise with the starving?
He didn’t eat meat
What did Jasper Becker say about the Famine?
“in terms of sheer numbers.. no other event comes close to this”
What did Mao horrifically say about the Famine?
“Even if there’s a collapse, it’ll be alright. The worst that’ll happen in the whole world would get a big laugh out of it”
“Working like this, with all these projects, half of China may well have to die. If not half, one third, or one tenth- 50 million- die.”
What did Fairbank have to say about the famine?
“all-time, first class, manmade famine”
What did Rittenberg say about the famine?
“embark on adventures with hundreds of thousands of lives at stake”
