He launched the Great Leap Forward in 1958 following the first Five Year Plan that ended in 1957.
The Great Leap Forward was to push the economic growth of the China, by focusing on building its industry. The government demanded every civilians to collect as much steel as they could for the industry, which they turned out to furnace everything they've got. As the materials are nit utilized, the steel product cannot be used and became a waste of material.
People's commune is also set up for industrial development, which in the end caused the lower of farming products and the lack of food.
In this plan, about 41 million died from famine and by no means does it promote economic development thus is a failure.
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