Activity 1 - What was the Great Famine?

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Activity Tasks

1. Recall - Think back to the last lesson. How did the Great Leap Forward end in a famine?
2. Examine - Explore Slide 3 of the Lesson Presentation and read this article. What was the Famine and why are people in China reluctant to discuss the Great Famine?
   
3. Watch - Watch this YouTube video about the Great Famine. Note down at least five facts about the Famine.

Activity 2 - What caused the Great Famine?

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Activity Tasks

1. Evaluate - Examine the six causes of the Famine on Slides 5-6 of the Lesson Presentation. Sort the causes into categories based on whether they are: preconditions, catalysts, or triggers of the Famine.
2. Source Analysis - Study Sources A-F on this worksheet. Make a table listing the reasons given in each source for the why the Great Chinese Famine occurred. 
3. Explain - Using the sources and your own knowledge, write a paragraph explaining what caused the Great Chinese Famine. Try to connect at least three causes.

Activity 3 - What was the impact of Famine?

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Activity Tasks

1. Record - Make a note of the various estimates of casualty figures from Slide 7 of the Lesson Presentation. Why do you think the statistics vary so widely?
2. Source Analysis - Study Sources G, H and I on this worksheet regarding the casualty statistics of the Famine. Why can historians not agree on the numbers who died during the famine?
3. Compare - Now study Sources J-M on this worksheet. Compare and contrast the effects of the famine between urban and rural areas.
   
4. Discuss - Of the six consequences of the Famine from Slides 8-9, which were the most significant impacts?

Activity 4 - Was Mao to blame?

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Activity Tasks

1. Source Analysis - Examine Sources N-S on this worksheet about whether Mao was to blame for the Famine or not:
   1. Discuss the extent to which the GLF was a failure of policy, and the extent to which it was a failure of implementation. 
   2. Draw a table listing Mao’s positive and negative personality traits. 
   3. Discuss the extent to which we should judge historical figures such as Mao on their intentions. How much do these count in the final analysis?
   4. In your opinion, was Mao to blame for the Great Chinese famine?
2. Think/Pair/Share - Consider the following questions before discussing with a partner and then sharing your ideas with the class: 
   1. Who was most to blame for the post-GLF famine? 
   2. To what extent were those responsible for the famine brought to account?
   3. How did the famine compare with other twentieth-century crises?

Further Reading

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OBLIGATORY READING

1. Lynch, M. (2016). Access to History: China 1839-1997, pp. 173-177

RECOMMENDED READING

1. Chang, J., & Halliday, J. (2005). Mao: The Unknown Story, pp. 426-439

SUPPLEMENTARY READING

1. Benton, G., & Chun, L. (2010). Was Mao Really a Monster? The Academic Response to Chang and Halliday’s Mao: The Unknown Story, pp. 1-11

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