Mao made many attempts to develop the economy.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (Oct/Nov 2022). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. [1] In 1953 farms became cooperatives.
2. [1] Between 30 and 50 families lived together in the cooperatives and formed together.
3. [1] Families legally owned the land but it was on permanent loan to cooperatives.
4. [1] The cooperatives paid rent to each family.
5. [1] Land was joined together to make larger, more efficient farms.
6. [1] In line with communist theory.
7. [1] The landlords were accused of charging high rents or mistreating their tenants.
8. [1] The landlords were considered to be too wealthy.
9. [1] Some landlords were beaten, imprisoned or executed.
10. [1] The population was growing and more food needed to be produced.
11. [1] To reward the peasants for their support in the civil war.
12. [Level 3/4 explanation example] The Communists took action against the landlords because they believed that they had grown wealthy at the expense of the peasants. This went against their beliefs that people should be equal.
13. [1] Poor quality steel was produced in backyard furnaces.
14. [1] There was considerable unemployment.
15. [1] The first Five Year Plan was successful.
16. [1] There was increased production of coal, steel, electricity and petrol.
17. [1] Targets were set and early targets were met.
18. [1] The Great Leap Forward had mixed results.
19. [Level 3 explanation example - Mao's industrial reforms were a success] In some ways Mao's industrial reforms were a success. The first Five Year Plan for heavy industry achieved huge increases in the output of steel, coal and iron. All the targets set had been exceeded by 1957.
20. [Level 3 explanation example - Mao's industrial reforms were not successful] Some industrial policies were not successful. The Great Leap Forward encouraged the growth of inefficient, small factories and low quality 'backyard' iron and steel was produced. This was unusable and its manufacture took workers away from the fields, causing a drop in food production.