"We will build up an entirely new, strong, and prosperous People's Democratic Republic of China" -Mao Zedong, 1949

At the end of the first Five Year Plan, China successfully increased steel production and stimulated the economy, but failed to increase grain production. In 1958, Mao launched "The Great Leap Forward,” a new five year plan focused on invigorating the Chinese economy by creating agricultural, industrial, and technological self sufficiency. Mao limited the importation of foreign goods, allowing more money to be invested in domestic agriculture. Farmland was taken over by the government and organized in collectives to reach this goal.