Source 6: A Backyard Furnace Head Holds a Class of the Local “Smelting Iron University,” Henan 1958

Source 6: A Backyard Furnace Head Holds a Class of the Local “Smelting Iron University,” Henan 1958

collectivisation

Although predominantly an urban phenomenon, peasants were also encouraged to produce steel in rural communes. Due to a lack of resources, much of the steel made was of bad quality and unusable. Working on steel meant less time to till the fields which was certainly a contributing factor in the great famine which would blight China the following year. Consider also how long the typical working day of a peasant in a commune would be.

Anon

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