The Great Leap Forward

Mao came back from the Soviet Union's 40th anniversary of the revolution in October 1957, convinced the split was inevitable and coming soon. Mao truly thought if you got everyone involved, anything could be overcome. Joe made a string of self-criticism throughout that year. He just repeatedly fell on his sword to make the point that he was sorry for going against Mao with what ultimately became the Great Leap Forward. Those who thought Mao would come to his senses, played that one dead wrong.