Final answer:
The Great Leap Forward was a program initiated by Mao Zedong in 1958 to modernize China through rapid industrialization and collectivization, which ultimately led to a catastrophic famine.
Step-by-step explanation:
In 1958, Mao Zedong launched an ambitious program known as the Great Leap Forward. This program was designed to rapidly transform China from an agrarian economy into an industrial superpower. Mao was inspired by the Soviet model and sought to overtake the United Kingdom in industrial capacity. However, the focus on industrialization at the expense of agriculture led to collectivization that disastrously impacted food production. Despite the creation of over 25,000 communes, the Great Leap Forward resulted in famine and the death of millions, marking one of the darkest periods in Chinese history and casting deep doubts about the effectiveness of central economic planning.