Final answer:
The death toll from the Chinese famines during the Great Leap Forward varies in estimates, with some historians suggesting 5 million, and others estimating between 30 to 50 million fatalities, but the most frequently cited figures are 30 to 40 million deaths due to starvation
Step-by-step explanation:
The Chinese famines of the late 1950s, which are often referred to as a result of the Great Leap Forward, were a catastrophic event in history that led to the deaths of a large number of people. The estimates of the death toll vary, with some Chinese historians placing the number at around 5 million, whereas Western historians suggest a significantly higher figure, ranging from 30 to 50 million people dying between 1959 and 1961. The campaign initiated by Mao Zedong aimed to rapidly industrialize and collectivize Chinese society, moving away from an agrarian economy.
However, it led to a disastrous decline in agriculture, exacerbated by poor harvests, bad weather, and the policy of keeping grain exports high. Some reports state the death toll due to famine to be over 20 million, but the most frequently cited figures are 30 to 40 million deaths due to starvation as a consequence of the Great Leap Forward.