Mao's China, 1949–76

Section A Source 1 (source written for this paper; the author is fictional but typical of the period): from a letter by a rural cadre to his provincial superiors, 1959. 'We reported a harvest of five hundred jin per mu. The real figure is less than half. The grain has been taken for the state and the people are eating bark. I write this knowing it may cost me my post.' Source 2 (source written for this paper; the author is fictional but typical of the period): from a Communist Party poster caption, 1958. 'Overtake Britain in fifteen years! The people's communes are the golden bridge to communism. Every backyard furnace is a blow against imperialism.' How far could the historian make use of Sources 1 and 2 together to investigate the Great Leap Forward? Explain your answer, using both sources, the information given about their origin, and your own knowledge of the historical context.

Section B To what extent was Mao's desire to regain power the main reason for launching the Cultural Revolution in 1966?