Read the book review of Hungry Ghosts: Mao’s Secret Famine by Jasper Becker on the library pathfinder for Colors of the Mountain or on hard copy. Complete the pink fact review sheet.
Then–Respond in Comment Section below: Why do you think the Chinese government kept the famine a secret, refused foreign aid and continued to export grain while millions died?
20 responses so far ↓
Ellie // April 28, 2008 at 2:23 pm |
I think that the chinese refused forgein aid durring the famine because they were too proud to accept help, and the officials diddn’t see any point in helping the lower classes that were getting less food.
I also think that the reason the keept the famine a secret is because they didn’t want an uproar or any kind of protest from the lower class people or the other nations in the world, when they weren’t feeding their polation properly.
Ben Conde // April 28, 2008 at 2:34 pm |
It would make him look bad.
Brandon // April 28, 2008 at 2:36 pm |
I think Chairman Mao Zedong kept the Great Starvation a secret because if people knew what was going on, they might have tried to stop him
Connor // April 28, 2008 at 2:37 pm |
I think that Mao wanted to keep the famine a secret because he didn’t want the rest of the world to find out he was corrupt or have the people of China try to get rid of him.
Kayla McCoy // April 28, 2008 at 2:38 pm |
I thought he kept it from the world because people would’ve disagreed with him and probably would’ve tried to stop him and he didnt want that so he kept it hidden.
Omar Al-Anbaki // April 28, 2008 at 2:38 pm |
Chairman mao Zedong kept the Great Starvation a secret because if the word was to get out, someone wouldve attempted to stop him or even take over
Mariah // April 28, 2008 at 2:38 pm |
I think that they kept the famine a secrent because they didn’t want to lose any of their power in China. They made it seem like everything was going great and they even brought willing people to China and sent them back saying everything was fine. Their leaders are pretty messed up and most of the facts about this famine are still concealed.
justin // April 28, 2008 at 2:39 pm |
I think he kept the starvation a secret because, if people had found out Mao would have been taken out of his rule and probably killed.
Kyle D. // April 28, 2008 at 2:40 pm |
I think he tried to hide the famine from everyone because it would show that the country was weak and vulnerable to attack.
mrsdcarpenter // April 28, 2008 at 4:35 pm |
From Danielle:
because he wanted people to trade with him and if people in other countries got wind of this they would stop trading with china.
Grace. // April 30, 2008 at 12:27 am |
I think that Mao Zedong kept the famine a secret because he didn’t want to risk a war within his own country, and also with other countries.
mrsdcarpenter // April 30, 2008 at 12:34 am |
From Caitlyn:
I think that the Chinese government kept the famine a secret becuase they didn’t want to be blamed for it, and potentially losing their postitions in the government.
They probably still sold the grain becuase they wanted to keep their economy up.
erin // April 30, 2008 at 2:30 am |
because it would make them look bad to other countries
Kylah // April 30, 2008 at 1:28 pm |
I think he tried to hide the famin because he was eather emaressed about the fact that his country is poor and weak or that he didnt want other counties to find out that they were weak and vulnerable
Steve // April 30, 2008 at 2:30 pm |
China simply refused aid and continued exporting grain because the government wanted to make China appear to be very well-off, powerful, and self-sufficient.
Travis // April 30, 2008 at 2:44 pm |
I agree with most people,Mao refused aid becaue he wanted China to look powerful to the rest of the world and not look weak becaue they had no food
mike // May 14, 2008 at 2:36 pm |
i dont really like mao he was mean to all those people and its his fault for every problem they had
madeline // May 14, 2008 at 2:37 pm |
I think Mao kept the entire famine a secret to “save face”. If he had accepted foreign aid, he wouldve shown that china is a vulnerable country and invading countries would see that as an opportunity
brooke // May 14, 2008 at 2:38 pm |
China kept it a secret beacuse they didn’t want the rest of the world knowing what they were doing obviously. Mao wanted the grain and all of the money to himself so he could buildup and stregnthen things he wanted. And make China look powerful and wealthy.
Jenniferrrrrrrr // May 14, 2008 at 2:39 pm |
I think Mao kept the famine a secret so it would trigger an other countries to start a war.