Why did Mao Zedong stop serving as chairman of the People’s Republic of China in 1959?

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Mao Zedong stepped down as chairman of the People’s Republic of China in 1959 primarily due to the failures of the Great Leap Forward, an economic and social campaign he had launched in 1958.12

The implementation of this strategy, which included the establishment of people’s communes, lacked the necessary resources and administrative experience, leading to widespread chaos and economic disaster. Following these setbacks, a policy of retrenchment was required to stabilize the country.12

While Mao relinquished his position as head of state, he retained his role as chairman of the Chinese Communist Party. Liu Shaoqi subsequently assumed the chairmanship of the People’s Republic of China in April 1959.32