In the early 1960s, the People's Republic of China found itself at a challenging crossroads. Leaders acknowledged that China's population recently surpassed one billion people. Several factors have contributed to the recent population boom. Improved technology and access to medical resources have allowed people to live and work longer. Previous leaders had encouraged citizens to have more children so that the nation could prosper. Furthermore, in Chinese culture, a large family was considered a traditional sign of happiness. However, leaders recognized future problems arising from the rate of population growth. With rapid population growth, China's ability to produce food would soon no longer be able to support the population. Recent history, the 1958 famine that killed 20 million Chinese citizens, had taught Chinese leaders that lack of food can quickly create a desperate situation. Furthermore, efforts to modernize the country had been hampered by a lack of urban land; 70% of China still remained rural. With this in mind, China developed a radical and controversial program that sought to remedy this situation. China's Family Planning Program mandated that each family simply give birth to one child. Although the implementation of this program had sad consequences, from a purely economic and political point of view it was necessary to implement it to ensure a successful future for China. At the simplest level, China's family planning program policy stated that under no circumstances could a family give birth to more than one child. In the 1950s and 1960s, the population soared, to the point that the country's leaders began to worry. “The baby boom” took place...... in the center of the newspaper......n Office of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, August 1995. Web. 19 January 2012. "Chinese child policy unique could backfire on the elderly." Science Daily: news and articles on science, health, environment and technology. Center for Child Health International, September 15, 2005. Web. January 19, 2012..Hesketh, Therese, Li Lu, and Zhu Wei Xing. “The Effect of China's One-Child Family Policy After 25 Years.” Center for Child Health International, September 15, 2005. Web. January 19, 2012. .Wei-xiong, Li. “Family Planning in China.” Swiss Academy of Medicine and Ethics. National Family Planning Research Institute. Network. January 19. 2012..