3.2 The Red Guards and the Red Terror Flashcards
What was the Little Red Book and why was it significant?
750 Million copies of this book were spread around China. It included Mao’s thoughts and quotes on a range of subjects. It was put together by Lin Biao and Chen Boda. It was heavily encourage to memorise these quotes and closely follow his instructions.
Why did Mao focus on the youth of China in the CR?
Plunging the younger generation into a revolutionary activity would ensure their long-term commitment to communism and therefore ensure communism in China could survive for longer.
What was the Diary of Lei-Feng and why was it significant?
A fabricated diary that was created by the government from the point of view of a PLA lorry driver. The diary included many thoughts and actions that inspired a devotion to Mao. This was once again used in everyday life and in the school curriculum.
Why was Mao’s personality cult so crucial by 1966?
It allowed young people to separate the image of Mao, the hero that freed China and lead a revolution to the communist party that repressed them.
Party was now portrayed as a threat as it had been infiltrated with revolutionaries.
What message did Mao send to the youth in 1966 to win their support?
Mao told them to “Bombard the headquarters” and greeted them enthusiastically.
Mao’s words gave them motivation to go against the traditional respect for age and wisdom by together rising up.
Why did young people join the CR and the Red Guards?
There was a lack of career opportunities at that time for students who had the “wrong” class label. If they were not from soldier’s, worker’s or peasant’s family or from party than most future prospects were restricted.
What happened on the 18th August and why was it significant?
- The First Mass rally.
- Taking place in Beijing.
- 1 Million Red Guards crammed into Tiananmen Square.
- Symbolism: Allowed people to see Mao’s closeness to the PLA due to his army uniform. Lin Biao spoke for him, whilst Liu, Deng, Zhou stood further away on the same balcony.
What happened following the 18th August rally?
Violence and chaos spread across the country. Red Guards completed Lin Biao’s bidding by removing the “4 olds” and anyone from the wrong background.
How did the PLA assist the Cultural Revolution?
- Provided support to the Red Guards through helping transport the vast numbers of people across the province to access the rallies.
- Free rail passes also provided.
What were the ‘four olds’?
- Old culture
- Old ideas
- Old customs
- Old habits
These needed to be identified to remove any revisionism
What did Lin Biao instruct the Red Guards to do?
In his speech on the 18th August rally, Lin instructed to attack the four olds. The categories were deliberately vague so they could cover any element that suited Mao
How did the Red Guards respond to the calls to attack the ‘four olds’ in the initial stages?
- Quick to respond
- Targeted Western Influences in fashion including high heels and “western hairstyles” and clothing.
- Correction stations were set up on streetcorners for offenders to have their head shaved.
- People adopted new names such as “Red Hero” or “Militant”
- Attempted to change the colours of traffic lights to red as it was the revolutionary colour.
What more damaging pursuits did the Red Guards carry out?
- Houses ransacked for bourgeois possessions including; instruments, jewellery, antiques, paintings and books.
- Books were burnt on the street
- Religion was attacked as it was deemed an “old”. No public worship allowed. Clergy were imprisoned.
How was the family impacted by the CR?
- Traditional Nuclear family were attacked
- Young people urged to treat Mao and CCP as true parents and were obedient to only them. Children would often denounce their own parents
What happened to cultural sites during the Cultural Revolution?
Many were physically destroyed
Was the destruction of the ‘four olds’ completely successful?
Although it was intense, it was short lived. Many traditional views re-appeared quickly afterwards including the traditional attitudes of respecting the dead.
Who did the Students/Red Guards attack?
Students turned on unpopular teachers and anyone who had a wealthy/privileged lifestyle. They had essentially been given free-reign by Mao.
Who was Huang Xinting and what happened to him?
- The Military leader of the Chengdu region.
- He was treated cruelly at a struggle session for being seen as a barrier to Lin Biao’s achievement.
What were Struggle Sessions?
Sessions where the accused were physically attacked, tortured and forced to confess to ‘crimes’ against the people.
What were the ‘bad classes’ and how did they change the nature of the CR?
- landlords
- rich peasants
- reactionaries
- rightists
- “bad elements” (Broad)
What figures are suggested for the amount killed during the CR?
- The Gang of Four are some of the ruthless killers of the revolution. (believed to be over half a million)
- Province of Guangxi had 67,000 killings recorded between 1966-76
- Sichuan, Tibet and Mongolia had hundreds of thousands.
What happened as the movement widened?
- New Red Guard units were formed by factory and office workers which further escalated the violence.
- Non-party bourgeois backgrounds joined the Red Guards that were previously denied to participate.
What was the January Storm and why was it significant in the CR?
The City of Shanghai, which had undergone fighting in January 1967 was locked down and put under control of the Shanghai Revolutionary Committee. This was made up of PLA, party officials and revolutionaries.
Why was there a divide between the PLA and the CCRG?
PLA wanted to be exempted from struggle sessions whereas CCRG wanted the same criteria to apply to everyone. Looked like the CR would end by early 1967.
