China Booklet 4 : The Cultural Revolution 1966-76 Flashcards
What were the main causes of the cultural revolution?
Mao’s comeback, re-establish Mao’s reputation after the failure of the second 5 year plan, Establish the cult of Mao
How did Mao show his personal strength as propaganda in 1966?
Swam in the Yangtze River
Who were the red guards?
Students and extreme communists who were to spread Mao’s communism around China and to act upon any actions against Mao
What did the red guards do in China?
Killed teachers and people who went against communism, in 1 week over 2000 people were killed, 67,000 people killed in one province
Who were ‘undesirables’?
Anti communists
How many undesirables were killed in Beijing during the cultural revolution?
4000
What were the consequences of the cultural revolution?
Halt in industry, lack of educated younger people, beginning of Mao”s downfall
Who created anti-ussr propaganda and was labelled a hero in 1969?
Lin Biao
What occurred in China in 1971 which shocked Mao?
Lin Biao was accused of being a coup to overthrow Mao, then Lin died trying to escape China
Who became Mao’s successor in 1974, and who did he bring in?
Zhou Enlia - brought in Deng Xiaoping to fix economy - Deng improved relations with USA
What year did Zhou and Mao both die?
1976
Where did skirmishes occur between USSR and China in 1969?
Manchuria
What was Lin Biao labelled as which increased anti soviet feeling in China?
A soviet spy, believed he was part of a soviet plot to take China
Who did China develop links with in 1974, and why did this upset USSR?
USA, undermined USSR as was there enemy
Why were relations between USSR and China allowed to change in 1975/1976?
Mao died, end of the cultural revolution
What else increased tensions between USSR and China in the 1960s?
4189 border incidents, Brezhnev Doctrine
How did China attack USSR in 1969?
China attacked Russians on Zhenbao Island
How did Russia respond to Chinese attacks in 1969?
Launched missiles on north-west China
How many students missed school as a result of the cultural revolution?
130 million students - 1% had a degree
How many prison camps were in China by 1976?
10,000
Between 1953-76, how did the Chinese population change?
It doubled
How many young people moved to the countryside during the cultural revolution, and how did Mao encourage this?
12 million moved to try and spread Communism to rural areas, free rail travel was granted for red guards
Who organised the cultural revolution?
CCRG - Central Cultural Revolution Group controlled by radical Maoists including Gang of Four and Mao’s wife Jiang Qing.
Economic results of the cultural revolution
Poor work attendance, Red Guard travelling rails blocking transport of goods, food shortages in cities, poor school attendance creates ‘brain drain’, education completely politicised so little technical education, no research or development
Political results of the cultural revolution
Key members of CCP and PRC targeted, in particular modernisers like Deng Xiaoping. Some begin to lose faith in CCP, especially after fall of Lin Biao
Social results of the cultural revolution
10,000 labour camps opened, anarchy, attacks on churches, torture, murder, gang fighting, theft, vandalism, education disruption (35% had education past age 12 in 1976, 130 million students stopped attending school), population doubled, culture (art, music, theatre, literature) completely sterilised - Maoist propaganda
Diplomatic results of the cultural revolution
Attacks on foreign embassies (Soviet surrounded, Dutch besieged, Indian secretaries beaten, British burned), emboldened Chinese against foreigners e.g. USSR.
Why was there military conflict between China and the USSR in 1969?
Border disputes in Manchuria and Xinjiang, 4,189 incidents between troops, strong Soviet military presence along the border, Cultural Revolution emboldened Chinese against foreigners.
What happened at the Ussuri River in March 1969?
Chinese regiment ambushed Soviet soldiers on Zhenbao Island, Soviet’s respond with missile attack. Does not escalate further.
What did the Soviets suggest destroying at LopNur, Xinjiang further provoking China?
Chinese Nuclear Sites
Was it likely USSR wanted to go to war with China in 1969?
NO, but China thought they wanted to. USSR could have crushed China in 1969 if they wanted to. They were dealing with issues in Eastern Europe, economic problems at home and navigating Peaceful Coexistence with the west - China was not a priority or a considered a major threat.
