China Booklet 4 : The Cultural Revolution 1966-76

Question 1

What were the main causes of the cultural revolution?

Answer 1

Mao’s comeback, re-establish Mao’s reputation after the failure of the second 5 year plan, Establish the cult of Mao

Question 2

How did Mao show his personal strength as propaganda in 1966?

Answer 2

Swam in the Yangtze River

Question 3

Who were the red guards?

Answer 3

Students and extreme communists who were to spread Mao’s communism around China and to act upon any actions against Mao

Question 4

What did the red guards do in China?

Answer 4

Killed teachers and people who went against communism, in 1 week over 2000 people were killed, 67,000 people killed in one province

Question 5

Who were ‘undesirables’?

Answer 5

Anti communists

Question 6

How many undesirables were killed in Beijing during the cultural revolution?

Answer 6

4000

Question 7

What were the consequences of the cultural revolution?

Answer 7

Halt in industry, lack of educated younger people, beginning of Mao”s downfall

Question 8

Who created anti-ussr propaganda and was labelled a hero in 1969?

Answer 8

Lin Biao

Question 9

What occurred in China in 1971 which shocked Mao?

Answer 9

Lin Biao was accused of being a coup to overthrow Mao, then Lin died trying to escape China

Question 10

Who became Mao’s successor in 1974, and who did he bring in?

Answer 10

Zhou Enlia - brought in Deng Xiaoping to fix economy - Deng improved relations with USA

Question 11

What year did Zhou and Mao both die?

Answer 11

1976

Question 12

Where did skirmishes occur between USSR and China in 1969?

Answer 12

Manchuria

Question 13

What was Lin Biao labelled as which increased anti soviet feeling in China?

Answer 13

A soviet spy, believed he was part of a soviet plot to take China

Question 14

Who did China develop links with in 1974, and why did this upset USSR?

Answer 14

USA, undermined USSR as was there enemy

Question 15

Why were relations between USSR and China allowed to change in 1975/1976?

Answer 15

Mao died, end of the cultural revolution

Question 16

What else increased tensions between USSR and China in the 1960s?

Answer 16

4189 border incidents, Brezhnev Doctrine

Question 17

How did China attack USSR in 1969?

Answer 17

China attacked Russians on Zhenbao Island

Question 18

How did Russia respond to Chinese attacks in 1969?

Answer 18

Launched missiles on north-west China

Question 19

How many students missed school as a result of the cultural revolution?

Answer 19

130 million students - 1% had a degree

Question 20

How many prison camps were in China by 1976?

Answer 20

10,000

Question 21

Between 1953-76, how did the Chinese population change?

Answer 21

It doubled

Question 22

How many young people moved to the countryside during the cultural revolution, and how did Mao encourage this?

Answer 22

12 million moved to try and spread Communism to rural areas, free rail travel was granted for red guards

Question 23

Who organised the cultural revolution?

Answer 23

CCRG - Central Cultural Revolution Group controlled by radical Maoists including Gang of Four and Mao’s wife Jiang Qing.

Question 24

Economic results of the cultural revolution

Answer 24

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

Question 25

Political results of the cultural revolution

Answer 25

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

Question 26

Social results of the cultural revolution

Answer 26

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

Question 27

Diplomatic results of the cultural revolution

Answer 27

Attacks on foreign embassies (Soviet surrounded, Dutch besieged, Indian secretaries beaten, British burned), emboldened Chinese against foreigners e.g. USSR.

Question 28

Why was there military conflict between China and the USSR in 1969?

Answer 28

Border disputes in Manchuria and Xinjiang, 4,189 incidents between troops, strong Soviet military presence along the border, Cultural Revolution emboldened Chinese against foreigners.

Question 29

What happened at the Ussuri River in March 1969?

Answer 29

Chinese regiment ambushed Soviet soldiers on Zhenbao Island, Soviet’s respond with missile attack. Does not escalate further.

Question 30

What did the Soviets suggest destroying at LopNur, Xinjiang further provoking China?

Answer 30

Chinese Nuclear Sites

Question 31

Was it likely USSR wanted to go to war with China in 1969?

Answer 31

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.