Cultural Revolution 1966-76 17. Origins of CR Flashcards
When and Why did Mao launch the CR?
18th August 1966 on Tiananmen square at 5am to coincide with sunrise, attended by 1 million university and high school students wearing green uniform and waving the little red book, they were the red guard
How was Mao successful in remoulding Chinese Culture?
first battle of the CR was about the play Hai Rui play dismissed, it criticked the emperor in the Ming dynasty which had parallels to Mao, Peng Zhen a pragmatist ally was targeted for this. The four olds (culture, customs, ideas, habits) were placed under strict censorship with western music and clothing being banned.
How did he use the CR as a Rectification Campaign?
party were abusing power and were inefficient, ‘bombard the headquarters’ he said at a rally with students, execution squads were used and in Yunnan 14,000 cadres were executed. 70% of regional officials were purged and due to this 2/3 of the central committee became PLA
How did Mao use the CR to Purge Party Leadership?
attack the pragmatists (Lui and Deng) indirectly, Mao orchestrated a poster to be put up in Beijing Uni criticising the Uni admin, this movement was supressed by Lui by sending work teams – at a party meeting Lui was forced to carry out a self-criticism and was demoted from 2nd to 8th then was placed under house arrest and killed as his insulin wasn’t given (diabetic)
