Launching the Cultural Revolution Flashcards
Why couldn’t Mao launch a direct attack on Liu Shaoqi and Deng Xiaoping?
They had shown themselves to be loyal to Mao.
They had support from the Party Politburo.
Mao attacked them at their weakest points, utilizing his knowledge from guerrilla warfare.
How did the play Hai Rui Dismissed from Office (1965) give Mao the opportunity to launch this attack?
Mao took offence due to the play’s parallels with Peng Dehuai.
An article was published in a Shanghai newspaper attacking the play and it’s author.
What was the Cultural Revolution Group, formed in March 1966? Who were its members? What was its role during the Cultural Revolution?
- The Cultural Revolution Group formed as a replacement to the Central and the “Five Man Group”.
It was initially directly responsible to the Standing Committee of the Politburo.
Members included: Yao, Zhang, Wang Hongwen and Jiang Qiang.
Why did Mao swim in the Yangtze River in July 1966?
Showed he still had the physical strength to fight revolutionary battles that lay ahead.
Had enormous propaganda value for Mao.
What were the Sixteen Points, launched August 1966?
- The Sixteen Points acted as a guideline for the Cultural Revolution
Guidelines for the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution
The “Sixteen-point directive on the Cultural Revolution” was called “a new stage in the socialist revolution” that “touches people to their very soul”.
What did Mao’s character poster in Beijing (August 1966) encourage young people to do?
“Bombard the headquarters”
How many rallies were held in Tiananmen Square between August and November 1966? How did they encourage the Red Guards?
8 rallies were held
Mao offered free travel, accommodation and food for the Red Guards.
