Mao's Reasons for launching the Cultural Revolution Flashcards
Describe the Ideologues (Who/What/When)
The Shanghai radicals were a group of Maoists who represented the most hard-line elements of the CCP and were dominated by the gang of four. They believed that China must be transformed into a fully communist nation as soon as possible via the mobilisation of the masses.
In March 1966, Mao created the CRG, a 17-memeber politburo sub-committee dominated by ideologues like Chen Boda, the propaganda chief. Members Yao, Zhang and Jiang all went on to form the ‘gang of four,’ a group accused of attempting a coop after Mao’s death.
Lin Bao was a senior PLA general who supported the radicals during the CR. Lin also created the ‘little red book’ which spread Mao’s ideology.
Describe the centre of the party (Who/What/When)
Took a middle ground of sorts, the ‘Group of 5’ wanted to act as peace makers to prevent the split in the party from growing larger.
believed that lack of infrastructure and modern technology had to be factored in to economic plans.
Describe the Pragmatists of the party (Who/What/When)
Pragmatists advocated for caution when moving towards communism to prevent another Great Leap Forward.
‘Walking on two legs’ or developing both industry and agriculture simultaneously led to disaster, and instead of using the masses, experts and skilled workers should be used instead.
Namely Zhou, Deng and Liu who’s free market reforms helped revive China after The Famine. This belief had the men dubbed as ‘capitalist roaders’ and they were all purged during the CR.
Why was the party split? - Economic Policy
Radicals believed that the collectivisation of peasants would be necessary for revolution and to install true communism however, the new economic policy installed by the right wing members of the party seemed to replace the focus on mass mobilisation.
Why was the party split? - Responsibility for failure of the Great Leap Forward
At the 7000 cadres conference in 1962, Zhou was highly critical of Mao, rubbishing his claims that the bad weather was responsible for the failure of the second 5 year plan. Zhou also argued for the reduction of power of cadres in the countryside. Mao felt threatened, and was jealous of the other leaders.
Why was the party split? - Personal Slights
Mao was angered over what he called personal slights, a report from the party’s propaganda department in march 1960 warned against the use of Mao’s writings to explain achievements of sport and science. At this point, Mao was respected but had little control over policy and complained he was treated like a dead ancestor.
Why was the party split? - Mao Zedong Thought
Mao believed that his Maoist political theories were the guiding principles of the CP. He also believed they should be used as Lenin and Marx’s were. Deng and Liu disagreed with this as they held more right-wing views.
Why was the party split? - The Pace of Communism
According to ‘truly red’ believers, China must be fully transformed into a communist country as quickly as possible through the power of the masses. However, the pragmatists (like Zhou and Deng), argued that a rapid move towards socialism would have disastrous impacts, such as the three bitter years. This was also evidenced by the failure of rapid collectivisation in the USSR.
Why was the party split? - Ideology
Party was become increasingly split, the ideologues were committed to taking the party left whilst the pragmatists were trying to bring the party towards the centre and right. The Pragmatists argued that the lack of infrastructure, skilled workers or modern technology needed to be factored in a centrally planned economy.
Why was the party split? - Socialist Education campaign
In 1962, Mao began a new drive to restore revolutionary veal in China with the new SEC. In February 1963, Mao drafted the New Early Ten Points, that proposed the masses should be mobilised to critique corrupt cadres. Mao introduced the four clean ups, the economy, organisation, politics and ideology should be cleansed of non-communist ideas. Peasants were to denounce corrupt officials and bring them before struggle meetings, much like how they did with the landlords in the 50s. The response to the campaign was lukewarm at best.
Why was the party split? - The Later Ten Points
In 1963, Deng revised the plan and ruled that any disruption should be kept to a minimum and that middle class peasants should not be attacked. While Mao wanted the campaign to mobilise the masses directly, Liu and Deng wanted work teams to do the work instead. The re-wrote Mao’s directives to remove the heavy emphasis on class struggle and on the whole, the campaign was not a success. Mao blamed Liu for unenthusiastic commitment to it and became convinced his party was becoming revisionist and working against him
So, In summary - Why did Mao launch the CR?
To restore the revolutionary zeal of the party and his people
To restore himself as the undisputed #1 in China
To remove rightist practices from the party and country
Out of petty jealously of Liu and Deng
Replace China’s cultural heritage with the glorious proletariat version
