Mao's reasons for launching the Cultural Revolution Flashcards
Summarise some of the key reasons for Mao launching the Cultural Revolution.
Divisions within the CCP between ideologues and pragmatists
Quest for permanent revolution
Attacks on bureaucracy
Divisions within the CCP between supporters and opponents of Mao’s policies
What had Mao done at the end of the GLF?
Retired to the so-called ‘second line’, away from day-to-day politics
What had the GLF been based upon?
Mao’s ideological belief in mass mobilisation, class conflict and trust in the power of revolutionary commitment.
What happened as a result of the failure of Mao’s basis of the GLF?
The Great Famine
Once Liu Shaoqi and Deng Xiaoping had taken control of policy what did they advocate?
A much slower, more pragmatic approach to decision-making
Why was Mao angered by Liu and Deng advocating a much slower and pragmatic approach to decision-making?
Believed the Communist revolution he had worked so long towards was being subverted (brought down) by opponents who were not ideologically committed enough
Why was divisions within the CCP between ideologues and pragmatists one of Mao’s reasons for launching the Cultural Revolution?
Wanted to destroy pragmatists (Lui and Deng) and return China to his ideologically driven policies
Why was having a permanent revolution significant for Mao?
Believed:
The final creation of a Communist China demanded ongoing revolution.
People’s revolutionary commitment needed to be tested constantly
Believed every new generation needed to experience the revolution
What did Mao believe would happen if the people became too comfortable?
They would slip back into their old traditions and customs
Why was the quest for permanent revolution one of the reasons Mao launched the Cultural Revolution?
Mao knew that many people, including many in the Party, did not remember struggles of the Civil War.
Believed another revolution was needed to mobilise the masses and forge them into hardened revolutionaries.
What did Mao believe would happen when the bureaucrats stopped working to create revolution?
They would become like any other bourgeois ruling class.
The government would become corrupt and inefficient like the GMD.
How did Mao believe the bureaucrats would become comfortable and lazy?
They would take advantage of their status to improve their own lives, rewarding themselves with luxuries like houses, cars, food and guaranteed places at the best schools for their children
Who did Mao believe the bureaucrats would become new versions of?
‘Mandarins’
Who are ‘Mandarins’?
Government officials in the civil service during Chinese Imperial times
What did Mao believe was needed to deal with bureaucrats?
Upheaval (disruption).
Constant struggle with those in authority being replaced by zealous (passionate) new Communists
Summarise why attacks on the bureaucracy was one of Mao’s reasons to launch the Cultural Revolution.
CR was created by Mao to mobilise the masses to purge bourgeois bureaucrats and replace them with those loyal to himself.
What did Mao compare the CCP to?
A healthy body breathing air and exhaling carbon dioxide
What did Mao say about what a proletarian party must get rid of? (quotation)
‘A proletarian party must also get rid of stale and take in the fresh, for only thus can it be full of vitality.’
Name some of Mao’s very committed supporters.
Chen Boda
Kang Sheng
Jiang Qing
Lin Biao
Who was Lin Biao at this time?
Head of the PLA
Who was Jiang Qing?
Mao’s 4th wife
Until what year did Jiang Qing stay out of politics?
1938
When Jiang Qing came into politics what did Mao give her the task of?
Remoulding Chinese culture as part of the CR
Jiang Qing was a radical/leftist. What group was she a member of?
Gang of Four
What happened to Jiang Qing after Mao’s death?
Arrested the imprisoned.
Died of suicided in 1991
What was Kang Sheng trained in?
Torture techniques by Stalin’s secret police.
What did Kang Sheng help Mao do?
Persecute, torture and murder his opponents during the CR
What did Kang Sheng die of and when?
Cancer in 1975
Who did Lin Biao help the Red Army have victory over?
The Japanese during the Second world War
What did Lin Biao replace Peng Dehuai as in 1959?
Minister of Defence
How did Lin Biao help Mao build his cult of personality?
Published the Little Red Book
How did Lin Biao die?
After the CR, feared Mao had turned against him and attempted to flee.
Died when his plane crashed
Who was Chen Boda to Mao?
His close ally and ideological adviser
What did Chen Boda help organise?
CCP’s propaganda
What is Chen Boda the editor of?
Party’s Journal, The Red Flag
Despite being a radical, who was totally loyal to Mao, and being feared by other Communist leaders, why was Chen Boda arrested?
Accused of being a ‘revisionist secret agent’
What was Kang Sheng’s role at this time?
Chief of Secret Police
What was Chen Boda at this time?
Chief of Propaganda
What group were Chen Boda, Kang Sheng, Jiang Qing and Lin Biao a part of?
CCRG
What does CCRG stand for?
Central Cultural Revolution Group
What is the CCRG?
Subcommittee within the Politburo
What did the CCRG believe?
The government and Party had become ‘bureaucratised’.
What did the CCRG believe a campaign was needed?
To remove counter-revolutionary opponents and replace them with fervent (passionate), committed radicals
Name some of Mao’s key opponents.
Liu Shaoqi
Deng Xiaoping
Chen Yun
Bo Yibo
Peng Zhen
Peng Dehuai
What did pragmatists within the Party want?
Were committed Communists who wanted a more rational, pragmatic approach to creating Communism.
Why did pragmatists within the Party believe the GLF failed?
Believed it had been too radical and ambitious
Who were the most important pragmatists within the Party?
Liu and Deng
Why were Chen Yun and Bo Yibo Mao’s opponents?
Were economic planners who argued that experts and intellectuals were needed to help run the economy
Why could Mao simply not remove his enemies and opponents?
They were popular among the people and the Party.
Why were divisions within the CCP between supporters and opponents of Mao’s policies one of Mao’s reason for launching the CR?
He used them to attack because he couldn’t simply remove them.
What was the play in this lesson called?
Hai Rui Dismissed from Office
What was Hai Rui Dismissed from Office about?
A Ming dynasty official who was dismissed for criticising the Emperor
Who did Mao and his allies believe about the play?
That it was a veiled criticism of Mao’s treatment of Peng Dehuai
Whose decision was it to allow the publication of Hai Rui Dismissed from Office?
Peng Zhen
Who was Peng Zhen?
Mayor of Beijing
What was Peng Zhen forced to do for allowing the publication of the play?
Was criticised and forced to resign
Who was Peng Zhen a good friend of?
Liu and Deng
How was Mao able to attack Liu and Deng?
Once Peng Zhen was removed, it was made easier
