Rustication Campaign

Question 1

How many Red Guards were sent to the countryside in 1969?

Answer 1

18 million

Question 2

What were Mao’s reasons for launching this campaign? Think about the practical, economic and ideological reasons.

Answer 2

As a result of what he perceived to be pro-bourgeois thinking prevalent during the Cultural Revolution, Mao declared certain privileged urban youth would be sent to mountainous areas or farming villages to learn from the workers and farmers there.

Question 3

What were the realities of many Red Guards’ experiences?

Answer 3

Conditions in the rural areas were poor and many Red Guards were forced to undertake harsh labour. Labour was almost constant with no holidays or sick days.

Question 4

How did the experiences of those with party connections differ from those without?

Answer 4

Those with Party connections could quickly return to the cities, but those without were faced with permanent exile.

Question 5

How did the experiences of the Red Guards during this campaign change their attitude towards Mao?

Answer 5

Some ‘rusticated youth’ resented Mao as they believed they lost opportunities due to this campaign