The Cultural Revolution Flashcards
Mao’s Motives for the Cultural Revolution
> To defeat his opponents.
To regain his political supremacy after the GLF.
To ensure that his economic policies were accepted, and China did not fall onto a Communist Path.
To dethrone Communist officials more interested in profit than Communism.
Policies of the Moderates
> Introduce larger private plots of land for peasants and pay them wages. > Build up industry on Russian models. > To create a new class of skilled industry managers.
Events of the Cultural Revolution
> Began Summer of 1966
> Involved attacks on government officials, and existing cultural and educational policies.
What did the Red Guard do?
> Shaved off western hairstyles and ripped off western clothes
Destroyed western merchandise
Burnt down cultural sites (e.g. libraries)
Stopped couples from holding hands.
The Red Guard
> May 1966-
School children + Students
School was closed for six months to rewrite the curriculum and didn’t open again for years.
How did Mao gain enough power to start the Cultural Revolution?
> 1965, gained the support of Lin Biao, minister of defence.
Lin Biao abolished ranks in the PLA and gave every soldier a copy of Mao’s little red book.
Although he had no support from the government, he had a 4 million strong army behind him.
How many people were killed by the Red Guard?
400,000
Cultural Revolution impact on Education.
> Students refused to sit exams as it showed their inequalities.
University places went to those who supported the Cultural Revolution.
A whole generation received little to no heavily propagandised education.
Mao’s Successes in the Cultural Revolution
> Political Opponents were eradicated.
Revolutionary Committees dominated by the PLA were set up to run the country.
Moderate policies were abolished.
Mao was once again the leader.
Mao’s Failures in the Cultural Revolution
> Education Stopped
Industry Stopped
400,000 people were killed.
Cultural Revolution impact on Industry
> Factories reorganised to give power to the workers.
Bonuses abolished- all given equal pay.
Technician were dismissed, production fell.
Transport ground to a halt.
What was the Cult of Mao?
> Mao was trusted unequivocally by the Red Guard.
> He was worshipped as an emperor.
When did the Cult of Mao begin?
1966
Features of the Cult of Mao
> Little Red Book
Statues and Portraits
Workers gathered before his portrait and read quotes to i before work.
How many copies of the Little Red Book were printed between 1966-69?
740 million
