Topic 3 - The Cultural Revolution and its Aftermath - Mao's Reasons for Launching the Cultural Revolution

Question 1

Divisions in the CCP between ideologues and pragmatists - What happened at the end of the GLF?

Answer 1

At the end of the GLF, Mao had retired to the so-called ‘second line’ away from day to day politics

Question 2

Divisions in the CCP between ideologues and pragmatists - What was the GLF based on and what did this result in?

Answer 2

• The GLF has been based upon Mao’s ideological belief in mass mobilisation, class conflict, and trust in the power of revolutionary commitment
• However, this seemed to have failed, leading to the Great Famine

Question 3

Divisions in the CCP between ideologues and pragmatists - What happened after Mao stepped down?

Answer 3

Liu Shaoqi and Deng Xiaoping took control of policy and advocated for a much slower, more pragmatic approach to decision making

Question 4

Divisions in the CCP between ideologues and pragmatists - What was Mao’s reaction to Liu and Deng and what was the CR based upon?

Answer 4

• Liu and Deng advocating for pragmatism greatly angered Mao, who believed that the Communist revolution he had worked so long towards was being subverted by opponents who were not ideologically committed enough
• The CR was in part an effort to destroy them and return China to his ideologically driven policies

Question 5

The quest for permanent revolution - What did Mao believe about the creation of a Communist China and what would happen if the people became too comfortable?

Answer 5

• Mao believed that the final creation of a Communist China demanded ongoing revolution
• If the people became too comfortable, they would slip back into their old traditions and customs

Question 6

The quest for permanent revolution - How did the people need to be tested and what did the new generation need to experience?

Answer 6

• The people’s revolutionary commitment needed to be constantly tested
• He believed that any new generation needed to experience revolution

Question 7

The quest for permanent revolution - What did people not remember and what was needed to combat this?

Answer 7

• Mao knew that many people, including many in the Party, did not remember the struggles of the Civil War
• What was needed was another revolution to mobilise the masses and forge them into hardened revolutionaries

Question 8

Attacks on the bureaucracy - What did Mao believe would happen to bureaucrats when they stopped working for revolution and what would they take advantage of?

Answer 8

• Mao believed that when bureaucrats stopped working to create revolution, they would become like any other bourgeois ruling class and the gov would become corrupt and inefficient like the GMD
• Bureaucrats would become comfortable and lazy
• They would take advantage of their status to improve their own lives, rewarding themselves with luxuries such as cars, houses, food, and the best education for their children

Question 9

Attacks on the bureaucracy - What did Mao believe was needed and how did the CR facilitate this?

Answer 9

• What was needed was upheaval within the Party, constant struggle with those in authority constantly being replaced by zealous, new Communists
• CR created by Mao to mobilise the masses to purge bourgeois bureaucrats and replace them with those loyal to the Party and to himself

Question 10

Attacks on the bureaucracy - What did Mao compare the CCP to and what was his quote?

Answer 10

• Mao compared the CCP to a healthy body breaking air and exhaling carbon dioxide
• He said ‘a proletarian party must also get rid of the stale and take in the fresh, for only thus can it be full of vitality’

Question 11

Divisions in the CCP between Mao’s supporters and Mao’s opponents - Mao’s supporters - How was the CCP divided?

Answer 11

CCP divided over Mao’s ideological outlook

Question 12

Divisions in the CCP between Mao’s supporters and Mao’s opponents - Mao’s supports - Who were Mao’s committed supporters

Answer 12

• Mao did have some committed supporters EG Chen Boda (chief of propaganda), Kang Sheng (head of the secret police), Jiang Qing, and Lin Biao (head of the PLA)
• They provided vital support in his plans to purge his rivals

Question 13

Divisions in the CCP between Mao’s supporters and Mao’s opponents - Mao’s supporters - Which group were Mao’s supporters part of?

Answer 13

They were part of the Central Cultural Revolution Group (CCRG), a subcommittee within the Politburo

Question 14

Divisions in the CCP between Mao’s supporters and Mao’s opponents - Mao’s supporters - What did Mao’s supporters believe?

Answer 14

They believed that the gov and Party had become ‘bureaucratised’ and a campaign was needed to remove counter-revolutionary opponents and replace them with fervent, committed radicals

Question 15

Divisions in the CCP between Mao’s supporters and Mao’s opponents - Mao’s opponents - What can Mao’s opponents be described as and what did they believe about the GLF?

Answer 15

• There were pragmatists within the Party who were committed Communists but wanted a more rational, pragmatic approach to creating Communism
• They believed that the GLF had failed in part because it was too radical and ambitious

Question 16

Divisions in the CCP between Mao’s supporters and Mao’s opponents - Mao’s opponents - Who were the most significant pragmatists and why couldn’t Mao simply remove them?

Answer 16

• Most important pragmatists were Liu Shaoqi and Deng Xiaoping
• Mao could not simply remove his enemies – they were popular amongst the people and the Party

Question 17

Divisions in the CCP between Mao’s supporters and Mao’s opponents - Mao’s opponents - How did Mao attack the pragmatists instead?

Answer 17

Instead, Mao used the CR as a means to attack his enemies

Question 18

Divisions in the CCP between Mao’s supporters and Mao’s opponents - Mao’s opponents - Explain the debacle of the play

Answer 18

• The play Hai Rui Dismissed From Office told of a Ming dynasty official who was dismissed for criticising the emperor
• Mao and his allies believed that this was a veiled criticism of Mao’s treatment of Peng Dehuai
• The decision to allow its publication was made by Peng Zhen, the mayor of Beijing
• He was criticised and forced to resign
• He was a good friend of Deng and Liu and his removal made it easier for Mao to target them