Unit 3: How was the cultural revolution used to attack Mao's political and class enemies? Flashcards
Why was Liu and Deng removed from their post?
Essentially, Liu and Deng were removed from their post for ideological reasons: using the pragmatic approach to reverse the damage the Great leap forward caused
But when they continued to use this approach after, Mao feared they would be a threat to the revolution.
An example difference was that Mao wanted to advance the revolution using mass mobilisation campaigns from below, but Liu and Deng wanted to advance the revolution from policies from above such as the restoration of private farming.
How did Mao purge Liu?
Mao could not act against Lui because he were highly supported in the politburo.
By 1964, Mao accused Liu of taking the capitalist road.
Liu and his wife were dragged from their house and beaten up by a mob.
Liu was forced to undergo brutal struggle sessions. Liu was imprisoned, contracted pneumonia and died in November 1969.
How did Mao purge Deng?
Mao could not act against Deng because he was highly supported in the politburo.
By 1964, Mao accused Deng of acting independently.
Deng was sent to perform corrective labour in the Jiangxi Province. He was rehabilitated into the party in 1973. His son was paralysed when the Red Guards threw him out of the window.
Who was Lin Biao?
Lin Biao was the defence minister since 1959 and was the principal architect of Mao’s personality cult. His role was endorsing whatever Mao said.
Once the radical phase of the CR was over, the PLA was less important to Mao therefore, Lin’s backing as its commander-in-chief was less vital.
Lin was very popular, but Mao purged him because although he had been named Mao successor, he feared this might overturn the course of the revolution, like in France when Napoleon Bonaparte seized control and become a Chinese Bonaparte.
Describe Lin’s death.
The official version of Lin’s death: Lin and his son were planning to assassinate Mao and seize power.
Once the plan was discovered, both attempted to flee to Russia, but the plane crashed in Mongolia, killing all on board.
However, it was surprising for Lin to be revealed as a traitor and therefore rose suspicion for the loyalty of the rest of the Politburo.
As a result, there was no clear successor for Mao.
Why was the membership of the CCP purged?
The membership of the CCP was purged because Mao did not trust some members of the party as they had been critical of his ideas and had been supportive of rightist elements, furthermore, he wanted to eradicate bourgeoisie elements.
How much of the CCP were purged?
Only nine of the 23 Politburo members of 1966 held onto their posts.
70% of provincial and regional officials.
2/3 of the Central committee.
20% of the party officials at local level.
What were the capitalist roaders?
Capitalist roaders were those clinging on to a capitalist mindset:
Staff of every factory, shop and office etc. were subjected to scrutiny in case they lived a bourgeois lifestyle.
But this caused disruption in industrial production – down by 13% in 1967.
Why were capitalist roaders and foreigners purged?
To continue the class warfare, to cleanse the class ranks.
What was the effect of purging capitalist roaders and foreigners?
It led to a fall in industrial production, which was down by 13% in 1967.
30 countries experienced violent incidents involving Chinese militants.
What was the cleaning of the class ranks campaign?
Cleaning the class ranks campaign 1968 set up committees across the country to eradicate capitalism – accounted for over 100,000 deaths.
