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Y317: China and Its Rulers 1839–1989

Depth study: The Cultural Revolution — changes in Politburo 1966 and effects of the Cultural Revolution

  • 3 things to know
  • Unit group 3

Overview

Recall questions on changes in Politburo 1966, influence of the army, nature and course of the Cultural Revolution, effects of the Cultural Revolution: economic, political, social.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

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Evaluation

Why did the violence get out of control in 1967?

Key term

What were the economic effects of the Cultural Revolution?

Who and when

What lasting damage did the Cultural Revolution do to Chinese society?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    How did the Cultural Revolution begin?

    Model answer

    Yao Wenyuan's published attack in late 1965 on the play 'Hai Rui Dismissed from Office' opened an assault on the Beijing party leadership, and in May 1966 a Politburo circular formally launched the campaign; Mao's own poster told students to 'bombard the headquarters'.

  2. 2

    What changes took place in the leadership during 1966?

    Model answer

    Peng Zhen and other Beijing and army figures were purged, the Cultural Revolution Group took over direction, Lin Biao was raised to second place, and at the plenum of August 1966 Liu Shaoqi and Deng Xiaoping were demoted.

  3. 3

    Who were the Red Guards and what did they do?

    Model answer

    Students organised from mid-1966 who denounced teachers, officials and 'class enemies' at struggle meetings, destroyed the 'four olds' by ransacking homes, temples and libraries, and travelled free across China to mass rallies in Tiananmen Square.

  4. 4

    Why did the violence get out of control in 1967?

    Model answer

    Rival Red Guard and worker factions each claimed to be Mao's true followers, seized power in cities and provinces and fought each other with weapons taken from army arsenals, bringing places such as Wuhan close to civil war.

  5. 5

    What role did the army play in restoring order?

    Model answer

    The People's Liberation Army was ordered to support the left but in practice imposed control, dominated the revolutionary committees that replaced Party bodies, and by 1968 was breaking up the factions.

  6. 6

    What happened to the Red Guards in 1969?

    Model answer

    The Ninth Party Congress declared the Cultural Revolution a victory and millions of Red Guards were sent to the countryside to learn from the peasants, which destroyed them as a political force.

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