The Cultural Revolution Reasons for the launch of the revolution and its key features

Arguments between the leaders of the communist party Mao Zedong Mao Zedong Liu Shaoqi Moderate Liu Shaoqi Moderate Deng Xiaoping Moderate Deng Xiaoping Moderate

1958 Mao resigned as president after the failures of the Great Leap Forward – he was therefore not involved with the running of the government and the economy. He remained as Chairman of the CCP and was still highly regarded by many of the Chinese people because he was the hero of the revolution of 1949 Liu became President The job of running the government and the economy was done by Liu and Deng (party secretary ). They were moderates and felt Mao’s reforms had gone too far too quickly

Arguments between Mao and the Moderates broke out over which direction to follow in developing China Arguments between Mao and the Moderates broke out over which direction to follow in developing China By 1963 Mao was already regretting his loss of power and was becoming concerned at the changes that were taking place in China By 1963 Mao was already regretting his loss of power and was becoming concerned at the changes that were taking place in China

Mao disliked the moderates because They opposed the GLF which had caused famine and chaos in China They wanted smaller communes, saying they were currently too big They wanted larger, more efficient industrial units They wanted life to be more normal They were beginning to dominate the economy They were taking the Capitalist road. There were too many experts

Mao’s response His response was to begin to build up support in the PLA and although he lacked supporters in the higher levels of government and the CCP, he had many supporters in lesser positions who felt the moderate leaders LIU and DENG were undermining the revolution by introducing western/capitalist ideas In 1966 he had enough support to make a comeback for control and to edge out the moderates. To achieve this Mao launched THE CULTURAL REVOLUTION

I’m back!!!!!!!!!!!!! Remember me! Remember me!

So…..Why did Mao launch The Cultural Revolution?

Mao said Revolution was too remote from the people Revolution was too remote from the people The increase in the numbers of experts and specialists was damaging the economy and the party The increase in the numbers of experts and specialists was damaging the economy and the party In Chinese education members of the party were getting preferential treatment and thus a m/c was being created In Chinese education members of the party were getting preferential treatment and thus a m/c was being created The revolution had gone to sleep The revolution had gone to sleep

The ‘real’ reasons??? Mao wanted to regain power Mao wanted to regain power He wanted the masses on his side He wanted the masses on his side Madame Mao ‘the power behind the throne’ urged him on Madame Mao ‘the power behind the throne’ urged him on Mao believed in permanent revolution Mao believed in permanent revolution To equalise the value of physical and mental labour To equalise the value of physical and mental labour

Definition of Cultural Revolution Mao wanted a total transformation of people’s thoughts and behaviour. He wanted a clean break with the past and a complete change of minds and attitudes. That’s why we use the word ‘cultural’ to mean the whole outlook – the whole being. Mao wanted a total transformation of people’s thoughts and behaviour. He wanted a clean break with the past and a complete change of minds and attitudes. That’s why we use the word ‘cultural’ to mean the whole outlook – the whole being.

Key Features Red Guards Red Guards The Little Red Book The Little Red Book An Attack on the Olds An Attack on the Olds Demonstrations Demonstrations Cult of Mao Cult of Mao Denunciations Denunciations Attacks – Violence Attacks – Violence Social Engineering Social Engineering