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Setting the stage for the Cultural Revolution
Mao and his wife directs a literary critic to publish a vitriolic critique of a play by the Beijing mayor. -
The Cultural Revolution begins unofficially
Mao calls on students to aggressively hunt for revisionists and enemies of socialism. By summer, it's evolved into a nationwide movement. -
The first ever dazibao
These "big-character posts", were first written by a teacher, later, students, label some university professors as "black, anti-Party gangsters". It evolved into a mainstay activity during the revolution. -
Formation of the Red Guards
Red Guards are formed by a variety of people loyal to Mao due to various reasons, but they all serve the same purpose, to eradicate Mao's enemies and intellectuals. -
Mao creates his own dazibao
Mao's dazibao states "Bombard the headquarters" which gives authority to students to persuade others to purge CCP leaders. -
The Sixteen Points Directive
This document is an official statement released by the CCP, supporting Mao's economic reform and the formation of the Red Guards. -
First Red Guard Rally at Beijing
Mao gives his "blessing" to the Red Guards to rebel against the CCP. He also directs the police and the army so that the Guards can destroy the "Four Olds". -
Escalating chaos
Red Guards take their job very seriously as Mao's "greatest weapon" and ransack homes, destroy or confiscate anything identified with the Four Old, and humiliate those who belong to the "Seven kinds of Black". Within one month from September to October, more than 1700 were beaten to death and 38000 homes were ransacked or destroyed. -
Campaign promoting Mao's cult of personality
Lin Biao and Jiang Qing promote Mao as a god-like figure vigorously. Songs, chants, and newspapers extol his virtues and seek to strengthen his superhuman status -
Red Guards dismantled
The country has suffered huge losses in terms of human life, economic production, and cultural heritage. Hence, Mao commands the People's Liberation Army to dismantle the Red Guards and restore order to the country. -
The "Down to the Countryside" Movement
Mao sends urban youths to do manual labor and to be "re-educated" by rural peasants. The campaign resulted in more than 16 million youths foregoing schooling. -
Ninth Congress
Lin Biao was promoted to vice-chairman of the CCP and the Chinese Constitution was rewritten to name him Mao's successor and comrade-in-arms. The meeting also discussed rebuilding the country in several aspects and promoting the study of Mao's works. -
The Lin Biao Affair
Tensions grew between Lin Biao and Mao because Lin Biao has political ambitions and requested to be promoted to vice-president several times, all of which were denied. Mao becomes suspicious and Lin's power dwindles as a result of Mao's interference. Lin attempted to murder Mao but fails and his reputation dies. -
The "Criticise Lin Biao, Criticise Confucius" Campaign
Jiang Qing organizes the Criticise Lin Biao Campaign in an attempt to blame Lin Biao for the mistakes of the revolution, including the economic losses, in which Lin Biao was not even involved with. The campaign expands in 1974, becoming the "Criticise Lin Biao, Criticise Confucius" campaign since Zhou Enlai and Lin Biao both promote Confucius ideals. -
The Tiananmen Square incident
Zhou Enlai dies in 1976 and people flock to Tiananmen Square, where memorials of him were erected since he was widely supported by the public. A riot ensues when Jiang Qing and her supporters attempt to remove the memorials. -
The end of the Cultural Revolution
Mao dies and leaves Hua Guofeng as chairman of CCP. He arrests Jiang Qing and her supporters and labels them the "Gang of Four". Their arrest marks the end of the Cultural Revolution.