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Power is handed over to Hua Guofeng. Power struggle ensues.
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Within a month of Mao's death, Hua Guofeng arrests the gang of four and put in prison. The 'gang' quickly lost popularity among the public eg. 'crabs'.
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Support for Deng increases. Public:' 'Bring back Deng'.
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He decalres his 'whatever' plan. 'Whatever Mao said must be obeyed and whatever Mao had made must be put into action. Hua was made fun of this, and his supporters were called the 'Whateverists'. He even copied the way that Mao wore blue suits and combed his hair back.
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Deng Xiaoping comes back into power. 2nd in commande after Hua. He will soon take over Hua as his popularity and power grew.
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Students begin to put posters on the Democracy wall. The first of them stating : "Mao Zedong was seventy percent good and thirty per cent bad.'
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Once the moderates gained control of the party, Wall-posters and the Democracy wall were closed down. Poster writers were also arrested.
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During this period Deng introduced many reforms hoping to modernizie China. Output of Agriculture and Industry were all increased. SEZ were set up to boost trade with foreign countries...
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The Gang of Four were in prison since 1976. Now, finally being put to trial, they were accused of causing the cultural revolution and sentenced to long terms of imprisonment. With the left wing of the communists gone and the 'whateverists' discredited, the moderates were allowed to implement their own policies.
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The student movement ends abruptly due to the PLA opening fire on students. Thousands of casualties are reported.