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Setting the stage
A critic releases a review on a play in Beijing, Mao and Jiang Qing interpret it as also a critique on them. Later Mao and Jiang Qing condemn some social roles, and start reforming the government officials. -
Almost beginning of the CR
A declaration of intention called the May 16 Circular is released, highlighting the goals of Mao's party. He starts recruiting students to form his Red Army and takes control over education. -
Da zi bao
Writing large characters of protest and criticism of those against the communist party is now a trend. This was when the first poster was used. -
Red Guards at Beijing Uni (effects)
Red Guard students attack thinkers with ideals opposing the CCP, but also show confusion on who to target. Students join the Red Guard because of pressure, or discontent with inequality in education.
Short term effects:
The teachers in the Beijing university are attacked and probably lost reputation.
Long term effects:
The Red Guard is formed, which collected students nationwide, not just in Beijing. Eventually this would affect China with violent methods to enforce the revolution. -
Mao's Da zi bao
Mao makes a poster, telling his followers to purge the CCP government, specifically attacking Liu Shaoqi -
16 points
The government declares their support for Mao's goals. Mao reforms his goals of his movement in 16 points. -
Red Guards at Beijing
Mao meets a massive group of Red Guard students and motivates them. The party also demonstrated their support, by holding their red books, and having other uniform possessions. -
Chaos
Red Guards get carried away with violence and essentially terrorise civilians by intensely searching homes or beating possible disagreers. China is purged. -
Red Guards Dismantled
Because of the damage caused such as death, torture, economic damage, Mao disarms the Red Guards and orders them to stop violence in an effort to restore the society. -
Down to the countryside (effects)
As a consequence/attempt to fully eliminate influence of the now dismantled Red Guard, Mao sends students to work in the countryside.
Short Term effect:
the society is now more at ease and without the fear of being targeted.
Long term effect:
The generation of students at the time have lost essential parts of their youth such as education, depending on how old they were. -
Cult of Personality (effects)
Propaganda such as the little red book is used to promote Mao's leadership, trying to praise him as an almost perfect person.
Short term effect:
Government finance is focused towards the campaign. The red book is in mass production, becoming a popular book with contents supporting Mao
Long term effect:
The red book becomes a verification that the owner supports the cultural revolution. Now it is still symbolic and significant but not necessarily showing support in a good way. -
Ninth Congress
The government people begin to take action to improve the economy and continue purging counterrevolutionaries. The government is trying to get China back on its feet. -
Lin Biao
Lin Biao is gaining power and has ambitions to be promoted to higher ranks in the government. Mao sees it as a threat and Lin Biao's reputation drops when he attempts an assassination. Lin Biao mysteriously dies in a "plane crash" -
Criticise Lin Biao, Criticise Confucius
A failed campaign which attempted to blame all of the problems with the Cultural Revolution on Lin Biao. More government officials are introduced/gaining power such as Deng Xiaoping, Zhou Enlai, Jiang Qing, Wang Hongwen. -
Beginning of the End
Deng Xiaoping gets promoted after Zhou's death and faces Jiang Qing. Mao then replaces Deng with Hua Guofeng and dies of sickness. Hua Guofeng then purges the government by arresting Jiang Qing and her allies named the Gang of Four. -
Tiananmen Incident
Zhou Enlai dies of sickness which causes a gathering in Tiananmen of people to praise Zhou Enlai and criticise Jiang Qing. Jiang Qing and the other officials try quelling the criticism but riot breaks out.