Cultural Revolution Timeline

Setting the stage for the Cultural Revolution

1965

Mao and Jiang Qing direct a literary critic to publish a critique of a play attacking Mao. Jiang Qing soon writes her own critique of popular literature and art (condemning bourgeoise and anti-socialism) and Mao begins replacing government positions with his trusted allies.

Unofficial Beginning of the CR

May 16, 1966

The Politburo issued the “May 16 Circular” to remove all bourgeois influence in the government, army and society. Mao calls on Red Guards to hunt down revisionists and offenders.

First Dazibao

May 25, 1966

The first dazibao was written condemning university professors and administrators for being anti-CCP. As unrest spread, students produced more dazibao to attack reactionaries and the accused.

Red Guards Form at Beijing University

May 29, 1966

The first group of Red Guards formed at Beijing University to eliminate Mao’s enemies. The student movement spreads across China.

Mao writes a dazibao

Aug 5, 1966

Mao writes a dazibao attacking the Vice Chairman of the CCP, encouraging students to criticize and purge CCP leaders.

Sixteen Points Directive

Aug 8, 1966

The CCP passes “The Sixteen Points”, showing government support for Mao’s economic policies, formation of Red Guards for his cause, and activism against intellectuals and capitalists. The Cultural Revolution officially begins and quickly expands.

First Red Guard rally in Beijing

Aug 18, 1966

13 million Red Guards attended the first rally. Mao supported the students’ revolutionary zeal and gave permission for them to destroy the “Four Olds”.

Chaos escalates

1967

January:
Chaos escalates when Red Guards begin abusing their power, beating anyone deemed an enemy and destroying everything connected to the “Four Olds”. The Revolution’s goal was displaced by the Red Guard’s personal agendas, but Mao still praised them.

Campaign to promote Mao's cult of personality (+effects)

1968

Spring: Lin Biao and Jiang Qing raise Mao to a god-like status. At this time, Mao had little control over the Red Guards and worried that they would cause the fall of the CCP.
Short Term Effects: pictures of Mao displayed in public places and homes, songs and newspaper articles praised him, Mao's "Little Red Book" was carried by everyone at all times, most written work was Mao Zedong Thought
Long Term Effects: Mao remains symbol of Chinese communism, he's on banknotes and monuments glorify him

Red Guards dismantled

Jul 1, 1968

July: Mao disbands the People’s Liberation Army and the Red Guards. Mao and the CCP regained control and ended the most chaotic phase of the Cultural Revolution.

"Down to the Countryside" Movement (+effects)

Dec 1, 1968

Mao initiates the “Down to the Countryside” Movement, sending millions of urban youth to do labour in rural areas.
Short Term Effects: Youth separated from families, cut off their education, many youth died in the countryside from malnutrition/disease/exhaustion, youth could not organize against CCP
Long Term Effects: Surviving youth that returned to the city mostly did not or could not continue education, lost opportunities for jobs that require higher education.

Ninth Congress of the CCP

Apr 1, 1969

Lin Biao was promoted to Vice Chairman of the CCP. The Ninth Congress of the CCP focused on stabilizing the economy, increasing grain production, establishing foreign relations, and promoting order.

"The Lin Biao Affair"

Sep 1, 1971

Lin Biao wanted a higher position and allegedly tried to assassinate Mao but failed. Lin and his family soon died from a plane crash.

"Criticize Lin Biao, Criticize Confucius" Campaign

1974

Members of the Party begin vying for power and Deng Xiaoping becomes vice premier. Jiang Qing initiated the “Criticize Lin Biao” campaign that expanded into the “Criticize Lin Biao, Criticize Confucius” campaign, but both failed.

Events leading to the end of the CR (+effects)

1976

Mao demotes Deng and replaces Zhou Enlai with the moderate Hua Guofeng. Mao dies, Hua succeeds him and arrests the “Gang of Four”, blaming them for the negative effects of the CR. The CR ends.
Short Term Effects: All of the blame was turned away from Mao, his image remained clean.
Long Term Effects: Hua quickly lost power in the next decade and Deng Xiaoping rose to power, becoming the principal leader until 1997-- created free-market economic reforms and opened China to outside world

Tiananmen Incident

Apr 5, 1976

Zhou Enlai dies and many people commemorate him at his memorial in Tiananmen Square. They criticized Jian Qing and her supporters there and rioted when the latter tried to remove memorials.