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Short-term: there is a sense of peace amongst the people in the urban communities, due to a difference of opinion taken away. The young people against ideas are all taken away.
Long-term: A lot of those who are educated are taken away, those with opinions and have the chance of a future are all taken, many die, and were stripped of their future, thus a lack of opinion and possible difference in political power in the long term. -
Short term: Officially starting the revolution, bringing a sense of unity amongst those in the revolution and the government.
Long-term: Bringing more people into the revolution, and setting this view unto people, there is more harm to the intellectuals the revolutions are targeting. Also carried out Mao’s economic ideas to the rest of China, bringing him more support, this support means that more people followed Mao's ideas thus changing the society. -
Although there were positive impacts from the Cultural Revolution like the support for the people in poverty, the impact was ultimately negative because of the loss of lives and tradition and an economic drop.
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Short term: many lives are lost, tortured, imprisoned
Long-term: Members of the CCO were ousted, and Mao dismantled the Red Guards which later brought to reopening of school and government offices. As well as avoiding a descent into anarchy, the avoidance would take China into the government they have today. -
Mao and his wife set the stage for cultural revolution when they directed a literary critic, Yao Wenyuan, to publish a vitriolic critique of a play by Bjeing’s mayor. They viewed this as an attack on Mao. Later, Jiang Qing wrote a general criticism of literature and art due to her detecting anti-socialist tendencies in popular art and culture. Mao also replaced people in key governments with friends and allies.
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The Cultural Revolution officially began with the “May 16 Circular”, stating the CCP’s intention to oust “representatives of the bourgeoisie who have sneaked into the CCP, the government, the army and the various spheres of culture.” Mao calls on students (Red Guard) to carry out a hunt for revisionists and enemies of socialism. The movement was infectious, and other groups of students formed their own red guard. Became a national student movement (cancel school, political meetings, etc.)
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A young teacher at the Beijing University writes the first Marxist dazibao (big character poster) against some university professors and administrators, labeling them “black, anti-Party gangsters' '. Students later began producing more of these against those that are labeled reactionary academics. Posters started off in school, and later moved to the streets, walls of buildings, trains, etc. damaging the reputation of those who are accused.
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Red guards were organized to eliminate intellectuals & Mao’s enemies. Starting urban wide then nationwide. Students become red guards: their resentment of inequality in the educational system, or to follow a leader they are taught to love. Some join just to participate, others seek revenge against teachers and classmates they dislike. Some women avoid marriage or abusive households. Those who have “bad family background” (children of landlords etc.) were excluded and became targets.
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Mao wrote a dazibao staging “Bombard the headquarters” An attack on the vice-chairman of the CCP. This act encouraged the dazibao, criticisms of others, and purge of CCP leaders.
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The eight central committees of the CCP passed the sixteen points, stating the Chinese government’s support of Mao’s economic policies and the Red Guards. Stating that the targeted intellectuals are also capitalist roaders in the party leadership. The cultural revolution gains legitimacy and expands.
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Mao greets the Red Guards at the Tiananmen Square in Beijing to give his blessing and direct the smash of the “Four Olds”. !3million at the rally. Students hold the “Little Red Books” Chanting for Mao, while Mao applauds students for exposing revisionism. PLA initially helped the Red Guard, with housing, feeding, etc.
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Red Guards - Mao’s greatest weapon., destroying the “Four Olds”, or bourgeoisie, while destroying “Seven Kinds of Black”. Regardless of beatings , people still praise Mao.
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Spring - Mao’s image was portrayed as god-like (superhuman status), and the “Little Red book” was studied and quoted and Mao was not to be questioned if they do they face the fear of punishment.
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Thousands were imprisoned, tortured, killed, or driven to suicide. More than half of the CCP Central Committee has been ousted from the party. Mao commanded the PLA to dismantle the Red Guard.
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Sending urban youths to the countryside to do rural work, many died of malnutrition, diseas, or exhaustion. Impacting the lives of those who lived. This was CCP's attempt at eliminating Chinese youth's organization against the CCP.
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Mao ends the Cultural Revolution, starting a new phase of rebuilding the Party, stabilizing the economy, increasing grain production, and establishing foreign relations. Li bao is promoted to the Chaiman of the CCP.
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Due to Lin's previous attempt at assassinating Mao with a plane crash, an attempt at a coup. Mao gets suspicious of Lin and denies Lin's request to be vice president.
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Wang Hongwan replaces Lin as vice chairman after his death, and Jiang Qing and Zhou Enlai begin vying for power. Deng Xiaoping helps Zhou's influence. Jiang Qing initiates the "Criticize Lin Biao, Criticize Confucius" campaign, to go against Zhou. The Chinese people are not swayed.
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Zhou Enlai dies, and Deng Xiangping becomes the first premier. Mao dies, and Hua Guofeng replaces him and arrests Jiang Qing, labeling him the "Gang of Four". the blame is then put on Lin Biao, pitting Mao blameless.
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Zhou Enlai dies. Many people gather in Tiananmen to commemorate how as well as criticize Jian Qing. To remove the people, Zhou led a riot and this is now known as the Tiananmen Incident.