Causes of the Cultural Revolution
- The Cultural Revolution emerged from Mao’s desire to restore his authority, revive revolutionary spirit and eliminate ideological rivals.
- After the failure of the Great Leap Forward, Mao’s political influence weakened, and moderates such as Liu Shaoqi and Deng Xiaoping gained power.
- Mao feared China was becoming too bureaucratic and moving away from true socialism toward a more practical, expert-driven model.
- Growing divisions within the CCP created tension between radicals who supported Mao’s vision and moderates who wanted economic recovery.
- Mao believed young people needed to experience revolutionary struggle to avoid “revisionism,” which he associated with Soviet leadership after Stalin.
- Propaganda described the struggle as necessary to protect China from capitalist, traditional or foreign influences.
Case study
Mobilization of Youth and Ideology
- Mao called on students to form Red Guards, encouraging them to challenge authority and defend the revolution.
- Schools and universities organized “loyalty rallies,” where students pledged support to Mao and studied the Little Red Book.
- The call to “bombard the headquarters” encouraged young people to attack teachers, principals and local officials.
- Posters, speeches and mass meetings presented Mao as the only true protector of socialism.
- The movement spread quickly across urban centers, gaining emotional force and national attention.
Attack on Party Moderates
- Mao used the early phase to remove political rivals such as Liu Shaoqi, who was accused of taking the capitalist road.
- Liu Shaoqi was dismissed from leadership positions and publicly humiliated before dying under harsh conditions in 1969.
- Deng Xiaoping was purged, sent to labor, and later rehabilitated only after Mao’s death.
- The early purges changed the balance of power inside the CCP and strengthened radical control.
- Mao’s authority reached its peak as moderate leaders were removed or silenced.
Definition
Red Guards
Youth groups mobilized by Mao to enforce revolutionary ideology and attack perceived enemies.
Definition
Little Red Book
Collection of Mao’s quotations used during the Cultural Revolution to promote ideological unity.
Political Impact and the Rise of the Gang of Four
- The Cultural Revolution created chaos inside the Party and allowed radical leaders to gain national prominence.
- The CCP became divided as different Red Guard factions fought for influence, weakening political order.
- State institutions such as courts, ministries and local governments stopped functioning or operated under military supervision.
- Mao relied heavily on radical allies who pushed extreme ideological policies to maintain revolutionary momentum.
- The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) eventually intervened to restore order, showing the limits of mass mobilization.
- Political violence, purges and public humiliations undermined the CCP’s administrative capacity and stability.
Case study
The Gang of Four
Rise and Political Influence
- The Gang of Four, led by Jiang Qing (Mao’s wife), along with Zhang Chunqiao, Yao Wenyuan and Wang Hongwen, gained power by supporting radical Cultural Revolution policies.
- They controlled propaganda, culture, education and key areas of government messaging.
- The group promoted strict ideological purity, attacking those who questioned mass campaigns or demanded economic stability.
- Jiang Qing used her position to reshape Chinese culture, including theater, literature and film.
- The Gang of Four served as Mao’s political instruments to pressure moderate leaders and maintain revolutionary intensity.
Fall and Post-Mao Blame
- After Mao’s death in 1976, the Gang of Four attempted to maintain influence but lacked army support.
- They were arrested in October 1976 and accused of crimes committed during the Cultural Revolution.
- Their trial in 1980–1981 publicly blamed them for political violence, persecution and cultural destruction.
- The trial allowed the CCP to distance itself from Mao’s late policies and restore moderate leadership.
- The fall of the Gang of Four marked the end of the Cultural Revolution and the beginning of reform under Deng Xiaoping.
Definition
Gang of Four
Radical political faction that dominated cultural and propaganda work during the Cultural Revolution.
Definition
Revisionism
Term used by Mao to describe policies that weakened revolutionary ideology.
Social and Cultural Impact
- The Cultural Revolution brought dramatic changes to everyday life, education, culture and social order.
- Schools and universities closed for long periods, and education was disrupted for an entire generation.
- Red Guards attacked cultural sites, temples, historical treasures and objects labeled “feudal” or “bourgeois.”
- Family structures changed as young people reported parents or relatives accused of “wrong thinking.”
- Art, literature and theater were restricted to “model works” approved by Jiang Qing.
- Social divisions deepened as people were labeled by class background, often determining job opportunities and political treatment.
Common Mistake
- Ignoring differences between early chaos (1966–1968) and later military control (1968–1976).
- Treating the Cultural Revolution as only political, instead of analyzing cultural destruction and social upheaval.
- Forgetting the role of the PLA in restoring order and limiting Red Guard violence.
Exam technique
- Always divide your essay into causes, actions and consequences to show clear structure.
- Use case studies like Liu Shaoqi’s purge, the Red Guards and the Gang of Four for depth.
- In “assess” questions, contrast ideological aims with actual outcomes.
- Show long-term effects, especially on education, culture and CCP legitimacy.
Theory of Knowledge
- How does political ideology shape cultural identity?
- Can mass movements driven by emotion produce stable political results?
- How do societies remember traumatic events differently across generations?
Self review
- Assess the causes of the Cultural Revolution.
- Examine the political and social impact of the Cultural Revolution between 1966 and 1976.
- To what extent was the Gang of Four responsible for the failures of the Cultural Revolution
