The Cultural Revolution

The Cultural Revolution took place in China from 1966 to 1976. It was not a revolution to overthrow the government or people in power. Instead, it was a political movement initiated by Mao Zedong, who was Chairman of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and leader of China. It aimed to purge capitalist and traditional elements from Chinese society and to reassert Mao’s authority. It caused an estimated 500,000 to 2 million deaths and deeply impacted China and its people.

To achieve the objectives of the Cultural Revolution, Mao mobilised young people to form Red Guard groups, following his ideas as written down in his famous Little Red Book. The cult of Mao soared to new heights and his image was seen throughout China. The Red Guard targeted people that represented the ‘Four Olds’: old ideas, old culture, old customs, and old habits. This included intellectuals, scientists, and senior officials.

The violence exhibited by the Red Guard soon spiralled out of control, and Mao had to send in the People’s Liberation Army to restore order. The Cultural Revolution, however, did not end until his death in 1976.

Use the original sources in this lesson to explore the Cultural Revolution. How and why did it come about, and what were some of its impacts?