Cultural Revolution 1966-76 -18. Development of the CR

Question 1

How did the actions of the Red Guard intensify the CR and make it out of hand?

Answer 1

• 1966 the CR was intensifying, RG were attacking all the ‘5 black categories’, attacked Hong Kong style haircuts, religious buildings ransacked, cadres attacked
• Factional rivalries – red by birth were those from peasant families, but red by deed came from bourgeois families and had more to prove and more frustration (more violent)
• 1966 the workers revolutionary general headquarters was formed which opposed the conservative mass organisations (RG) and led to street battles – led to the collapse of CCP authority in Shanghai by strikes

Question 2

How did the PLA crackdown on the Red Guards in 1967?

Answer 2

February Crackdown:
- Lin Biao said PLA should be immune to rectification whereas the CRG said otherwise, and Mao stayed neutral
- PLA forces used force to supress red guard movements and arrest leader in Sichuan + Wuhan

The February Adverse Current:
- Mao criticised Jiang Qing + Chen Boda for making decisions without his approval so the politburo ordered Red Guards to return home + stop travelling.
- Mao however saw this as a challenge + criticism of the CR so replaced the Politburo with the CRG

Question 3

How after 1967 did the CR intensify again?

Answer 3

• 1967 street battles ensued again, in Wuhan 600 died – Mao armed red guards against ‘capitalist roaders’
• Later that year Mao called for crackdown – the May 16 group be blamed + purged as scapegoats

Question 4

What was the aftermath of the CR for China?

Answer 4

• By 1968 2million had been arrested, 2000 officials purged, thousands beaten and 10 million under suspicion
• PLA supressed red guards at a university in Bejing when 3000 PLA were sent to disarm students
• The May 7th Cadre school ordered 7million cadres + intellectuals to rediscover their revolutionary zeal
• China effectively became a military dictatorship with ½ of local committee members being PLA