Cultural Revolution 1966-76 - CR Impact on Politics

Question 1

How did the Fall of Lin Biao occur?

Answer 1

• Lin by 1969 was the official successor + but Mao viewed him as the ‘Chinese Bonaparte’ - damage Mao’s legacy
• Mao launched the ‘ mixing the sand and digging up the cornerstone’ campaign which made Lin carry out self-criticisms
• This humiliated Lin and so in 1971 his son planned a coup
• Zhou discovered his plan to flee to Guandong so made sure his plane was under fuelled – so later crashed

Question 2

How did political factional rivalries intensify after the CR?

Answer 2

• After the Fall of Lin factional rivalries increased as no successor anymore, Zhou introduced the 4 modernisations campaign which increased connection with the West
• Mao announced Wang Hongwen (inexperienced) as his successor + rehabilitation of Deng Xiaoping to increase experience
• Go4 launched the Anti – Confucius campaign, targeted pragmatic policies - Wang Hongwen backed the radicals, this angered Mao so he deselected him

Question 3

How did the end of the CR bring an end to Pragmatism?

Answer 3

• After Zhou Enlai’s death in 1976 (who was beloved by Chinese people) the Go4 called him a capitalist roader which angered the public and lead to 2million people protesting at the festival of death to honour Zhou (calling Mao a mad emperor + Jiang a mad empress)
• As Deng was away, he was blamed for this ‘counter revolutionary incident’ and went into hiding
• Mao later named Hua Guofeng as his successor, Go4 sought to outmanoeuvre him