The Cultural Revolution - Mao’s Reasons For Launching The Cultural Revolution Flashcards
(6 cards)
1
Q
How did Mao’s distrust in leaders lead to the launch of the cultural revolution?
A
- Mao had retired from frontline politics due to failures of the GLF, day to day running left to Deng Xiaoping and Liu Shaoqi
- Liu criticised GLF at the 7000 cadres conference
- Liu and Deng’s pragmatism angered Mao
- Mao jealous of the new more successful economic policies introduced by Liu and Deng
2
Q
Why did personal slights lead to the cultural revolution?
A
- party’s propaganda department warned against the use of Mao’s writings to explain achievement’s
- Mao complained he was treated as a ‘dead ancestor’ showed respect but ignored
3
Q
Why did the quest for permanent revolution cause Mao to launch the cultural revolution?
A
- Mao believe the party was no longer a force for revolutionary change
- Mao feared the party had become bureaucratised and cadres had become a new elite
- the only way to prevent this was perpetual revolution to constantly replace those in power
4
Q
What were The Ten Points?
A
- Mao drafted the ‘Early ten points’ which proposed masses should be mobilised to criticise party cadres and denounce corrupt officials
- Mao introduced the four clean ups: economy, organisation, politics and ideology should be cleansed of non communist ideas
- Deng Xiaoping revised the plan and rewrote Mao’s directives
- the campaign was not a success and Mao blamed Deng
5
Q
Who were the cultural revolution group?
A
- March 1966 Mao formed the CRG
- Chen Boda as chief of propaganda
- Jiang Qing the most influential member of the group
- CRG ran the PRC’s cultural policy and propaganda campaigns subtly targeting Liu and Deng
6
Q
How did Mao launch the cultural revolution?
A
- Mao swam in the dangerous Yangtze River - widely publicised event (swam 9 miles)
- Mao was now back in the limelight
- Mao directed the party’s central committee to announce the cultural revolution
