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Setting the Stage for the Cultural Revolution
Mao Zedong and his wife Jiang Qing directed Yao Wenyuan, a literal critic, to publish a critique of a play by Beijing's mayor. In the meantime, Jiang Qing writes a general criticism of literature and art. Furthermore, Mao starts replacing people in key government positions with his own men. All this helped setting the stage for the Cultural Revolution -
Unofficial beginning of the Cultural Revolution
The Cultural Revolution unofficially began with the "May 16 Circular" issued by the Politburo. Mao calls on the students, who were called the Red Guards, to carry out an aggressive hunt for revisionists and a struggle against enemies of socialism. Students publicly criticized school authorities and attacked teachers. By the summer of 1966, the Cultural Revolution quickly began a national student movement -
First Dazibao
A young teacher at Beijing University writs the first Marxist dazibao, which is against some university professors and administrators, labelling them black, anti-Party gangsters. -
Red Guards form at Beijing University
The first group of Red Guards form at Beijing University, with the purpose of eliminating intellectuals and Mao's enemies. Students became the Red Guards because they are disgruntled about the inequalities in the educational system, some joined merely to participate in the excitement and momentum of the revolution, and others take the opportunity to seek revenge against disliked classmates and teachers. -
Mao writes a dazibao
Mao writes a dazibao stating "Bombard the headquarters" The poster is an attack on Liu Shaoqi. Mao's acts encouraged others to criticize and purge the CCP leaders -
Sixteen Points Directive
The sixteen points that were passed by the Eighth Central Committee of the CCP in 1966. This document was an official statement that the Chinese gov support Mao's economic policies and the formation of the Red Guards. It ensured the Red Guards a great deal of freedom and power in the early years of the Cultural Revolution and marked the official beginning of the Cultural Revolution -
First Red Guard rally in Beijing
Mao greets the Red Guards at Tiananmen Square in Beijing to give them his blessing to rebel. He also ordered to smash the Four Olds. People need to study Little Red Book and chant Mao's name -
Chaos Escalates
The Red Guards had adopted as Mao's greatest weapon, destroying and confiscating anything identified with the Four Olds, and humiliating anything belong to the Seven Kinds of Black. Red Guards sang revolutionary songs and shouted slogans. The brutality and violence of the Red Guards led to the beatings of more than 1700 people and the ransacking of 38000 homes. -
Campaign to promote Mao's cult of personality
Lin Biao and Jiang Qing began to promote Mao's cult of personality with a massive campaign of portraying him as a god-like figure. Mao's pictures were displayed everywhere, and his teachings, written in the Little Red Book, was found in virtually every home and workplace -
Red Guards dismantled
The movement has become one of the most devastating revolutions in Chinese history. Population, economic production, and cultural heritage decreased. To end all the chaos, Mao commanded to restore order in cities. Schools should reopen, and government officers should control the military -
"Down to the Countryside" Movement
The "Down to the Countryside" movement is to send urban youth, including Red Guards, to do manual labour and be "educated" by rural peasants. Many of these young people died of disease, malnutrition and disease. -
Ninth Congress of the CCP
During this congress, Lin Biao was appointed as Mao's successors, and he is promoted to be the chairman of the CCP. Mao also declares the official end of the Cultural Revolution in this meeting. The next phase of the movement requires to rebuild the CCP, stabilize the economy and establish foreign relations. -
The Lin Biao Affair
Tensions grew between Mao and Lin Biao. Mao became suspicious of Lin's agenda and his power. The government said that Lin attempted a coup d'etat and attempted to assassin Mao in early September 1971. On 13th September, Lin's plane flying to the Soviet Union crashed. -
"Criticise Lin Biao, Criticise Confucius" Campaign
After Lin Biao's death, Wang Hongwen replaced Lin as the vice-chairman, Jiang Qing and Zhou Enlai began vying for power. Also, Deng Xiaoping enters the political arena. Jiang Qing initiates the "Criticise Lin Biao" campaign to blame Lin Biao for all the mistakes in the revolution. -
Tiananmen Incident
People gather at Tiananmen when Zhou Enlai died on Jan 8 1976. Attendees commemorate Zhou and criticise Jiang Qing and her allies. A riot ensues when Jiang Qing's supporters attempt to remove memorials to Zhou. This event became known as the Tiananmen Incident -
End of the Cultural Revolution
Mao and Zhou died, and Deng Xiaoping rose to power. Jiang Qing and the gang of four were arrested. This marked the end of the Cultural Revolution