VCE History Revolutions 2025 Unit 4 AOS 2: 'Consequences of the Chinese Revolution: The Cultural Revolution'

When was the Socialist Education Movement launched, and what was its purpose?

September 1962, to bridge the gap between the peasantry and the working class.

When did Mao launch the Early Ten Points Movement, and what was the reaction?

In Feb 1963 Mao released the Early Ten Points. The movement was a ‘hardship to be endured rather than an experience to be cherished.’- Immanuel Hsu.

When was the Revised Ten Points published, and what was its purpose?

It was published in September 1963 and it instructed work teams to investigate peasants.

What was the result of the Revised Ten Points Movement?

‘All hell broke loose.’- Party Cadre. 5 million cadres were punished.

When was the Little Red Book published, and what was done with it?

It was published in May 1964 by Lin Biao. 12 million copies were produced in 1965, and they were issued to every PLA soldier.

What did Liu Shaoqi do as president?

Reduced communes, allowed peasants to own land, created a private market, and halted backyard furnaces.

What were the effects of Liu Shaoqi’s work?

Grain production rose from 6 million to 10 million tonnes by 1963, back to pre-GLF levels. Heavy industry production grew by 17% and light industry by 27% 1963 to 1965.

What were Liu Shaoqi’s thoughts on the Great Leap Forward?

‘There is not only no Great Leap Forward, but a great deal of falling backwards.’ The Famine could be attributed ‘30% to natural calamities, 70% to human failings.’- Liu Shaoqi.

When was the ‘Learn from Lei Feng’ Campaign launched and what did Lin Biao say about it?'

The ‘Learn from Lei Feng’ Campaign was launched in 1963. Lin Biao said, ‘Follow the example set by Lei Feng and be Chairman Mao’s good fighters.’

When was the ‘Learn from the PLA’ Campaign launched and what did a historian say about it?

The ‘Learn From the PLA’ Campaign was launched in Feb 1964, It ‘characterised members of the military as virtuous socialist heroes’ that ‘all Chinese should emulate’- Stuart Schram.

When was Wu Han’s play published and what was the response?’

‘Hai Rui Dismissed from Office’ was published in 1961. Mao was wary of ‘the use of novels for anti-party activity’, so directed a review that called the play ‘a poisonous weed’. Wu Han was forced to offer self-criticism in 1965.

When was Mao’s Good Swim, and what was the response?

It was in July 1966, and Mao swam 15km in the presence of over 10,000 spectators. ‘He was obviously a paragon of athleticism, capable of superhuman feats’ because ‘rural Chinese generally could not swim.’- John King Fairbank.

When did Red Guard groups emerge, and what did they believe?

They emerged in May 1966, and there were over 10 million Red Guards over the course of the Revolution. ‘Anyone who dares to oppose [Chairman Mao] shall be obliterated.’- People’s Daily. They had line-ups to ‘meet other young activists and propagate Mao Zedong Thought'.- Mrs Fan, Red Guard.

When did Mao release the May 16 Circular, and what else occurred then?

It was released in May 1966, at a Politburo meeting whilst Liu was out of the country. Mao also denounced Peng Zhen and called upon the local provinces for a ‘rebellion and attack on the centre.’

When did Mao direct the Red Guards to ‘Bombard the Headquarters’, and what did that mean?

August 1966 at the First Rally, attended by over 1 million Red Guards. Red Guards could attack Party cadres they deemed ‘un-revolutionary’. ‘We were so excited that we wept and kept shouting ‘Long Live Chairman Mao!’’- Red Guard.

Why did the Red Guard Movement begin?

Students were ‘responding to social and human elements that had little to do with ideology.’- Jonathan Fenby. ‘Young Chinese people were attracted to the movement for an opportunity to lash out at authorities.’- Mo Bo, Red Guard.

What was the result of the Red Guard movement?

Over 20 million were killed by the Red Guard, and industrial output fell by 14%.

What was announced by Lin Biao at the First Rally, and what was the result?

Lin Biao announced the attack on the Four Olds: Old Ideas, Old Customs, Old Culture and Old Habits. 4,922 of 6,843 historical places of interest were destroyed by Red Guards.

When is Liu Shaoqi expelled from the Party and why?

He was expelled in October 1968, and labelled the ultimate ‘capitalist roader’. Liu and Mao had ‘Two diametrically opposed views of how to implement policy in China.’- Gai Wenquin.

What is some evidence for the power Mao had over the Chinese population?

An estimated 2.2 billion Mao portraits were produced, 3 for every person in China and businesses changed their names to ‘Defend Mao Zedong’, and ‘Permanent Resolution’.

What are some quotes related to the Cult of Mao?

‘The thoughts of the Chairman are always correct.’- Lin Biao. ‘Mao was more than a leader. He was our saviour. And everyone had to believe or pretend to.’- Li Zhensheng.

What are some negative perspectives on the Cultural Revolution?

There was ‘nothing revolutionary about it except the name.’- Simon Leys. ‘The Cultural Revolution was not just a disaster for the Party, for the country, but for the whole people. One hundred million people were its victims.’- Deng Xiaoping’s son.

What is a positive perspective on the Cultural Revolution?

‘The decade dominated by the Cultural Revolution left a legacy of social justice, feminist ideals, and even many democratic principles that still resonate.’- Lee Feigon. ‘Men and women are the same. What men can do, women can do also.’- Mao Zedong.

What were the political results of the Cultural Revolution?

By 1969, 60-70% of Party cadres had been purged. Military men mande up 66% of the Congress, and only 9 out of 23 Politburo members retained their posts. Mao managed to ‘infuse the government with a group of women and workers who, unlike their predecessors, looked, talked and thought like the people they represented.’ -Historian Lee Feigon.

How did the revolution affect the arts?

Jiang Qing was appointed to the Ministry of Culture in September 1962. Just 124 novels were published during the 10 years of the cultural revolution. ‘The message was that women, too, could be revolutionaries.’- Gail Hershatter, Historian. She developed 8 ‘revolutionary model pieces’, including ‘Red Detachment of Women.’

What were the effects of the Red Guard in the schools?

Teachers were given names such as ‘snake-spirit’, ‘capitalist roader’ and ‘evil wind’. The ‘stinking Ninth Category’ of society.’ ‘Every few days, several teachers would be taken out and shot in public… some teachers were buried alive.’- Former teacher. Schools were shut down from 1966 to 1969.

What was the reaction of the CCP towards the actions of the Red Guards ?

‘If people are killed, they are killed; it’s no business of ours.’- Security Minister. When Mao sent a group of workers to take leadership of Beijing University in July 1968, they were shot and killed by students. He criticized the ‘mad fratricidal combat’ and said ‘you have let me down.’

What happened during the Ninth Party Conference?

April 1969, Mao was re-elected Chair of the Party at the Ninth Party Congress, with Lin Biao as vice-chairman. It was a ‘congress of unity and a congress of victory.’