Cultural Revolution

The Cultural Revolution was a political and social upheaval in China from 1966 to 1976, initiated by Mao Zedong to renew revolutionary commitment and consolidate his authority.

Red Guards: Student and youth groups mobilized to attack perceived enemies of Mao Zedong and revolutionary change. Their rallies and attacks made Mao’s call to rebel a nationwide campaign.
Mao Zedong: Chinese communist revolutionary who led the People's Republic of China from its founding until his death in 1976. He initiated the campaign to revive revolutionary fervor and reassert political authority.
Down to the Countryside Movement: A campaign that sent millions of urban youth to rural areas for work and political education. It redirected young people’s lives and interrupted schooling for an entire generation.
Cultural Revolution in Tibet: The campaign’s impact in Tibet, including attacks on monasteries, religious practice, and cultural heritage. The upheaval took distinct forms in Tibet, where religious institutions faced intense attacks.
Anti-Rightist Campaign: A Chinese political campaign beginning in 1957 that punished people labeled rightists after the Hundred Flowers Campaign. Unlike the later upheaval, it was a purge directed through party-state institutions rather than youth mobilization.
Four Olds: A campaign target encompassing old ideas, culture, customs, and habits in Chinese society. Red Guards used this slogan to justify destroying cultural artifacts and attacking traditions.
Great Leap Forward: A Chinese economic and social campaign launched in 1958 that caused catastrophic famine and economic disruption. Its failure weakened Mao’s standing before he launched a new mass political campaign.
Gang of Four: The group of four radical Chinese leaders arrested after Mao’s death in 1976. Their prosecution became a political break with the Cultural Revolution’s radical leadership.
Wuhan Incident: A 1967 confrontation in Wuhan between rival revolutionary factions and military authorities. It exposed how local factional struggles could challenge central control.
Tiananmen Square protests of 1989: A pro-democracy protest movement in China centered on Beijing in 1989 and ended by military force. The protests were a later challenge to party rule, not a Mao-led campaign within the party.

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