- published: 10 Apr 2014
- views: 156984
The Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution, commonly known as the Cultural Revolution (Chinese: 文化大革命; pinyin: Wénhuà Dàgémìng), was a social-political movement that took place in the People's Republic of China from 1966 through 1976. Set into motion by Mao Zedong, then Chairman of the Communist Party of China, its stated goal was to enforce socialism in the country by removing capitalist, traditional and cultural elements from Chinese society, and to impose Maoist orthodoxy within the Party. The revolution marked the return of Mao Zedong to a position of absolute power after the failed Great Leap Forward. The movement politically paralyzed the country and significantly affected the country economically and socially.
The Revolution was launched in May 1966. Mao alleged that bourgeois elements were infiltrating the government and society at large, aiming to restore capitalism. He insisted that these "revisionists" be removed through violent class struggle. China's youth responded to Mao's appeal by forming Red Guard groups around the country. The movement spread into the military, urban workers, and the Communist Party leadership itself. It resulted in widespread factional struggles in all walks of life. In the top leadership, it led to a mass purge of senior officials who were accused of taking a "capitalist road", most notably Liu Shaoqi and Deng Xiaoping. During the same period Mao's personality cult grew to immense proportions.
Chairman Mao Documentary - The Cultural Revolution - Destruction Of China
What Is the Cultural Revolution?
What Was China's Cultural Revolution and Why Was It So Violent?
China under Mao - The Cultural Revolution
Communists, Nationalists, and China's Revolutions: Crash Course World History #37
What was China's Cultural Revolution? BBC News
Could China's President Get Purged? Happy 50th Anniversary, Cultural Revolution!
Culture Revolution - Public execution & Impact
Cultural Revolution Clip Last Emperor
Chinese Cultural Revolution: the boy who denounced his mother