The Cultural Revolution, 1966
- Mao swims a mile down the river to show he still have youth and vigour (72 years old)
- All Mao's idea
- wanted to have a 'pure' form of Communism led by the youth of the country
- Red Guards (youth) began openly criticizing the govt officials
- Some people were upset about the following and were seen as targets:
- Those who wanted to return to capitalism
- 'Speicalists'- anyone who did not do manual labour were forced to work
- Took the educated people and put them to work in farm and factories
- Anyone who disobeyed the "Little Red Book" could be a target
- The Red Guard got so violent that the PLA (army) had to restore order and the Revolution needed by 1969
- Mao starts the revolution then it gets out of hand and he has to disband it
Summary
Mao had the idea that he wanted a pure form of communism that was led by the youth of the country. Red Guards (the youth) began to openly criticize government officials. People who did not agree with everything Mao said were seen as targets. The Little Red Book was brought in and it had quotes from Mao in it that if people didn't know or believe them they were also seen as a target. The Red Guards began to get really violent and Mao had to shut down the revolution because it got out of hand.