the cultural revolution
The Cultural Revolution, 1966
Zhou En- Lai
Ping Pong Diplomacy
- All Mao's idea
- Wanted to have a 'pure' form of communism
- Red guards began openly criticizing the gov't officials
- some people were upset about the following and were seen as targets:
- those who wanted to return to capitalism
- "Specialists" - anyone who did not do manual labour were forced to work
- anyone who disobeyed "little red book"
- the red guard got so violent that the PLA had to restore order the revolution ended by 1969
Zhou En- Lai
- Became prime minister in 1958 (maos second command)
- Avoided disaster of the cultural revolution by ordering the PLA to put down Red guard
- under him "going down" (getting your hands dirty) became a common part of Chinese life
- "barefoot doctors" travelled the countryside bringing medicine and reporting on the status of the heath
Ping Pong Diplomacy
- USA recognized the republic of China (Taiwan) as the true china until the 1970's
- Taiwan one of the 5 permanent seats on the UN security council
- Diplomacy began between USA and China after the US ping pong team visited in 1971
- 1971 peoples republic took the seat on the UN security council
- USA still supported Taiwan's bid for independence
- 1972 Richard Nixon visited China to begin trade negotiations
Subjunctive Question: If the "Little Red book" was not introduced would Mao been able to control such a large portion of the youth group of china?
Quotes from the LRB: “Weapons are an important factor in war, but not the decisive factor; it is people, not things, that are decisive. The contest of strength is not only a contest of military and economic power, but also a contest of human power and morale. Military and economic power is necessarily wielded by people.”
Summary: Mao swims down Yangtze River to inspire a 'more youthful' form of communism. This action dominated by youth (red quards) which resulted in Little Red Book movement. Red Guards uprooted people and placed them into different jobs (like the Great Leap Forward) so when Zhou En-Lai became Prime Minister (Mao's second in command) the Guards became so violent the PLA came in and restored order (army initiated by Zhou) which ended by 1969.