The Cultural Revolution, 1966

• 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 

Quote: "Communism is not love. Communism is a hammer which we use to crush the enemy."

Subjunctive question: What would have been different if Mao did not have as much power?

Summary: In 1966,  Mao Zedong launched what became known as the Cultural Revolution to reassert his authority over the Chinese government. He thought that current Communist leaders were taking the party, and China itself, in the wrong direction. Mao called on the nation’s youth to purge the “impure” elements of Chinese society The Cultural Revolution continued until Mao’s death  and its tormented and violent legacy would stay in Chinese politics and society for decades.