jan 1, 1956 - Hundred Flowers Campaign
Description:
Following the socialist ideals of pursuing science, technology, and arts, Mao Zedong began the Hundred Flowers Campaign in 1956 to foster discussion in academia. The campaign involved giving individuals free speech. However, the campaign drew criticism as it became obvious that the government was still trying to suppress dissenters, and members of academia expressed that they didn't truly feel a freedom to speak without fear of backlash. Mao soon put an end to the campaign and instead, from 1957-1959, began the Anti-Rightist Campaign that aimed to silence people critical of the regime and its ideals by putting dissenters in labor camps.
Sources:
https://academic.mu.edu/meissnerd/storino.html
Added to timeline:
China Timeline - Andrew Li and Justin Li
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