jan 1, 1966 - Cultural Revolution

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When the Great Leap Forward was a huge failure, people started to wonder if Mao knew what he was doing. Mao wanted to prove to his citizens that he was the right leader for China, and lead the Cultural Revolution. It was a violent attempt to eradicate all old culture in China. He wanted to rid China of its old habits, customs. and thoughts. After this would happen, he planned to replace them with a new socialist culture. Mao chose China's newest generation to lead this Revolution. These students became the Red Guards. They went through China burning ancient works of art, and destroying anything that had to do with traditional China. They also killed people who did not "worship" mao to the fullest. The murders and destruction had a disastrous effect on China, and industrial problems grew. Society was in shambles. Mao finally took control and broke up the Red Guards to prevent further damage.


Mao was worshipped as a god, in a disturbing cult of personality. People followed him, and he was the ultimate leader. Some people were so dedicated to the revolution, that they got their own family killed if their family disagreed with Mao. The trials were unfair. One could simply be accused of not being communist, and they would be sentenced to death. Still today, people worship Mao like a god, and go to a brinze statue and pray. They recite some communist poem line things, and they can read his red book. Mao’s red book is like the bible of China.

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