The Cultural Revolution or The Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution was started in 1966 and was officially ended in 1969. Although many believe that this revolution finally ended with the arrest of Gang of Four in 1976. The years between these figures were marked with great political and social reforms.
The beginning of the Cultural Revolution is marked by much turmoil. Chairman Mao and Jiang organized the students to form the “Red Army”. This Red Army went searching for Chairman Mao’s avowed enemies and ultimately purged them. But the members of the party began to question their own violent ways.
After the political change in 1949 the social order was totally changed. On 8th of August in 1966 the Central Committee of the CCP passed “Decision Concerning the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution” or “16 Points”. These 16 points gave power to its people the freedom of speech and to hold large debates. This also called for pestering of large posters to spread the message of the leader Chairman Mao.
With the help of the Red Army the resolution also called for every citizen of China to take part in this great Cultural Revolution. The years following Mao’s regime is governed by the Gang of Four.
Although the Cultural Revolution was a great dream of the Chinese populace and every household was affected by this revolution, the years following were marked by disaster and chaos. The population of Beijing increased and many ancient Chinese buildings were either destroyed or ransacked. Many intellectuals fled to the remote corners of the country.
The reaction abroad was mixed with both enthusiasm and hopelessness. Some western big powers renounced this Cultural Revolution with an aversion and some Left governments hailed this with happy countenances.