Cultural Revolution
This can be defined as a comprehensive reform movement in China initiated by Mao Zedong in 1965 to eliminate counterrevolutionary elements in the country's institutions and leadership. It was characterized by political zealotry, purges of intellectuals, and social and economic chaos.The Cultural Revolution had a massive impact on China from 1965 to 1968. The Cultural Revolution is the name given to Mao’s attempt to reassert his beliefs in China. Mao had been less than a dynamic leader from the late 1950’s on, and feared others in the party might be taking on a leading role that weakened his power within the party and the country.
Red Guards encouraged all the youth in China to criticise those who Mao deemed untrustworthy with regards to the direction he wanted China to take. No one was safe from criticism: writers, economists and anyone associated with the man Mao considered his main rival. Anyone who was deemed to have developed a superior attitude was considered an enemy of the party and people. The Red Guard would kill and lock up anyone who was a threat to Mao. He had everyone wrok for him to make metal tools and then make food with those metal tools. This was a horrible idea and a lot of people died from it.