Discussion

In what ways might the Four
Olds have threatened Mao's
vision of a classless state?
China's traditional culture was
based on class divisions, family
loyalty, and Confucian ideals,
whereas Mao wanted everyone
focused only on the good of the
state.
The Great Proletarian
Cultural Revolution
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Ideal of Permanent Revolution: Mao continued to seek a
classless society. He encouraged "permanent revolution" as a
means to break with China's past.
The Cultural Revolution: In 1966 Mao launched another
movement, the Cultural Revolution. It aimed to create a
proletarian culture. Mao's ideas were circulated in what came
to be called his Little Red Book.
The Red Guards: Mao created a group called the Red
Guards to implement the Cultural Revolution. The Red
Guards were told to eliminate aspects of earlier Chinese
culture as well as elements associated with capitalism. They
destroyed property and attacked people accused of deviating
from Mao's ideology.
Death of Mao: As a result of the excesses of the Cultural
Revolution, Mao lost support in key groups, including many
military officers and some members of the Communist Party.
After he died in 1976, leadership passed to Deng Xiaoping,
who ended the Cultural Revolution and implemented reforms.
Discussion

Why do you think Mao believed
that a state of permanent
revolution was important?
Mao realized how difficult it was to
change people's thinking and
behavior, so that major changes
would be possible only through an
ongoing effort.
Background

A somewhat different theory of permanent
revolution had been set forth by Leon Trotsky, a
leader of the Bolshevik Revolution. According to
Trotsky, economic change had to occur in the
worldwide economic system, rather than just a
national one, because economic development
within any country depended on the world
market. Trotsky believed that the Russian
Revolution could be permanently successful only
if revolutions also occurred in other countries,
particularly those of western Europe.
China and the Cold War
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Friendship with Soviet Union: China signed an
agreement of friendship with the Soviet Union in 1950.
It also supported "liberation" movements in Africa,
Asia, and Latin America.
Isolation: China supported North Korea in the Korean
War, alienating Western nations. Relations with the
Soviet Union soured when China expressed
disappointment with the Soviets' lack of interest in
spreading communism worldwide.
Improvement in relations with United States: When
disputes with the Soviet Union escalated to the point of
minor military altercations, Chinese leaders decided to
pursue better relations with the United States. This
culminated in the establishment of diplomatic relations
between the two countries in 1979.
Discussion

How did China's relations with the
United States and with the Soviet
Union change between 1950 and the
1970s?
China was originally aligned with the
Soviet Union and isolated from the
United States but that in the 1960s and
1970s China's relationship with the
Soviet Union deteriorated and its
relationship with the United States
improved.
Discussion

How had the leadership of China
changed by the time the United
States resumed diplomatic
relations with the country in
1979?
Mao had died in 1976 and a group
of practical-minded reformers, led
by Deng Xiaoping, had taken over
in China.