The Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution was initiated by Mao Zedong, the Chairman of the Communist Party of China (CPC), in 1966. Mao launched the Cultural Revolution as a socio-political movement aimed at reasserting his authority within the CPC and revitalizing revolutionary fervor among the Chinese population.
Mao was concerned about what he perceived as a growing bureaucracy and elitism within the party, as well as what he saw as a drift away from the core principles of Marxism-Leninism. He believed that by mobilizing the masses, particularly the younger generation, in a campaign to "cleanse" society of bourgeois and counter-revolutionary elements, he could reinvigorate the revolutionary spirit and consolidate his power.
The Cultural Revolution led to widespread social and political upheaval in China, with the formation of Red Guard groups composed primarily of students and young workers who targeted perceived enemies of the revolution, including party officials, intellectuals, and anyone associated with "bourgeois" or traditional values. The movement resulted in widespread violence, persecution, and disruption of education and economic activities, causing significant social and economic damage to China.
The Cultural Revolution officially ended with Mao's death in 1976, although its effects continued to reverberate throughout Chinese society for years to come.
