The Chinese Cultural Revolution | Xi Van Fleet

In this presentation, I intended to provide a brief history of the Chinese Cultural Revolution (1966-1976) launched by China’s then dictator Mao Zedong. It was Mao’s attempt to seize absolute power and to remake China according to his own image. I tried to provide a sketch of the Cultural Revolution by answering the basic questions of why, what, who and how. I also tried to draw some parallels along the way to what is happening in America today.

The Chinese Cultural Revolution was not an isolated historic event. It is important to understand the historic backdrop and important political events that eventually led to the outbreak of this revolution. I covered the Land Reform (1950-1953), the Anti-Rightist Campaign (1956-1957), the Great Leap Forward Campaign, and the Great Famine (1995-1962), all of which will help to make more sense out of the Cultural Revolution.