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What were the key events that sparked the Cultural Revolution in China?

Myron Merrall

The Cultural Revolution was a very important time in China's history. It began in 1966 and lasted for ten years. There were many things that contributed to starting this time of change and unrest.

One of the key events that sparked the Cultural Revolution was the death of a leader named Mao Zedong. When he died, some people disagreed on who should take over as leader of China. This led to a power struggle between different groups.

Another key event was Mao's belief that some people in China were becoming too rich and powerful. He wanted to bring power back to the poor and working class people. This led to Mao encouraging young people to join the "Red Guard," which was a group that was meant to fight against the rich and powerful people in China.

The Red Guard started to cause trouble and violence all over China. They would attack officials and destroy property. This made things very chaotic and many people suffered.

During the Cultural Revolution, people who were educated or had connections to the old government were seen as enemies. They were called "capitalist roaders" and were punished. This included being sent to work in factories or being publicly humiliated.

Overall, the Cultural Revolution was a time of great change and turmoil in China. It was started by a combination of things, including the death of Mao Zedong and a desire to bring power back to the poor. Although it had some positive aspects, it is often remembered for the chaos and violence it caused.