Event · Twentieth century · China
Cultural Revolution
1966–1976
The campaign Mao launched in 1966 against officials, teachers, and people classed as enemies. Schools closed. Red Guards and later factional fighting killed large numbers. A full count is not agreed. Generally treated as lasting until Mao's death in 1976.
Facts
- Launched
- May 1966
- Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica, Cultural Revolution
- Span used here
- 1966 to Mao's death on 9 September 1976. The arrest of the Gang of Four followed in October 1976.
- Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica, Cultural Revolution
- Death toll
- No agreed count. Published estimates run from the hundreds of thousands into the millions. This page does not pick one.
- Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica, Cultural Revolution
The record
Mao called the Cultural Revolution in May 1966. Student Red Guards were licensed against party officials, teachers, writers, and anyone labeled a class enemy. Schools and universities closed. Struggle sessions, beatings, and factional battles followed. The army was later sent in as Red Guard factions fought each other.
The death toll is not a settled figure. Estimates in the scholarly literature run from the hundreds of thousands into the millions, depending on what is counted and which years are included. Printing one number would hide that dispute.
The campaign is dated here through Mao's death in 1976. What came after is not covered here.
Connected
Links in both directions: what this page points to, and what points here.
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