Cultural Revolution (1966–1976)

1. Mao issues the “May Seventh Directive”

   May 7, 1966Labels: Mao Zedong, May Seventh

   • May 1966
   • Cadre Schools

2. May 16 Notice launches Cultural Revolution campaign

   May 16, 1966Labels: Chinese Communist, May 16

   • AP History
   • Britannica

3. First major big-character poster at Peking University

   May 25, 1966Labels: Nie Yuanzi, Peking University

   • Nie Yuanzi
   • May 1966

4. Bian Zhongyun killed in early Red Guard violence

   Aug 5, 1966Labels: Bian Zhongyun, Red Guards

   • Bian Zhongyun
   • Red Guards

5. Mao writes “Bombard the Headquarters” poster

   Aug 5, 1966Labels: Mao Zedong, Bombard the

   • Bombard HQ
   • CSAA

6. “Sixteen Points” defines Cultural Revolution goals

   Aug 8, 1966Labels: Sixteen Points, Chinese Communist

   • Peking Review
   • Stanford FSI

7. Mao endorses Red Guards at Tiananmen rally

   Aug 18, 1966Labels: Mao Zedong, Tiananmen Rally

   • UW Global Asia
   • Red Guards

8. Shanghai “January Storm” seizes local power

   Jan 5, 1967Labels: Shanghai, January Storm

   • January Storm
   • Stanford FSI

9. Wuhan Incident exposes armed factional conflict

   Jul 20, 1967Labels: Wuhan, Wuhan Incident

   • Wuhan incident
   • Foreign Affairs

10. “Cleansing the Class Ranks” campaign begins

    May 25, 1968Labels: Cleansing the

    • Class Ranks
    • Stanford FSI

11. Ninth Party Congress declares Cultural Revolution “victory”

    Apr 1, 1969Labels: Ninth Party, Lin Biao

    • China org cn
    • Chinadaily

12. Lin Biao dies in disputed 1971 plane crash

    Sep 13, 1971Labels: Lin Biao

    • Lin Biao
    • Britannica

13. Zhou Enlai dies, triggering public mourning

    Jan 8, 1976Labels: Zhou Enlai

    • Britannica
    • Chinadaily

14. April 5 Tiananmen incident protests erupt

    Apr 5, 1976Labels: Tiananmen Square, April 5

    • Tiananmen 1976
    • Britannica

15. Mao Zedong dies, opening a succession crisis

    Sep 9, 1976Labels: Mao Zedong

    • UPI Archives
    • Mao funeral

16. Gang of Four arrested, ending Cultural Revolution era

    Oct 6, 1976Labels: Gang of, Jiang Qing

    • Gang of Four
    • AP History