Chinese Cultural Revolution

(Close reading) What is the main message of the song?

The main message of this song is to stand up and revolt against the old bureaucracy.

(Sourcing) Do you find these accounts reliable? Why or why not? Explain using evidence from the documents.

I find these accounts credible because they are first-hand sources from people that were experiencing the events then.

(Sourcing) What was the purpose of Mao's Little Red Book?

The purpose of Mao's Little Red Book was a source of inspiration and guidance for members of the Red Guard during the Cultural Revolution.

Why did Chinese youth get swept up in the Cultural Revolution? (3-5 sentences)

The youth got caught up with the Cultural Revolution because they were taught that joining the Red Guards was a good idea. Mao kept telling the youth that they could change China even the world. The youth listened to whatever Mao had to say to them. They did what Mao said because they wanted to show loyalty to him.

(Sourcing) How are Documents C and D similar types of sources?

They are both first-person letters about times during the revolution.

(Close reading) Rae Yang (Doc. C) and Fan Cau (Doc. D) both wrote dazibao. Yang denounced her teacher and Fan denounced her parents. Explain one way that their actions were similar and one way that their actions differed.

They both were mad at someone, they both wrote a letters.

Why might a young person in 1966 want to sing this song?

They would want to sing this song because young people at that time thought Mao wa important to China's future. The young people thought he was important because through the united efforts of the younger people and all of his people, China became strong and prosperous.

(Sourcing) Who wrote the song? Why do you think the song was written?

This song was written by the People's Liberation Army Songs Editorial Department sometime around 1967. The song could be a perspective of what the Red guards go through, to express their world-view and self-image through singing.

(Context) According to these two documents, what are some reasons why young people joined the Red Guards?

Those who joined the Red Guards because they were poor.

(Close Reading) What are two reasons that Mao thought young people were important to China's future?

Two reasons that Mao thought young people were important to China's future because we cannot change this situation radically in a short time, and that only through the united efforts of our younger generation and all our people.

How might a young person living in 1964 have felt upon reading these quotes?

Young people living in these times may felt like all of the future relied on them while reading these quotes. They could have felt scared that they are going to make their future what they care about.