The Chinese Cultural Revolution (Milestones in Modern World History)

Slavicek, Louise Chipley

3.43

7 ratings by Goodreads

9781604132786: The Chinese Cultural Revolution (Milestones in Modern World History)

ISBN 10: 1604132787 ISBN 13: 9781604132786

Publisher: Chelsea House Publications, 2010

As one of history's most horrific political upheavals, the Cultural Revolution began in 1966, when the Chinese Communist Party officially launched the radical movement on the orders of its autocratic chairman, Mao Zedong. He intended for the movement to revitalize China's revolutionary fervor while simultaneously accelerating the country's evolution into a true communist utopia. China's young people became the advance guard for this new revolution, forming themselves into paramilitary Red Guard units. These adolescent shock troops humiliated, beat, and murdered teachers, intellectuals, local party officials, and others whom they judged to be insufficiently devoted to Mao and his radical ideals. By the time the Cultural Revolution finally ended in 1976, it had claimed the lives of some 3 to 4 million Chinese and left many millions more physically or psychologically scarred. In this new title, learn how this sweeping policy changed the course of Chinese history in the 20th century.

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From School Library Journal:

Grade 7–10—Spanning from 1966 until Mao's death a decade later, China's cultural revolution remains "one of history's most horrific political and social upheavals." Starting with a brief history of 20th-century China, the book discusses the political paranoia and machinations that set it into motion. Slavicek clearly explains this complex and confusing time for readers with little to no background in modern Chinese history, covering the social, economic, and political aspects of the era. The book is at its best when explaining Mao's political maneuvering. Numerous pull-out boxes provide context about and excerpts from primary sources. The final chapter offers a short overview of post-Mao China, explaining the country's economic growth and continued political oppression. In addition to the cited academic sources, the further-reading list gives many books and Web sites appropriate for students. With the number of memoirs coming out for middle grade and teen readers, such as Moying Li's Snow Falling in Spring (Farrar, 2008), Da Chen's China's Son: Growing Up in the Cultural Revolution (Delacorte, 2001), and Ji-li Jiang's Red Scarf Girl (HarperCollins, 1997), this welcome title provides much-needed context.—Jennifer Rothschild, Prince George's County Memorial Library System, Oxon Hill, MD
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