Question
A revolution is not like gathering for dinner, sitting to write an essay, painting a picture, or sewing and doing embroidery; it is not so cultured, gentle, slow, restrained, and generous. A revolution is an uprising, and it is a violent act that involves one class overthrowing another.
—"Report on an Investigation of the Peasant
Movement in Hunan,”
Mao Zedong,
1927
How did the Cultural Revolution reflect the ideals expressed in Mao’s quotation?
Its policies only lasted as long as Chairman Mao was alive.
It led many people in China to question their faith in communism.
It caused great political, social, and economic upheaval.
It caused China’s new leaders to follow a different direction after Mao’s death.
Answers
GPT-4o mini
The Cultural Revolution in China, initiated by Mao Zedong in 1966 and lasting until his death in 1976, reflected the ideals expressed in Mao's quotation in several significant ways. The most direct connection is seen in the statement that "a revolution is an uprising, and it is a violent act that involves one class overthrowing another."
The Cultural Revolution was characterized by significant political, social, and economic upheaval as it sought to purge bourgeois elements from Chinese society and reinforce communist ideology. This upheaval involved violent confrontations and the mobilization of the youth (notably the Red Guards) against perceived enemies of the communist state, including intellectuals, party officials, and others who were deemed counter-revolutionary. The actions of the Red Guards exemplified the violent and chaotic nature of the Cultural Revolution, aligning with Mao's assertion that a revolution is not a gentle or cultured act.
So, among the provided options, the most fitting answer is:
**It caused great political, social, and economic upheaval.**
While the other options touch on consequences of the Cultural Revolution, the option about upheaval most directly connects to the essence of Mao’s definition of revolution as a violent class struggle.
The Cultural Revolution was characterized by significant political, social, and economic upheaval as it sought to purge bourgeois elements from Chinese society and reinforce communist ideology. This upheaval involved violent confrontations and the mobilization of the youth (notably the Red Guards) against perceived enemies of the communist state, including intellectuals, party officials, and others who were deemed counter-revolutionary. The actions of the Red Guards exemplified the violent and chaotic nature of the Cultural Revolution, aligning with Mao's assertion that a revolution is not a gentle or cultured act.
So, among the provided options, the most fitting answer is:
**It caused great political, social, and economic upheaval.**
While the other options touch on consequences of the Cultural Revolution, the option about upheaval most directly connects to the essence of Mao’s definition of revolution as a violent class struggle.