Social Effects

(Student "Red Guards" in Tiananmen Square in 1966) © Zheng Yongqi

Propaganda has made many drastic differences on the Social Effects, as well as the people's way of life. Propaganda made people change the way they live, work, attend school, On August 16, 1966 11 million Red Guards had gathered in the Tiananmen Square to hear the words of Mao. Red Guards started to expand their areas of authority and accelerated their purging actions.

(These Posters list "counterrevolutionary" names click here)

With the help of Mao's expert on propaganda; Kang Sheng, the Red Guards began by passing out leaflets, putting up posters, and reciting speeches spreading Communist propaganda, and posting the names of supposed "counterrevolutionaries" on bulletin boards. Not only were the Red Guards involved, even ordinary citizens started turning against each other.

(The "Sweep Away All Monster and Demons" poster 1966)

"Monsters and Demons" (niugui sheshen) was the term used to vilify specialists, scholars, authorities and people who entrenched themselves in ideological as well as cultural positions during the Cultural Revolution. After the publication of the editorial "Sweep Away All Monsters and Demons" in People's Daily on 1 June 1966, and after it was rebroadcast and reprinted, the Red Guards started a huge purge which swept the country, "dragging out" and prosecuting all those ostensibly fitting the description.
The propaganda Mao used caused people to go much out of control. Soon, the Red Guards took over China and became its foremost authority. The people labeled "bourgeoisie" were sentenced and beaten without trial and accused for being "counterrevolutionary." The laws were nearly all broken, the police were no longer effective in enforcing laws. The Red Guards soon started burning temples, mosques, and churches. By the end of 1966, Red Guards had started a huge campaign in destroying art, artifacts, ancient scrolls, and books. Monks, nuns, and missionaries were criticized, purged, and later sent to the labor camps. Even students tortured and beat their own teachers in humiliation. Mao issued a rule that the police could not intervene against the Red Guard's actions and tactics. If the police did interfere, they would be labeled "counterrevolutionary."

He also sent the students to the countryside to be reeducated by the peasants. Mostly, the students did farming. Most of what the peasants taught was not useful to the students at all. Many died due to the hard work and lack of food. This was the way of life for many people during the Cultural Revolution and many were affected by the propaganda Kang and Mao imposed on the people.