In August 1966, Mao Zedong launched the Cultural Revolution. He encouraged the creation of “Red Guards” to punish those who were harboring counter-revolutionary tendencies. In the decade that followed, China was turned upside down as millions of Chinese youth attacked traditional standard bearers of power and authority – among them party leaders, teachers, and family members. This lesson explores the motivations of Chinese youth in participating in the Cultural Revolution. Through a series of primary documents, students consider what it may have been like to experience this tumultuous period of Chinese history.
[All materials updated on 6/10/2026.]
Image: Poster published by People's Fine Arts Publishing House in Shanghai, 1968. From the Library of Congress.
