What effects did the Cultural Revolution have on China?
Lindsey, you have your time periods mixed up – the Chinese Cultural Revolution did not occur during World War I (1914-1918), nor did it occur during World War II (1939-1945). If you are referring to the Revolution which brought the Chinese Communist Party into power, it came after a 20-year long civil war with the Chinese Nationalist Party, from 1927 – 1949. Therefore, this revolution did not take place during World War I, but during World War II, the two sides (Communists and Nationalists) did fight each other despite the agreement to stop fighting and fight the Japanese who had invaded China in 1937. After WW II, the fighting resumed, and the Chinese Communist Party was victorious in October of 1949. This is the date of the founding of the People’s Republic of China (October 10th). In fact, the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution (as it was called in China) began in October of 1966, and its effects could be felt in China all the way up until 1976.
