AQA A-LEVEL HISTORY 7042/2P Component 2P The Transformation of China, 1936–1997||MERGED||GRADED A+

Section A Answer Question 01. Source A From an interview with Jing Shenghong, an eminent Chinese historian, in China, in 2006. Jing describes events at Nanjing University on 3 June 1966, where he had been a student. Several professors were criticised at first. Among them was Professor Lin from the Philosophy department, Professor Hu from the Chinese Literature department and Professor Su from the Foreign Language department. All these professors were in their thirties. It was believed they were the masterminds of a poster campaign criticising the authority of the Party. After criticising the professors, the students started to criticise other groups. That was the first time I participated in such a session. If someone was selected as a target, all others were mobilised to attack him. The attackers always used the thinking, logic and language of ‘class struggle’. Your daily performance was assessed according to the revolutionary standard. Even some very private conversations were exposed by people you thought were friends, which made you feel vulnerable in public. When I saw the targets being criticised on stage, some of them even being beaten by the students, I became afraid. 5 10 Source B From a prepared speech given at the Central Work Conference, a national meeting of CCP delegates, by Deng Xiaoping, 23 October 1966. I must confess that not only have I not raised high the banner of Mao Zedong Thought, but I have not even lifted this banner up. I have a very inadequate grasp of Mao Zedong Thought. I have done little to spread it, nor do I apply it in my work. In matters concerning class struggle and struggle within the Party, I have consistently shown rightist tendencies. My distancing myself from the masses and lack of contact with reality is directly connected with my failure to follow Chairman Mao and my lack of proper study. Recent events have shown me to be an unreformed petit-bourgeois intellectual who has failed to pass the tests posed by socialism. I feel it would be damaging to the Party for me to continue in my present position. This is just an initial observation. I hope all comrades present will give their suggestions. Long live the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution! 5 10 3 IB/M/Jun23/7042/2P Turn over ► Source C From comments made at a meeting of the Politburo by Mao Zedong, 19 February 1967. The Central Cultural Revolution Group (CCRG) has been implementing the line adopted by the Central Committee in August 1966. Its errors amount to 1%, 2%, maybe 3% while it’s been correct up to 97% of the time. If someone opposes the CCRG, I will resolutely oppose him! You attempt to negate the Great Cultural Revolution, but you shall not succeed! Let’s tell Lin Biao that he’s not safe either. Some people are trying to grab his power, and he should be prepared! If the Great Cultural Revolution fails, he and I will withdraw from Beijing and go back to the mountains to fight a guerrilla war. You say that Jiang Qing and Chen Boda are no good; well, let’s make one of you the head of the CCRG and then arrest Chen Boda and Jiang Qing and have them executed! I’ll step down too, and then you can ask the USSR to send one of their agents to be Chairman. 5 10 0 1 With reference to these sources and your understanding of the historical context