Political developments: issues of leadership and purges of the CCP; the 100 Flowers campaign; Mao's resignation as Chairman of PRC
Mao used purges and political campaigns to control the Communist Party and silence critics. His 100 Flowers campaign briefly invited open criticism, then crushed those who spoke out.
Real World
The Hundred Flowers campaign resembled a trap: historian Frank Dikötter estimates that around 550,000 intellectuals who responded to Mao's invitation to criticise the party were subsequently labelled 'rightists' — sent to labour camps or stripped of their jobs in the Anti-Rightist Campaign that followed.
Exam Focus
Avoid stating Mao 'planned' the Hundred Flowers as a deliberate trap unless you can support it — examiners penalise unsupported assertions about intent.
Essay Framework
Use PEEL to structure every paragraph. Tap each step for guidance and an example.
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