Mao dies, 1976
-There was a bit of struggle for power after Mao including his wife (gang of 4)
-Chairman Hua takes over and he puts less emphasis on heavy industry
-Workers were paid for work done
-Laid the groundwork for the return to capitalism that begins in the 1980's under Deng Xiaoping
-Chairman Hua takes over and he puts less emphasis on heavy industry
-Workers were paid for work done
-Laid the groundwork for the return to capitalism that begins in the 1980's under Deng Xiaoping
summary
Gang of Four was the most powerful members of a radical political elite convicted for implementing the harsh policies directed by Chinese Communist Party (CCP) chairman Mao Zedong during the Cultural Revolution (1966–76). The group included Mao’s third wife, Jiang Qing, and Wang Hongwen, Zhang Chunqiao, and Yao Wenyuan. Their backgrounds were similar in that prior to 1966 all four were low- or middle-ranking officials who lacked leverage within the existing power structure. Shared traits included their ability to manipulate the mass media, their good standing with Mao, and their dislike of and subsequent desire to overthrow moderate government officials who clustered around Liu Shaoqi and Deng Xiaoping.