The History Report
The newscast project was the final, and largest, piece of the revolution project. The goal of the newscast was to compare the French Revolution with the Chinese Cultural Revolution, as if it was a news broadcast. One of the requirements was that the reporters travel through time. (Naturally, this was not achieved, but with skillful use of a green screen and some carefully chosen names, it was believable.) Below is the newscast, in its entirety, and the complete transcript of the broadcast, as well as the annotated source list.
Complete Transcript
Ianto Jones: Good evening and welcome to The History Report. On last week’s segment, we investigated the whale hunting practices of the early 19th century and compared them to those of today. Tonight we’ll be discussing the similarities between the French Revolution and the Chinese Cultural Revolution.
Suzie Costello: We have, of course, all heard of the French Revolution, that bloody toppling of the French government in which the heads of practically the entire aristocracy were chopped off.
Ianto Jones: What caused it, though? To tell us, we have Gwen Cooper, live from 1789 at the Storming of the Bastille.
Gwen Cooper: ...thanks Ianto. Yes, here I am at the Storming of the Bastille, when the lower class attacked the Bastille Prison, freeing the inmates and obtaining many valuable weapons housed there. Here in France, the social climate is heated, to say the least. Over the past few decades, the monarchy has become more and more withdrawn from the rest of the population. Along with the clergy, they have been raising taxes and prices and using the collected revenues to build palaces and pay servants to hand them glasses of hot chocolate. The lower classes have gotten angrier at the monarchy, and today, the Storming of the Bastille, marks a turning point for the country. I’m here with Germaine Giroux, one of the revolutionaries working here to bring down the Bastille. Mr. Giroux, what exactly are you trying to accomplish today?
Germaine Giroux: This prison is a symbol of everything we hate about the monarchy. Destroying the Bastille will let the aristocracy know we are serious about demanding our rights. The prison also houses a lot of weapons and ammunition. If they refuse to hear our demands, we will send them running!
Gwen Cooper: And what are your demands, exactly?
Germaine Giroux: Well, we commoners are fed up with the nobles living lives of luxury while we sleep in the streets and starve to death. This is our only way to rebel against them. We must resort to violence to demonstrate the seriousness of our situation?
Gwen Cooper: Today, July 14th, the lower class attacks the prison. This event can probably be called the beginning of the French Revolution. Having begun to realize that they could change the way their country was run, the commoners mobilized to act upon this realization. Certainly, some of their inspiration came from the American Revolution, to which, ironically, the French government had contributed enormously. The expenses of that war ultimately buried France in debt, which led to rising food prices and increased taxes, both of which would cause the lower classes to revolt.
Gwen Cooper: Back to you, Ianto.
Ianto Jones: Thank you, Gwen.
Ianto Jones: Curiously enough, there are many similarities between the French Revolution and the Chinese Cultural Revolution, which occurred almost 200 years later.
Suzie Costello: More on that after the break!
* * *
Ianto Jones: Welcome back to The History Report! If you’re just joining us, we’re reporting on the social context of the French Revolution and comparing it to that of the Chinese Cultural Revolution.
Suzie Costello: So just what are the similarities between the two revolutions? Let’s take it to our reporter Jack Harkness.
Jack Harkness: Thank you, Suzie. Like the French Revolution, the Chinese Cultural Revolution was inspired by the desire for a different form of government. Chairman Mao Zedong, who wanted to purge China of capitalism, set the Cultural Revolution into motion. His goal was to purify China's communist government. Through the actions of his supporters, known as Red Guards, Mao purged the nation of anything that was remotely considered to be capitalist. Today I’m here with Xiaoming Lin, a member of Mao Zedong’s Red Guard. Could you describe for us the work that you’ve been doing with the Red Guards?
Xiaoming Lin: Certainly — we have been working to eradicate the Four Olds from society. We aim to make China red from the inside out.
Jack Harkness: What exactly are the “Four Olds”?
Xiaoming Lin: Old customs, habits, culture and ideas of Chinese society. As Chairman Mao’s Red soldiers, we work to purge these old ideals from China’s culture.
Jack Harkness: And why, exactly, are you working to achieve this?
Xiaoming Lin: The form of government Chairman Mao is working toward is perfect. Once we successfully eliminate all the old ideals and China is made red, we shall focus our energies on making the rest of the world follow our example.
Jack Harkness: How will the change in government benefit you?
Xiaoming Lin: The new form of government will be far better for the people of China. We’ll each work for ourselves and the rest of the nation. This change in government will bring prosperity and well-being for the entire nation. All individuals will be equal and will reap the same benefits as everyone else.
Jack Harkness: It sounds like you’re pretty enthusiastic about this significant change. Thank you for your time.
Jack Harkness: That about wraps it up here. Back to the station for more on this Revolution special!
Ianto Jones: Thanks, Jack.
Suzie Costello: We have with us in the studio eminent historian Owen Harper, who’s here today to give us a better idea of just how the two revolutions can be connected. Care to shed some light on the situation, Mr. Harper?
Owen Harper: Of course, Suzie. In order to get a better idea of how the two are related as a whole, we need to look at certain details of them that can be connected.
Ianto Jones: So what are these aspects? What can be connected between the two revolutions?
Owen Harper: Well, there’s the general purpose of each, for one thing.
Ianto Jones: How are they similar? They’re entirely different: in the French Revolution, the general population was trying to overthrow the government, and in the Chinese revolution, the government was basically trying to clean itself up!
Owen Harper: True, but in both cases, they wanted the same outcome: a better government, better suited to the majority of people.
Suzie Costello: That makes sense. But that can’t be the only connection.
Owen Harper: Quite right! There’s another aspect of similarity as well, revolving around the revolutionary literature of the two periods: The French had Les Droits de l’Homme (or The Rights of Man), and the Chinese had Quotations from Chairman Mao, also commonly called the Little Red Book.
Ianto Jones: So how do they relate to each other?
Owen Harper: Both publications at least partially caused their respective revolutions. In the case of the French Revolution, the rights crafted by the lower classes were their inspiration for changing the way their country was run. In the case of the Chinese Revolution, The Little Red Book, written and published by the government, galvanized many people to join the forces of the revolution and work to change the Chinese culture.
Ianto Jones: Were these publications the forerunners of Facebook and Twitter? It’s interesting that media was so important then, as even fifty years later, today’s social media are crucial to the uprisings and protests happening currently. Were there any overarching themes that connect the French Revolution with the Chinese Cultural Revolution?
Owen Harper: Actually, there were. Even though the two revolutions were almost completely different, as you pointed out earlier, many of the themes and events that inspired them were very similar. In particular, both revolutions were caused by great famine in their respective countries. As your reporter remarked, the French government had spent a lot of their resources on the American Revolution before their own revolution began.
Suzie Costello: Right. Because of this, the government became poor and had to raise taxes and the price of food.
Owen Harper: Exactly. The rising prices, combined with a bad grain harvest, made it almost impossible for the lower classes to get the food they needed to survive. Meanwhile, the aristocracy continued to live extravagantly, ignoring the pleas and the plight of the masses.
Suzie Costello: I guess it’s no wonder they caused the revolution! But what about China? How did that famine compare?
Owen Harper: The Great Chinese Famine, like the one in France, was also caused by a poor grain harvest. However, most witnesses and historians say that the Chinese Famine was mainly due to mismanagement of food and funds. Before Chairman Mao came to power, Chinese citizens were forced to cultivate acres upon acres of grain and produce, only to see it carted away to serve the rest of the nation. As we saw immediately before the French Revolution, multitudes of citizens starved to death because they weren’t allowed to partake of the food they had grown. The local leaders, on the other hand, enjoyed hearty meals and fine wine every night, thanks to the efforts of the lower class. Sound familiar?
Ianto Jones: Indeed! But how did the Chinese famine get resolved? Obviously, the famine in France was resolved through bloody revolution, but the Chinese Cultural Revolution occurred more in the ranks of the government than in the unhappy population.
Owen Harper: It was widely believed that the Great Chinese Famine was caused by the government’s mismanagement. The lower classes, believing that Chairman Mao had the power to end the famine, unconditionally supported his rise to power. The revolution then proceeded as he’d hoped.
Ianto Jones: So, Owen, what can you tell us about these results and those of the French Revolution? Did they effectively change the countries for the better?
Owen Harper: By its very definition, a revolution changes a country for the better, and this was true in France. Ideals of democracy, liberty, equality and free speech overtook the nation, and they continue today.
Suzie Costello: What about the Chinese Revolution? Were those outcomes as positive?
Owen Harper: That’s more complicated. Most of the world considers the Chinese Cultural Revolution a negative event, stifling independent thought and leading to the strengthening of communism within the country. Even the Chinese government still limits discussion about it.
Suzie Costello: So was the outcome entirely negative?
Owen Harper: Well, the majority of the Chinese middle class believe that the Revolution was actually positive, as the changes it brought about were very beneficial for that group of people, who enjoyed better working conditions, and enhanced prosperity.
Ianto Jones: It’s interesting that the rest of world disagrees. So, what do you think we can learn from studying these events?
Owen Harper: For me, the most interesting part of worldwide revolutions is that one often sparks another. Before the French Revolution, the citizens were inspired by the success of the American Revolution. The Chinese Cultural Revolution, strictly a result of Chairman Mao’s visions, didn’t resemble our concept of revolution today. However, countries all over the planet influence each other daily, in large matters like revolutions and uprisings, but also in smaller matters as well. The Chinese Cultural Revolution and the French Revolution are two of many monumental historical events that continue to influence countries today.
Suzie Costello: That’s fascinating, Owen. Thanks for coming today.
Owen Harper: It’s been a pleasure, thank you for having me.
Suzie Costello: That’s all for now folks, see you next time on The History Report.
Suzie Costello: We have, of course, all heard of the French Revolution, that bloody toppling of the French government in which the heads of practically the entire aristocracy were chopped off.
Ianto Jones: What caused it, though? To tell us, we have Gwen Cooper, live from 1789 at the Storming of the Bastille.
Gwen Cooper: ...thanks Ianto. Yes, here I am at the Storming of the Bastille, when the lower class attacked the Bastille Prison, freeing the inmates and obtaining many valuable weapons housed there. Here in France, the social climate is heated, to say the least. Over the past few decades, the monarchy has become more and more withdrawn from the rest of the population. Along with the clergy, they have been raising taxes and prices and using the collected revenues to build palaces and pay servants to hand them glasses of hot chocolate. The lower classes have gotten angrier at the monarchy, and today, the Storming of the Bastille, marks a turning point for the country. I’m here with Germaine Giroux, one of the revolutionaries working here to bring down the Bastille. Mr. Giroux, what exactly are you trying to accomplish today?
Germaine Giroux: This prison is a symbol of everything we hate about the monarchy. Destroying the Bastille will let the aristocracy know we are serious about demanding our rights. The prison also houses a lot of weapons and ammunition. If they refuse to hear our demands, we will send them running!
Gwen Cooper: And what are your demands, exactly?
Germaine Giroux: Well, we commoners are fed up with the nobles living lives of luxury while we sleep in the streets and starve to death. This is our only way to rebel against them. We must resort to violence to demonstrate the seriousness of our situation?
Gwen Cooper: Today, July 14th, the lower class attacks the prison. This event can probably be called the beginning of the French Revolution. Having begun to realize that they could change the way their country was run, the commoners mobilized to act upon this realization. Certainly, some of their inspiration came from the American Revolution, to which, ironically, the French government had contributed enormously. The expenses of that war ultimately buried France in debt, which led to rising food prices and increased taxes, both of which would cause the lower classes to revolt.
Gwen Cooper: Back to you, Ianto.
Ianto Jones: Thank you, Gwen.
Ianto Jones: Curiously enough, there are many similarities between the French Revolution and the Chinese Cultural Revolution, which occurred almost 200 years later.
Suzie Costello: More on that after the break!
* * *
Ianto Jones: Welcome back to The History Report! If you’re just joining us, we’re reporting on the social context of the French Revolution and comparing it to that of the Chinese Cultural Revolution.
Suzie Costello: So just what are the similarities between the two revolutions? Let’s take it to our reporter Jack Harkness.
Jack Harkness: Thank you, Suzie. Like the French Revolution, the Chinese Cultural Revolution was inspired by the desire for a different form of government. Chairman Mao Zedong, who wanted to purge China of capitalism, set the Cultural Revolution into motion. His goal was to purify China's communist government. Through the actions of his supporters, known as Red Guards, Mao purged the nation of anything that was remotely considered to be capitalist. Today I’m here with Xiaoming Lin, a member of Mao Zedong’s Red Guard. Could you describe for us the work that you’ve been doing with the Red Guards?
Xiaoming Lin: Certainly — we have been working to eradicate the Four Olds from society. We aim to make China red from the inside out.
Jack Harkness: What exactly are the “Four Olds”?
Xiaoming Lin: Old customs, habits, culture and ideas of Chinese society. As Chairman Mao’s Red soldiers, we work to purge these old ideals from China’s culture.
Jack Harkness: And why, exactly, are you working to achieve this?
Xiaoming Lin: The form of government Chairman Mao is working toward is perfect. Once we successfully eliminate all the old ideals and China is made red, we shall focus our energies on making the rest of the world follow our example.
Jack Harkness: How will the change in government benefit you?
Xiaoming Lin: The new form of government will be far better for the people of China. We’ll each work for ourselves and the rest of the nation. This change in government will bring prosperity and well-being for the entire nation. All individuals will be equal and will reap the same benefits as everyone else.
Jack Harkness: It sounds like you’re pretty enthusiastic about this significant change. Thank you for your time.
Jack Harkness: That about wraps it up here. Back to the station for more on this Revolution special!
Ianto Jones: Thanks, Jack.
Suzie Costello: We have with us in the studio eminent historian Owen Harper, who’s here today to give us a better idea of just how the two revolutions can be connected. Care to shed some light on the situation, Mr. Harper?
Owen Harper: Of course, Suzie. In order to get a better idea of how the two are related as a whole, we need to look at certain details of them that can be connected.
Ianto Jones: So what are these aspects? What can be connected between the two revolutions?
Owen Harper: Well, there’s the general purpose of each, for one thing.
Ianto Jones: How are they similar? They’re entirely different: in the French Revolution, the general population was trying to overthrow the government, and in the Chinese revolution, the government was basically trying to clean itself up!
Owen Harper: True, but in both cases, they wanted the same outcome: a better government, better suited to the majority of people.
Suzie Costello: That makes sense. But that can’t be the only connection.
Owen Harper: Quite right! There’s another aspect of similarity as well, revolving around the revolutionary literature of the two periods: The French had Les Droits de l’Homme (or The Rights of Man), and the Chinese had Quotations from Chairman Mao, also commonly called the Little Red Book.
Ianto Jones: So how do they relate to each other?
Owen Harper: Both publications at least partially caused their respective revolutions. In the case of the French Revolution, the rights crafted by the lower classes were their inspiration for changing the way their country was run. In the case of the Chinese Revolution, The Little Red Book, written and published by the government, galvanized many people to join the forces of the revolution and work to change the Chinese culture.
Ianto Jones: Were these publications the forerunners of Facebook and Twitter? It’s interesting that media was so important then, as even fifty years later, today’s social media are crucial to the uprisings and protests happening currently. Were there any overarching themes that connect the French Revolution with the Chinese Cultural Revolution?
Owen Harper: Actually, there were. Even though the two revolutions were almost completely different, as you pointed out earlier, many of the themes and events that inspired them were very similar. In particular, both revolutions were caused by great famine in their respective countries. As your reporter remarked, the French government had spent a lot of their resources on the American Revolution before their own revolution began.
Suzie Costello: Right. Because of this, the government became poor and had to raise taxes and the price of food.
Owen Harper: Exactly. The rising prices, combined with a bad grain harvest, made it almost impossible for the lower classes to get the food they needed to survive. Meanwhile, the aristocracy continued to live extravagantly, ignoring the pleas and the plight of the masses.
Suzie Costello: I guess it’s no wonder they caused the revolution! But what about China? How did that famine compare?
Owen Harper: The Great Chinese Famine, like the one in France, was also caused by a poor grain harvest. However, most witnesses and historians say that the Chinese Famine was mainly due to mismanagement of food and funds. Before Chairman Mao came to power, Chinese citizens were forced to cultivate acres upon acres of grain and produce, only to see it carted away to serve the rest of the nation. As we saw immediately before the French Revolution, multitudes of citizens starved to death because they weren’t allowed to partake of the food they had grown. The local leaders, on the other hand, enjoyed hearty meals and fine wine every night, thanks to the efforts of the lower class. Sound familiar?
Ianto Jones: Indeed! But how did the Chinese famine get resolved? Obviously, the famine in France was resolved through bloody revolution, but the Chinese Cultural Revolution occurred more in the ranks of the government than in the unhappy population.
Owen Harper: It was widely believed that the Great Chinese Famine was caused by the government’s mismanagement. The lower classes, believing that Chairman Mao had the power to end the famine, unconditionally supported his rise to power. The revolution then proceeded as he’d hoped.
Ianto Jones: So, Owen, what can you tell us about these results and those of the French Revolution? Did they effectively change the countries for the better?
Owen Harper: By its very definition, a revolution changes a country for the better, and this was true in France. Ideals of democracy, liberty, equality and free speech overtook the nation, and they continue today.
Suzie Costello: What about the Chinese Revolution? Were those outcomes as positive?
Owen Harper: That’s more complicated. Most of the world considers the Chinese Cultural Revolution a negative event, stifling independent thought and leading to the strengthening of communism within the country. Even the Chinese government still limits discussion about it.
Suzie Costello: So was the outcome entirely negative?
Owen Harper: Well, the majority of the Chinese middle class believe that the Revolution was actually positive, as the changes it brought about were very beneficial for that group of people, who enjoyed better working conditions, and enhanced prosperity.
Ianto Jones: It’s interesting that the rest of world disagrees. So, what do you think we can learn from studying these events?
Owen Harper: For me, the most interesting part of worldwide revolutions is that one often sparks another. Before the French Revolution, the citizens were inspired by the success of the American Revolution. The Chinese Cultural Revolution, strictly a result of Chairman Mao’s visions, didn’t resemble our concept of revolution today. However, countries all over the planet influence each other daily, in large matters like revolutions and uprisings, but also in smaller matters as well. The Chinese Cultural Revolution and the French Revolution are two of many monumental historical events that continue to influence countries today.
Suzie Costello: That’s fascinating, Owen. Thanks for coming today.
Owen Harper: It’s been a pleasure, thank you for having me.
Suzie Costello: That’s all for now folks, see you next time on The History Report.
Annotated Bibliography
"Cawthorne, Nigel. Tyrants: History's 100 Most Evil Despots and Dictators. London: Arcturus Limited, 2004. Print.
This chapter of the book not only describes the rule of Mao Zedong as chairman of the Chinese Communist Party, but also other events in his life from the time he was born. This is a credible source and it gives a good picture of Mao Tse-Tung’s association with the Chinese Communist Party. Although the source may be a little bit biased because it’s titled Tyrants: History's 100 Most Evil Despots and Dictators, which may make Mao Tse-Tung sound more evil than he really was.
"China's Communist Revolution." BBC News. BBC, 6 Oct. 1999. Web. 19 Oct. 2012. <http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/special_report/1999/09/99/china_50/little.htm>.
This page is a BBC news report that covers 50 years of communism in China. The source contains a lot of credible facts concerning the Chinese Revolution. This page is, in fact, a news resource. This means that there could be some bias associated to the report, although the BBC is known to be a reputable organization.
"The Chinese Revolution of 1949." Office of the Historian. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Oct. 2012. <http://history.state.gov/milestones/1945-1952/ChineseRev>.
This source is a U.S. government page that recounts the time of the Chinese Revolution. It tells readers of many issues that arose during the revolution. The fact that this source is a government-made page makes it both credible and the opposite. It could be a good source because it is government made, and the government wouldn’t want to put out false information. It also could be a bad source, because American-Chinese relations were turbulent at the time, and the article could be more supportive of the U.S. side.
"Chinese Cultural Studies: Concise Political History of China." Compton's Living Encyclopedia. Compton's Learning Company, 1996. 22 August 1999 America Online. <http://acc6.its.brooklyn.cuny.edu/~phalsall/texts/chinhist.html>
This source is an encyclopedia entry with brief paragraphs outlining each era in Chinese history. The source was used for finding policy changes that were implemented during and after the Chinese Cultural Revolution. The website was maintained by Paul Halsall, the editor of the Internet History Sourcebooks Project, of the City University of New York and Fordham University, so the source is very credible.
Galduroz, Michael, Alex Busetto, and Yuki Satou. "Discovering China: The Cultural Revolution." ThinkQuest. Oracle Foundation, n.d. Web. 12 Oct. 2012.
<http://library.thinkquest.org/26469/cultural-revolution/history.html>.
This source is put together by the Oracle ThinkQuest Education Foundation. It has a lot of facts about every aspect of the Chinese Revolution. This page is full of information, but is it credible? Looking through the page I strongly believe it is. First of all, the source is meant to be educational. Therefore there should be little to no bias present in the articles. The source also looks very organized and professional, which is always a good sign. There is a small list of other documents at the bottom that one could look at for more information. Those three observations can guarantee the credibility of this source.
"History." GOV.cn. The Central People's Government of the People's Republic of China, 16 Jan. 2006. Web. 19 Oct. 2012. <http://english.gov.cn/2005-08/06/content_24233.htm>.
This page is on the website of the Chinese government (or, more accurately, The Central People’s Government of the People’s Republic of China), and it provides an overview of the past few thousands of years of Chinese history, including those around the time of the Revolution. While many of these sources are from outside, largely unbiased perspectives, this comes from their post-revolution government, so it is important to remember the information included in it may not be completely reliable.
James, David. "The Chinese Revolution." The Chinese Revolution. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Oct. 2012. <http://www.marxist.com/TUT/TUT4-1.html>.
This article depicts the events of The Chinese Revolution and the people involved. It has quite a bit of information but it doesn’t seem very credible and the format makes it difficult to read. I wouldn’t rely on any information from it unless the same information was able to be found in a second source.
Joseph, William A. "China’s Cultural Revolution: A Brief Overview." Serve the People! Wellesley College, 8 Aug. 2003. Web. 19 Oct. 2012. <http://www.wellesley.edu/Polisci/wj/China1972/brief-intro.html>.
This article, written by a professor of political science at Wellesley, provides a short but comprehensive overview of the Cultural Revolution in China, dividing it into “phases” (e.g. mass, military, succession) and explaining the reasons Mao had for his revolutionary actions. It briefly covers topics such as the Red Guards, the People’s Liberation Army, and the Gang of Four. The source is published, sponsored and maintained by Wellesley College Department of Political Science, so it is definitely credible.
"Mao Zedong (Chinese Leader)." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 19 Oct. 2012. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/363395/Mao-Zedong>.
This article on Mao Zedong includes many different aspects of his life. This timeline of events starts from when he was just a child and goes through his time as the leader of China. It goes into great depth about many different events throughout his life, for example, describing what it took for him to come into power and his relationship with the Chinese Communist Party.
"Morning Sun." Morning Sun. Long Bow Group, Inc., 2003. Web. 12 Oct. 2012. <http://www.morningsun.org/index.html>.
This website, along with a documentary film of the same name, “approaches the period from a panoptic perspective, encompassing a broad overview while allowing the user to focus in on individual histories, narratives and events.” The website is separated into sections, each one focusing on important perspectives of the Revolution. From the stories and diary entries of real people living during the period, to the ideals of Chairman Mao and his communist movement, this source details important information that might be overlooked otherwise. The documentary and website are produced and maintained, respectively, by the Long Bow Group, a non-profit organisation that has produced 13 documentary films that have broadcasted on PBS and BBC, both credible sources.
Yin, Sim Chi. "A Panoramic View of China’s Cultural Revolution." Lens Blog. The New York Times, 10 Sept. 2012. Web. 19 Oct. 2012. <http://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/09/10/through-a-thwarted-cinematographers-eye-chinas-cultural-revolution/>.
Li Zhensheng was a photojournalist for a newspaper in Northern China. He documented the Chinese Cultural Revolution through his camera. His photographs show many scenes from the revolution, most documenting the cult-like mentality of the population during this period. Naturally, the photographs are a primary source, taken during the revolution and hidden until it was safe to show them. The photographs are an original, primary source that weren’t changed during the Revolution era for propaganda purposes.
This chapter of the book not only describes the rule of Mao Zedong as chairman of the Chinese Communist Party, but also other events in his life from the time he was born. This is a credible source and it gives a good picture of Mao Tse-Tung’s association with the Chinese Communist Party. Although the source may be a little bit biased because it’s titled Tyrants: History's 100 Most Evil Despots and Dictators, which may make Mao Tse-Tung sound more evil than he really was.
"China's Communist Revolution." BBC News. BBC, 6 Oct. 1999. Web. 19 Oct. 2012. <http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/special_report/1999/09/99/china_50/little.htm>.
This page is a BBC news report that covers 50 years of communism in China. The source contains a lot of credible facts concerning the Chinese Revolution. This page is, in fact, a news resource. This means that there could be some bias associated to the report, although the BBC is known to be a reputable organization.
"The Chinese Revolution of 1949." Office of the Historian. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Oct. 2012. <http://history.state.gov/milestones/1945-1952/ChineseRev>.
This source is a U.S. government page that recounts the time of the Chinese Revolution. It tells readers of many issues that arose during the revolution. The fact that this source is a government-made page makes it both credible and the opposite. It could be a good source because it is government made, and the government wouldn’t want to put out false information. It also could be a bad source, because American-Chinese relations were turbulent at the time, and the article could be more supportive of the U.S. side.
"Chinese Cultural Studies: Concise Political History of China." Compton's Living Encyclopedia. Compton's Learning Company, 1996. 22 August 1999 America Online. <http://acc6.its.brooklyn.cuny.edu/~phalsall/texts/chinhist.html>
This source is an encyclopedia entry with brief paragraphs outlining each era in Chinese history. The source was used for finding policy changes that were implemented during and after the Chinese Cultural Revolution. The website was maintained by Paul Halsall, the editor of the Internet History Sourcebooks Project, of the City University of New York and Fordham University, so the source is very credible.
Galduroz, Michael, Alex Busetto, and Yuki Satou. "Discovering China: The Cultural Revolution." ThinkQuest. Oracle Foundation, n.d. Web. 12 Oct. 2012.
<http://library.thinkquest.org/26469/cultural-revolution/history.html>.
This source is put together by the Oracle ThinkQuest Education Foundation. It has a lot of facts about every aspect of the Chinese Revolution. This page is full of information, but is it credible? Looking through the page I strongly believe it is. First of all, the source is meant to be educational. Therefore there should be little to no bias present in the articles. The source also looks very organized and professional, which is always a good sign. There is a small list of other documents at the bottom that one could look at for more information. Those three observations can guarantee the credibility of this source.
"History." GOV.cn. The Central People's Government of the People's Republic of China, 16 Jan. 2006. Web. 19 Oct. 2012. <http://english.gov.cn/2005-08/06/content_24233.htm>.
This page is on the website of the Chinese government (or, more accurately, The Central People’s Government of the People’s Republic of China), and it provides an overview of the past few thousands of years of Chinese history, including those around the time of the Revolution. While many of these sources are from outside, largely unbiased perspectives, this comes from their post-revolution government, so it is important to remember the information included in it may not be completely reliable.
James, David. "The Chinese Revolution." The Chinese Revolution. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Oct. 2012. <http://www.marxist.com/TUT/TUT4-1.html>.
This article depicts the events of The Chinese Revolution and the people involved. It has quite a bit of information but it doesn’t seem very credible and the format makes it difficult to read. I wouldn’t rely on any information from it unless the same information was able to be found in a second source.
Joseph, William A. "China’s Cultural Revolution: A Brief Overview." Serve the People! Wellesley College, 8 Aug. 2003. Web. 19 Oct. 2012. <http://www.wellesley.edu/Polisci/wj/China1972/brief-intro.html>.
This article, written by a professor of political science at Wellesley, provides a short but comprehensive overview of the Cultural Revolution in China, dividing it into “phases” (e.g. mass, military, succession) and explaining the reasons Mao had for his revolutionary actions. It briefly covers topics such as the Red Guards, the People’s Liberation Army, and the Gang of Four. The source is published, sponsored and maintained by Wellesley College Department of Political Science, so it is definitely credible.
"Mao Zedong (Chinese Leader)." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 19 Oct. 2012. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/363395/Mao-Zedong>.
This article on Mao Zedong includes many different aspects of his life. This timeline of events starts from when he was just a child and goes through his time as the leader of China. It goes into great depth about many different events throughout his life, for example, describing what it took for him to come into power and his relationship with the Chinese Communist Party.
"Morning Sun." Morning Sun. Long Bow Group, Inc., 2003. Web. 12 Oct. 2012. <http://www.morningsun.org/index.html>.
This website, along with a documentary film of the same name, “approaches the period from a panoptic perspective, encompassing a broad overview while allowing the user to focus in on individual histories, narratives and events.” The website is separated into sections, each one focusing on important perspectives of the Revolution. From the stories and diary entries of real people living during the period, to the ideals of Chairman Mao and his communist movement, this source details important information that might be overlooked otherwise. The documentary and website are produced and maintained, respectively, by the Long Bow Group, a non-profit organisation that has produced 13 documentary films that have broadcasted on PBS and BBC, both credible sources.
Yin, Sim Chi. "A Panoramic View of China’s Cultural Revolution." Lens Blog. The New York Times, 10 Sept. 2012. Web. 19 Oct. 2012. <http://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/09/10/through-a-thwarted-cinematographers-eye-chinas-cultural-revolution/>.
Li Zhensheng was a photojournalist for a newspaper in Northern China. He documented the Chinese Cultural Revolution through his camera. His photographs show many scenes from the revolution, most documenting the cult-like mentality of the population during this period. Naturally, the photographs are a primary source, taken during the revolution and hidden until it was safe to show them. The photographs are an original, primary source that weren’t changed during the Revolution era for propaganda purposes.