GANG OF FOUR

WHO

• Mao Zedong's last wife Jiang Qing
• Leading figure of the group, Zhang Chunqiao
• Yao Wenyuan
• Wang Hongwen

WHAT

• Came to prominence during the Cultural Revolution (1966-76)
• Were charged with a series of treasonous crimes.
• A leftist political faction of four Chinese Communist Party officials.
• controlled the Communist Party of China through the Cultural Revolution
• Their downfall in a coup d'état on October 6, 1976

WHAT CONT.

• Brought about major celebrations on the streets of Beijing
• Marked the end of a turbulent political era in China
• Mao in his last year turned against Jiang Qing and her associates
• after his death on 9 September 1976, they attempted to seize power

OUTCOME

• Immediately after the arrests, Hua Guofeng, Marshal Ye Jianying,
• Chen Yun and Li Xiannian formed the core of the next party leadership
• Jiang Qing and Zhang Chunqiao received death sentences that were later changed to life in prison
• Wang Hongwen and Yao Wenyuan were given life and twenty years
• All members of the Gang of Four have since died

MADE BY