tHE GANG OF FOUR

JIANG QING

• An actress
• 4th wife of Mao.
• Took control of national media
• Became increasingly politically important

YAO WENYUAN

• He was Mao's chief propagandist
• He was a radical party member from Shanghai
• Member of the Politburo

WANG HONGWEN

• A trade union leader
• A member of the Politburo
• A member of its Standing committee

ZHANG CHUNQIAO

• Deputy secretary of Shanghai's municipal committee
• Member of the Politburo
• Of the Standing Committee

GANG OF FOUR

• Created by Mao
• Revolutionary approach to politics and economy
• Little support, were not very strong
• Power was within the cultural and media organizations

WHEN?

• November, 1966
• During the cultural revolution

PRELUDE

• The leftists were led by Mao's wife
• Mao's health was worsening, struggle for power intensified
• Caused competitions between rightists and leftists

WHAT HAPPENED?

• After Mao's death Jiang Qing said she was successor
• However Hua was a rightist and had more power.
• The Gang planned to attempt a coup on October 6, 1976
• They were arrested.
• The trial was postponed until November 1980

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