As Mao’s uneasiness within his own party continued, and his thoughts of capitalist intrusion continued, he turned to the Red Guards. The Red Guards were middle-school students joined also by some university students, who were recruited by Maoist’s to put on political demonstrations on Mao’s behalf. The Red Guards were pivotal in beginning the Cultural Revolution, and incidentally played a large part in ending it.Sworn on protecting Chairman Mao Red Guards and other rebels caused havoc and bombarded the regular party headquarters in Beijing and those at the regional and provincial levels, meaning the Red Guards verbally assailed any of Mao Zedong’s rivals.
During the early months of the revolution Mao welcomed millions of Red Guards to Beijing, where the heart of the Revolution was. He made appearances and reviewed their mass gatherings, did drive by’s in an open Jeep, and even met some of his esteemed Red Guards in person.
Red Guard activities were promoted as a reflection of Mao’s policy of destroying anything that was counterrevolutionary and getting rid of anything that seemed capitalist or anti-socialist to Mao. However things eventually got out of hand when different Red Guards had differing opinions on how China should continue forward. The Red Guards destroyed cultural artifacts and attack intellectuals resulting in tens of thousands being killed, and millions losing their reputations. Eventually Red Guards arrested Liu Shaoqi and he died in prison, with Mao Zedong’s main political opponent gone there was no more reason for Mao to continue his purges and the Cultural Revolution came to an end.