The 'Up to the Mountains and Down to the Mountains' Campaign

What was the 'Up to the Mountains and Down to the Villages' campaign?

The 'Up to the Mountains and Down to the Villages' campaign encouraged young people to move to the country to learn the lifestyle of peasants.

When did the 'Up to the Mountains and Down to the Villages' campaign happen?

The campaign followed the purge of the Red Guards in 1968 and ran until the early 1970s.

Who took part in the 'Up to the Mountains and Down to the Villages' campaign?

The campaign was targeted at the youth, who had followed or supported the now-redundant Red Guard. It is estimated 17 million young people were involved in the campaign.

Why did the 'Up to the Mountains and Down to the Villages' campaign happen?

There were 4 main reasons Mao launched the campaign:

• ❖ To send the remaining Red Guards to remote areas, where less disruption and damage could be caused.
• ❖ To minimise unemployment levels in the cities.
• ❖ To increase control over the Red Guard, as the PLA had more communes in the countryside.
• ❖ To create a new revolutionary struggle and teach the youth about the peasantry.

What were the outcomes of the 'Up to the Mountains and Down to the Villages' campaign?

The policy was not an overwhelming success due to 2 main reasons:

• ❖ Young people did not enjoy peasant life. This experience made them question Mao's authority.
• ❖ The peasants showed some resistance to the scheme because it put more pressure on their food supply, by having to feed the Red Guard.