Jiang Qing, wife of Mao Tse-tung, reached the highest power position, short of being President, and was the driving force behind China's Cultural Revolution; economic activity halted, ancient buildings, artifacts, antiques, books and paintings were destroyed, and the education system came to a virtual halt; many intellectuals sent to prison camps. Millions had their human rights annulled; more were forcibly displaced. Estimates of death toll: 500,000 to 3 million, 36 million persecuted.
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