Explanation: The era of Deng Xiaoping's paramount influence, often termed 'Dengist China,' is generally understood to encompass the period from Mao Zedong's death in 1976 until the Tiananmen Square protests and massacre in 1989.

Explanation: Following Mao Zedong's death, Hua Guofeng initially consolidated power and attempted to continue Maoist policies. Deng Xiaoping's reformist agenda gained prominence later, after a period of political maneuvering.

Explanation: The 'Two Whatevers' policy, which stated 'Whatever Chairman Mao said, we will say, and whatever Chairman Mao did, we will do,' was championed by Hua Guofeng, not Deng Xiaoping. It represented adherence to Maoist orthodoxy, contrasting with Deng's later emphasis on pragmatic reforms.

Explanation: The period immediately following the Cultural Revolution and Mao Zedong's death was characterized by a severely weakened and isolated Chinese economy and society, a direct consequence of years of political turmoil and ideological campaigns.

Explanation: In 1979, the Chinese government officially condemned the Cultural Revolution, characterizing it as an 'appalling catastrophe' and a severe setback, marking a significant repudiation of the Maoist era's tumultuous decade.

Explanation: Jiang Qing, a prominent member of the Gang of Four, was sentenced to life imprisonment following the trial of the Gang of Four. She did not receive a release and died by suicide in 1991.

Explanation: The Third Plenum of the 11th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, held in December 1978, marked a critical turning point by officially shifting the party's primary focus from continuous class struggle to the imperative of economic construction and modernization.

Explanation: The period commonly designated as 'Dengist China' spans from the death of Mao Zedong in 1976 up to the Tiananmen Square protests and massacre in 1989.

Explanation: Following Mao Zedong's death, Hua Guofeng, who assumed leadership, initially advocated for the continuation of Maoist policies, encapsulated in the 'Two Whatevers' doctrine.

Explanation: The 'Two Whatevers' policy, proclaimed by Hua Guofeng, represented a commitment to uphold all of Mao Zedong's directives and principles without deviation.

Explanation: In the immediate aftermath of the Cultural Revolution and Mao's death, China's economy and society were severely weakened, impoverished, and largely isolated from the international community due to prolonged political turmoil.

Explanation: Following a complex period of political maneuvering after Mao Zedong's death, Deng Xiaoping gradually consolidated power and emerged as the paramount leader of China.

Explanation: The Third Plenum of the 11th CCP Congress in December 1978 was a pivotal event that officially sanctioned economic reforms and reoriented the party's priorities towards modernization and economic construction.

Explanation: The 'Four Modernizations' program, initiated under Deng Xiaoping, encompassed advancements in agriculture, industry, science and technology, and national defense, not solely military capabilities.

Explanation: The 'Reform and Opening Up' policy marked a fundamental shift in China's economic strategy, characterized by a gradual reduction in centralized economic planning and a concerted effort to attract foreign investment and technology.

Explanation: Deng Xiaoping's economic reforms were notably characterized by a bottom-up approach, where successful local experiments were often adopted nationally, contrasting with a purely top-down, centrally dictated model.

Explanation: The One Child Policy, instituted in 1979, was primarily implemented to control China's rapidly growing population, which was seen as a significant impediment to economic development and resource management.

Explanation: The primary rationale behind the institution of the One Child Policy in 1979 was to mitigate the severe strain on resources and infrastructure caused by China's rapidly expanding population.

Explanation: A key aspect of Deng Xiaoping's rural reforms involved permitting peasants to sell surplus agricultural produce in free markets, which stimulated domestic consumption and contributed to increased agricultural output.

Explanation: The 'Four Modernizations' program focused on agriculture, industry, science and technology, and national defense. Political reform was not explicitly included as one of the four core modernizations.

Explanation: A cornerstone of the 'Reform and Opening Up' policy was the active effort to attract foreign investment and integrate China into the global economy, moving away from previous isolationist policies.

Explanation: A critical distinction lies in their implementation: Deng Xiaoping's reforms often originated from successful local experiments that were subsequently adopted nationally (bottom-up), whereas Gorbachev's Perestroika was largely driven by central directives from the top down.

Explanation: The principal objective behind the implementation of the One Child Policy in 1979 was to curb the rapid growth of China's population, thereby alleviating pressure on resources and economic development.

Explanation: The 1982 Constitution of the People's Republic of China, which remains the foundational legal document, formally repudiated personality cults and underscored the importance of seeking foreign assistance to achieve modernization goals.

Explanation: The Democracy Wall movement, emerging in late 1978, was largely characterized by public criticism of the Cultural Revolution, Mao Zedong's legacy, and the existing political system, rather than celebration.

Explanation: Initiated in 1983, the 'Strike Hard' campaigns represented a severe crackdown on crime, distinguished by the widespread application of capital punishment and mass executions.

Explanation: The 'Anti-Spiritual Pollution Campaign' of 1983 targeted perceived Western cultural influences and moral decay, not the confiscation of technology or the promotion of Maoist self-reliance.

Explanation: In contrast to the Cultural Revolution, the 1980s saw a restoration of religious freedom, with five major faiths officially recognized and permitted to practice under party supervision.

Explanation: While the 13th Party Congress in 1987 saw a formal transition to younger leadership, Deng Xiaoping and other senior figures retained significant, albeit informal, political influence.

Explanation: A key reform under Deng Xiaoping was the elevation of intellectuals' social status, acknowledging their vital role in socialist construction, a marked departure from their persecution during the Cultural Revolution.

Explanation: The 'New Enlightenment' movement, emerging in the early 1980s, represented an intellectual trend that encouraged critical thinking and challenged rigid ideological adherence, rather than promoting strict Marxist-Leninist dogma.

Explanation: 'Boluan Fanzheng,' meaning 'correcting chaos and restoring order,' was a policy enacted to repudiate the Cultural Revolution and rectify its negative consequences, not to consolidate its gains.

Explanation: Contrary to rejecting foreign assistance, the 1982 Chinese Constitution explicitly emphasized the utilization of foreign aid and investment as crucial components for achieving national modernization.

Explanation: The 'Campaign against spiritual pollution' was rapidly halted not due to its success, but because Deng Xiaoping recognized it threatened to undermine the economic reforms and the 'opening up' policy, potentially stifling economic progress.

Explanation: The student demonstrations in December 1986, which called for greater political liberalization, contributed significantly to the downfall of CCP General Secretary Hu Yaobang, who was subsequently forced to resign.

Explanation: While portraits of Marx, Engels, Lenin, and Stalin were historically displayed, they were removed from permanent display in Tiananmen Square in 1988, leaving only portraits of Mao Zedong and Sun Yat-sen.

Explanation: Deng Xiaoping maintained that China was not yet ready for immediate democratic implementation, believing it could lead to instability and civil war, and emphasized the necessity of Communist Party leadership for national stability and development.

Explanation: The 'Four Olds' campaign, which aimed to destroy 'old ideas, old culture, old customs, and old habits,' was a movement associated with the Cultural Revolution, not Dengist China, and sought to eradicate traditional and foreign influences, not encourage them.

Explanation: The 'Democracy Wall' movement initially gained momentum through public postings that criticized the excesses of the Cultural Revolution and questioned Mao Zedong's legacy, although it later evolved to include broader political demands.

Explanation: The 'Strike Hard' campaigns, launched in 1983, were known for their severity and the extensive use of capital punishment as a deterrent against crime.

Explanation: Deng Xiaoping abruptly halted the 'Anti-Spiritual Pollution Campaign' because its broad scope and ideological fervor risked disrupting the economic reforms and the 'opening up' policies that were central to his agenda.

Explanation: Following the Cultural Revolution, the 1980s saw a relaxation of restrictions on religious practice, with five major faiths being officially recognized and permitted to operate under the supervision of the Communist Party.

Explanation: The student demonstrations in December 1986 primarily stemmed from dissatisfaction with the pace of reform and a desire for greater political liberalization and reduced government control over academic and social life.

Explanation: The 13th Party Congress in 1987 marked a formal leadership transition where Deng Xiaoping and other senior figures relinquished their official posts, though they continued to exert considerable behind-the-scenes influence.

Explanation: Deng Xiaoping's reforms included a significant elevation of the social standing of intellectuals, acknowledging their crucial contribution to China's modernization efforts, a stark contrast to their treatment during the Cultural Revolution.

Explanation: The 'Boluan Fanzheng' policy was instituted to systematically correct the political and social chaos resulting from the Cultural Revolution and to restore order and normalcy to the nation.

Explanation: The 1982 Constitution explicitly recognized the necessity of foreign assistance and investment as integral components for achieving China's modernization objectives.

Explanation: The 'Four Olds' campaign, aimed at eradicating traditional elements, is a characteristic movement of the Cultural Revolution period (1966-1976).

Explanation: Deng Xiaoping's era saw a significant shift in foreign policy, characterized by the establishment of full diplomatic relations with the United States in 1979, while relations with the Soviet Union remained strained due to ideological and geopolitical differences.

Explanation: A pivotal moment in Sino-American relations, the normalization of diplomatic ties and the establishment of full diplomatic relations between the People's Republic of China and the United States officially took place on January 1, 1979.

Explanation: While the 'one country, two systems' framework was later proposed as a model for potential reunification with Taiwan, its initial and primary application was in the context of the handover of Hong Kong from British to Chinese sovereignty.

Explanation: Deng Xiaoping's landmark visit to Japan in October 1978 culminated in the signing of a peace and friendship treaty, formally concluding the state of war that had persisted since the 1930s.

Explanation: Under Deng Xiaoping, China's foreign policy shifted away from the Maoist era's alignment. Instead of continuing an alliance, China viewed the Soviet Union as a hegemonic threat and maintained a stance of strategic distance.

Explanation: Among the justifications cited by China for its 1979 incursion into Vietnam were Vietnam's alleged mistreatment of ethnic Chinese residents, its close ties with the Soviet Union, and its regional policies.

Explanation: The Sino-British Joint Declaration of 1984 stipulated the transfer of Hong Kong to Chinese sovereignty in 1997, with provisions for a high degree of autonomy under the 'one country, two systems' framework, but it did not guarantee 'minimal changes' as systems were expected to adapt over time.

Explanation: A significant foreign policy shift under Deng Xiaoping was the normalization of relations with the West, most notably the establishment of full diplomatic relations with the United States in 1979.

Explanation: The normalization of relations and the establishment of full diplomatic ties between the People's Republic of China and the United States occurred on January 1, 1979.

Explanation: The 'one country, two systems' framework was primarily developed and proposed in anticipation of the handover of Hong Kong from British to Chinese administration in 1997.

Explanation: Deng Xiaoping's 1978 visit to Japan resulted in the signing of a Treaty of Peace and Friendship, formally concluding the state of war that had existed between the two nations.

Explanation: China's foreign policy under Deng Xiaoping maintained a critical stance towards the Soviet Union, viewing it as a hegemonic power and a strategic threat, thus eschewing any restoration of the former alliance.

Explanation: Among the stated justifications for China's 1979 military action against Vietnam was Vietnam's alignment with the Soviet Union, which China perceived as a regional threat.

Explanation: The Sino-British Joint Declaration of 1984 established that Hong Kong would be returned to the People's Republic of China in 1997, with provisions for a high degree of autonomy under the 'one country, two systems' framework.

Explanation: The death of Hu Yaobang in April 1989, a figure associated with reform, served as the immediate catalyst that mobilized students and intellectuals, leading to the large-scale protests in Tiananmen Square.

Explanation: On May 20, 1989, the Chinese government imposed martial law in Beijing in an effort to quell the escalating Tiananmen Square protests.

Explanation: Official People's Republic of China estimates for the death toll during the Tiananmen Square crackdown were significantly lower, typically cited as between two and three hundred, not two to three thousand.

Explanation: Zhao Ziyang, who opposed the military crackdown, was purged and placed under house arrest following the Tiananmen Square protests, remaining under strict surveillance until his death and never receiving political rehabilitation.

Explanation: The '4-26 Editorial' published in the People's Daily denounced the 1989 protests as 'turmoil,' signaling the government's hardline stance and escalating the political crisis, rather than supporting the protesters or calling for dialogue.

Explanation: The death of Hu Yaobang in April 1989, a reformist figure who had been purged, provided the immediate impetus for widespread public mourning and subsequent large-scale protests that culminated in the Tiananmen Square demonstrations.

Explanation: On May 20, 1989, the Chinese government declared martial law in Beijing in response to the persistent Tiananmen Square protests, signaling an escalation of its efforts to suppress the movement.

Explanation: Official estimates provided by the People's Republic of China regarding the death toll from the Tiananmen Square crackdown typically range between two and three hundred individuals.

Explanation: Zhao Ziyang, who had advocated for a more conciliatory approach to the Tiananmen protesters, was removed from his positions and subsequently placed under house arrest, where he remained until his death.

Explanation: The '1978 Truth Criterion Controversy,' particularly the influential article 'Practice is the Sole Criterion for Testing Truth,' fundamentally challenged and undermined Hua Guofeng's 'Two Whatevers' policy by advocating for empirical evidence and pragmatic assessment over dogmatic adherence.

Explanation: Deng Xiaoping's pragmatic philosophy emphasized 'seeking truth from facts,' advocating for the adoption of effective economic policies irrespective of their ideological origins, thereby reducing the primacy of strict Marxist ideology in economic decision-making.

Explanation: Deng Xiaoping's pragmatic philosophy was encapsulated in the principle 'seek truth from facts,' which guided his approach to economic policy and reform, prioritizing empirical results over rigid ideological dogma.