Question

Intellectuals that criticized the communist government in China during the Hundred Flowers Movement were

A. protected under constitutional rights guaranteeing freedom of speech in China

B. often promoted to higher positions at universities and within the government

C. largely ignored by peasants and the government who did not agree with the criticism

D. thrown in jail, fired from their jobs, or forced into labor positions

Answer 1

I'd go with (D). The Hundred Flowers Movement was at first designed to encourage intellectuals into a debate with the government and voice criticisms that they had -- a sort of "enlightened debate" to prove to everybody the the communists had nothing to worry about.

But it spiraled out of control as increasing criticism began to flood the country and the movement was not only ended, but it also marked everyone that had criticized the government as targets who were now viewed as dangerous dissenters. Mao later remarked that the movement had driven the "snakes" from hiding allowing the government to further solidify their power base by rooting out and crushing the same critics they had encouraged to speak out.