[[File:Gang of Four.PNG|right|350px300px|thumb|The Gang of Four, Mao's lieutenants, were put on trial for corruption after Mao's death.]]
After Mao's death in September 1976 Hua Guofeng was quickly confirmed as party chairman and premier. A month later, Hua, backed by the army, arrested Jiang Qing and other members of the "[[Gang of Four]]" that organized the Cultural Revolution.