The Tiananmen Square Massacre has The Tiananmen Square Massacre has many names including…many names including… The Beijing MassacreThe Beijing Massacre June Fourth MovementJune Fourth Movement Six-fourSix-four

They all refer to a mass Chinese citizen They all refer to a mass Chinese citizen movement in Tiananmen Square to movement in Tiananmen Square to promote democracy.promote democracy.

Tiananmen Square is in Beijing, the Tiananmen Square is in Beijing, the capital city of China. It’s located south of capital city of China. It’s located south of the Forbidden City.the Forbidden City.

China started as a China started as a monarchymonarchy, then it , then it became became communist communist country.country.

What next?What next? Well, the people hoped for a Well, the people hoped for a democracydemocracy. .

The current The current communistcommunist system had no system had no freedom of speech, press, or voting. You freedom of speech, press, or voting. You also couldn’t open your own business.also couldn’t open your own business.

The government had no plans in becoming The government had no plans in becoming a democracy, so the people decided to do a democracy, so the people decided to do something.something.

Deng Xiaoping had the most Deng Xiaoping had the most power as the Chairman of the power as the Chairman of the Central Military Commission.Central Military Commission.

He made many industrial He made many industrial reforms, making China’s reforms, making China’s economy more capitalist.economy more capitalist.

However, he didn’t make any However, he didn’t make any political reforms.political reforms.

Hu Yaobang was the General Hu Yaobang was the General Secretary China.Secretary China.

He made many political reforms He made many political reforms and was favored by the people.and was favored by the people.

He was forced to resign in 1987 He was forced to resign in 1987 by Deng Xiaoping for being too by Deng Xiaoping for being too liberal.liberal.

His death in April 15, 1989 His death in April 15, 1989 began the June Fourth began the June Fourth Movement.Movement.

BeginningsBeginnings The start of a mass gathering was on April 18, The start of a mass gathering was on April 18,

1989, where 10-thousand came to mourn the 1989, where 10-thousand came to mourn the death of Hu Yaobang. death of Hu Yaobang.

By April 22, there were over 100,000 in By April 22, there were over 100,000 in Tiananmen Square.Tiananmen Square.

At this time, it was mainly just to protest the At this time, it was mainly just to protest the bad views of Hu imposed by the government, bad views of Hu imposed by the government, but would grow to demand democracy.but would grow to demand democracy.

On May 13, many students began stating On May 13, many students began stating their determination with hunger strikes.their determination with hunger strikes.

Over 1,000 people participated with Over 1,000 people participated with considerable support from the public, considerable support from the public, numbering later on to a million.numbering later on to a million.

In all, the hunger strike lasted for a few In all, the hunger strike lasted for a few weeks.weeks.

Also, during the hunger strike, Gorbachev,Also, during the hunger strike, Gorbachev, the Soviet Union’s leader, visited China.the Soviet Union’s leader, visited China.

Goddess of DemocracyGoddess of Democracy

The Goddess of The Goddess of Democracy, standing 33 Democracy, standing 33 feet high, was set up on feet high, was set up on May 30, after only four May 30, after only four days of building.days of building.

It was made by Beijing It was made by Beijing art university students to art university students to symbolize their symbolize their commitment for the fight.commitment for the fight.

The Massacre BeginsThe Massacre Begins

Zhao Ziyang had become General Secretary Zhao Ziyang had become General Secretary in place of Hu Yaobang, and was the one in place of Hu Yaobang, and was the one thing preventing the government from using thing preventing the government from using military force.military force.

Some time during the protests, however, he Some time during the protests, however, he was dismissed from his position.was dismissed from his position.

With Zhao gone, the use of force was With Zhao gone, the use of force was officially permitted on May 20, but the army officially permitted on May 20, but the army was blocked by the protestors.was blocked by the protestors.

The MassacreThe Massacre

On June 3, the government had sent around On June 3, the government had sent around 200,000 troops to surround Beijing.200,000 troops to surround Beijing.

Civilians blockaded the streets with buses Civilians blockaded the streets with buses and barricades.and barricades.

The army managed to break through on June The army managed to break through on June 4, using armed vehicles.4, using armed vehicles. Tanks ran over the tents and even the people.Tanks ran over the tents and even the people. Soldiers shot into the crowds.Soldiers shot into the crowds.

““The Tank Man”The Tank Man” On June 5, a man carrying two On June 5, a man carrying two

bags and wearing a plain white bags and wearing a plain white shirt stood in front of a line of shirt stood in front of a line of tanks to stop their advance into tanks to stop their advance into the city.the city.

He’s also been called the He’s also been called the “Unknown Rebel” for his “Unknown Rebel” for his unknown identity.unknown identity.

Reports have said that he was Reports have said that he was captured and executed, but captured and executed, but nobody knows for sure.nobody knows for sure.

He has become a symbol of He has become a symbol of the revolutionthe revolution

Aftermath- MediaAftermath- Media

The government tried to hide the event from The government tried to hide the event from the media and the world by banning all the media and the world by banning all independent media. This prevented detailed independent media. This prevented detailed reports on the event.reports on the event.

Still, the news reached the world and there Still, the news reached the world and there were reportedly somewhere around 300 to were reportedly somewhere around 300 to 4,000 deaths, with thousands more injured 4,000 deaths, with thousands more injured and even more arrested.and even more arrested.

AftermathAftermath

The protests did not have any effects on The protests did not have any effects on China’s government, but it did have an impact China’s government, but it did have an impact others.others. It symbolized that the Chinese people were It symbolized that the Chinese people were

willing to fight for democracy, although the willing to fight for democracy, although the Chinese government would do anything to Chinese government would do anything to prevent that.prevent that.

The movement led to the downfall of communism The movement led to the downfall of communism in Russia.in Russia.

That downfall helped lead to the end of the Cold That downfall helped lead to the end of the Cold War.War.

AftermathAftermath

Still, the government denies responsibility and Still, the government denies responsibility and states that no one died.states that no one died.

It has erased all evidence possible within It has erased all evidence possible within China, even internet sites.China, even internet sites.

If anyone in China speaks about it, they risk If anyone in China speaks about it, they risk being arrested and even executed.being arrested and even executed.

1987- Hu Yaobang forced to

resign

1987- Hu Yaobang forced to

resign

April 15- Hu

Yaobang dies

April 15- Hu

Yaobang dies

April 18- 10,000

people at Tiananmen mourn Hu’s

death.

April 18- 10,000

people at Tiananmen mourn Hu’s

death.

19871987 19891989

April 22- Over

100,000 are at the

square

April 22- Over

100,000 are at the

square

May 13- students

begin hunger strike

May 13- students

begin hunger strike

May 15- Gorbachev visits China

in Beijing

May 15- Gorbachev visits China

in Beijing

May 20- Martial law is declared by

the government, but troops

are blocked by

protestors.

May 20- Martial law is declared by

the government, but troops

are blocked by

protestors.

May 30- The

Goddess of Democracy

finished.

May 30- The

Goddess of Democracy

finished.

May 27- Goddess of Democracy

started.

May 27- Goddess of Democracy

started.

June 3- Military starts

to advance with armored vehicles and

soldiers.

June 3- Military starts

to advance with armored vehicles and

soldiers.

June 4- Military enters

Tiananmen Square and opens fire. Massacre

starts

June 4- Military enters

Tiananmen Square and opens fire. Massacre

starts

June 5- “Tank Man”

steps in front of tanks.

June 5- “Tank Man”

steps in front of tanks.

• "Tiananmen Square Protests of 1989." "Tiananmen Square Protests of 1989." WikipediaWikipedia. 8 Nov. . 8 Nov. 2007. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 8 Nov. 2007 2007. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 8 Nov. 2007 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiananmen_Square_protestshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiananmen_Square_protests_of_1989v_of_1989v

• Carter, Alden R. Carter, Alden R. China Past- China FutureChina Past- China Future. New York: . New York: Franklin Watts, 1994.Franklin Watts, 1994.

• Tian, Duan. Personal interview. 18 Nov. 2007. Tian, Duan. Personal interview. 18 Nov. 2007. • "1989: Massacre in Tiananmen Square." "1989: Massacre in Tiananmen Square." Bbc.Co.UkBbc.Co.Uk. .

BBC News. 18 Nov. 2007 BBC News. 18 Nov. 2007 <http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/june/<http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/june/4/newsid_2496000/2496277.stm>. 4/newsid_2496000/2496277.stm>.

• "Tiananmen, April-June 1989." "Tiananmen, April-June 1989." Christus Rex Et Christus Rex Et Redemptor MundiRedemptor Mundi. 4 June 1999. Christus Rex, Inc. 18 . 4 June 1999. Christus Rex, Inc. 18 Nov. 2007 Nov. 2007 <http://www.christusrex.org/www1/sdc/tiananmen.html<http://www.christusrex.org/www1/sdc/tiananmen.html>. >.