Tiananmen Square -1989
Background
• By 1980 Deng Xiaoping emerged as the
powerful communist leader in China
• He implemented the Four Modernizations which
called for progress in agriculture, industry,
defense, and science and technology
• Deng’s economic reforms increased food
production, gave more freedom to industry
managers, increased incomes, increased
consumption, and opened doors for Western
technology and style
Causes
• However, the gap between the rich and
poor widened
• Chinese officials began accepting bribes
and enjoying privileges others did not have
• The new policies also opened doors for
Western political ideas
• Chinese students began studying the
West and began questioning China’s lack
of political freedom
Actions
• In 1989 Chinese students
sparked an uprising
• Beginning in April
100,000 thousand
students occupied
Tiananmen Square, a
huge public space at the
heart of Beijing
• Students protested for
democracy and won
popular support
• Many students boldly
called for Deng to resign
This picture shows the protest in Tiananmen
Square. Students chanted “Down with
corruption! Down with dictatorship! Long live
democracy!” Many people poured into
Tiananmen Square in addition to the 100,000
students to show their support and discontent.
Counteraction
• Deng ordered 250,000 thousand troops to surround
Beijing
• On June 4, 1989 the standoff ended with thousands
of armed soldiers and tanks storming Tiananmen
Square
• The assault killed hundreds and wounded
thousands
• Tiananmen Square began a campaign to detain
protesters
• Police arrested about 10,000 people and used
media to cover up the assault in Tiananmen Square
• Campaign left Deng firmly in control of China,
however in 1997 Deng died and Jiang Zemin
became the Communist Party leader
China After Deng
• Jiang had questions surrounding him about what
kind of leader he would be
• Jiang faced challenges from rivals who wanted to
divert away from Deng’s economic policies
• During 1990’s the U.S. pressure China to release
political prisoners and ensure basic human rights
• China resisted the pro-democracy movement but the
desire for freedom still ran through Chinese society
• In 1997, Jiang paid a visit to the U.S. and protesters
demanded democracy in freedom
• Jiang admitted that China made mistakes but
refused to promise a change in China’s political
policies
• To this day China still remains a communist
government
Works Cited
• Global History Textbook:
– Patterns of Interaction
• Pages 932-935