Tiananmen Square
In 1989, China was just coming through a period of economic growth and political liberalization and the students in China wanted more. In 1986 and 1987 students began holding demonstrations asking for more individual rights and freedoms. This caused the Chinese Communist Party to try and suppress the growing liberalism among students and within the government. Hu Yaobang who was the general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party had encouraged democratic reforms.
Under the tightening restrictions, he was forced to resign from his position in 1987. Then in 1989 Hu Yaobang died and his death became a symbol for change among those seeking political liberalization. Tens of thousands gathered in Tiananmen Square on April 22, the day of Hu Yaobang’s funeral.
The government responded with severe warnings but that did not stop other demonstrations from occurring in cities throughout China. The protests grew and as many as one million gathered in Tiananmen Square, all of which was captured on television and broadcast overseas. The Chinese government was at a loss for how to respond to the growing protests with debates on whether to negotiate or respond with force. Martial law was declared in Beijing and troops were placed around the city. However, they were not able to get access to Tiananmen Square due to the protesters blocking their way.
On June 3, the Chinese government decided that they had enough of the protests. They ordered the army to open fire on anyone who tried to block their way into the square. By the following morning, the area was clear and the military was back in control. Accounts vary on the number killed when the military used force ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand. Many of the protesters and leaders were arrested and given jail sentences or executed. To this day the Chinese government suppresses any information about what really occurred and commemoration of the incident is banned.