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Slide 3:  The Tiananmen Square Massacre has many names including…  The Beijing Massacre  June Fourth Movement  Six-four  They all refer to a mass Chinese citizen movement in Tiananmen Square to promote democracy.

Slide 4:  Tiananmen Square is in Beijing, the capital city of China. It’s located south of the Forbidden City.

Slide 5:  China started as a monarchy, then it became communist country.  What next?  Well, the people hoped for a democracy. The current communist system had no freedom of speech, press, or voting. You also couldn’t open your own business.  The government had no plans in becoming a democracy, so the people decided to do something.

Slide 6:  Deng Xiaoping had the most power as the Chairman of the Central Military Commission.  He made many industrial reforms, making China’s economy more capitalist.  However, he didn’t make any political reforms.

Slide 7: Hu Yaobang was the General  Secretary China. He made many political reforms  and was favored by the people. He was forced to resign in 1987  by Deng Xiaoping for being too liberal. His death in April 15, 1989  began the June Fourth Movement.

Slide 8: Beginnings  The start of a mass gathering was on April 18, 1989, where 10-thousand came to mourn the death of Hu Yaobang.  By April 22, there were over 100,000 in Tiananmen Square.  At this time, it was mainly just to protest the bad views of Hu imposed by the government, but would grow to demand democracy.

Slide 9:  On May 13, many students began stating their determination with hunger strikes.  Over 1,000 people participated with considerable support from the public, numbering later on to a million.  In all, the hunger strike lasted for a few weeks.  Also, during the hunger strike, Gorbachev, the Soviet Union’s leader, visited China.

Slide 10: Goddess of Democracy  The Goddess of Democracy, standing 33 feet high, was set up on May 30, after only four days of building.  It was made by Beijing art university students to symbolize their commitment for the fight.

Slide 11: The Massacre Begins Zhao Ziyang had become General Secretary  in place of Hu Yaobang, and was the one thing preventing the government from using military force. Some time during the protests, however, he  was dismissed from his position. With Zhao gone, the use of force was  officially permitted on May 20, but the army was blocked by the protestors.

Slide 12: The Massacre On June 3, the government had sent around  200,000 troops to surround Beijing. Civilians blockaded the streets with buses  and barricades. The army managed to break through on June  4, using armed vehicles. Tanks ran over the tents and even the people.  Soldiers shot into the crowds. 

Slide 13: “The Tank Man” On June 5, a man carrying two  bags and wearing a plain white shirt stood in front of a line of tanks to stop their advance into the city. He’s also been called the  “Unknown Rebel” for his unknown identity. Reports have said that he was  captured and executed, but nobody knows for sure. He has become a symbol of  the revolution

Slide 14: Aftermath- Media The government tried to hide the event from  the media and the world by banning all independent media. This prevented detailed reports on the event. Still, the news reached the world and there  were reportedly somewhere around 300 to 4,000 deaths, with thousands more injured and even more arrested.

Slide 15: Aftermath The protests did not have any effects on  China’s government, but it did have an impact others. It symbolized that the Chinese people were  willing to fight for democracy, although the Chinese government would do anything to prevent that. The movement led to the downfall of communism  in Russia. That downfall helped lead to the end of the Cold War. 

Slide 16: Aftermath Still, the government denies responsibility and  states that no one died. It has erased all evidence possible within  China, even internet sites. If anyone in China speaks about it, they risk  being arrested and even executed.

Slide 17: 1987 1989 April 15- April 22- May 15- May 27- June 3- June 5- Hu Over Gorbachev Goddess of Military starts “Tank 1987- Hu Yaobang 100,000 visits China Democracy to advance Man” Yaobang dies are at the in Beijing started. with armored steps in forced to square vehicles and front of resign soldiers. tanks. April 18- May 13- May 20- May 30- June 4- 10,000 students Martial law is The Military people at begin declared by Goddess of enters Tiananmen hunger the Democracy Tiananmen mourn Hu’s strike government, finished. Square and death. but troops opens fire. are blocked Massacre by starts protestors.

Slide 18: • "Tiananmen Square Protests of 1989." Wikipedia. 8 Nov. 2007. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 8 Nov. 2007 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiananmen_Square_protests_o f_1989v • Carter, Alden R. China Past- China Future. New York: Franklin Watts, 1994. • Tian, Duan. Personal interview. 18 Nov. 2007. • "1989: Massacre in Tiananmen Square." Bbc.Co.Uk. BBC News. 18 Nov. 2007 <http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/june/4/ newsid_2496000/2496277.stm>. • "Tiananmen, April-June 1989." Christus Rex Et Redemptor Mundi. 4 June 1999. Christus Rex, Inc. 18 Nov. 2007 <http://www.christusrex.org/www1/sdc/tiananmen.html>.