Introduction

Tiananmen Square is located directly south of the entrance to the Forbidden City, which is the home of the Imperial palace of the old capital of China. In China's long history Tiananmen square has seen many significant political events in its time, but nothing like the bloodshed of 1989. This square is truly ironic because of the English translation. Tiananmen means "Gate of Heavenly peace". Beginning in April, with college students from the surrounding area, nobody expected this protest to turn into one of the bloodiest scenes of political strife strife China has ever witnessed. June 4th 1989 will always bear a black mark of disgrace and outrage. This was a low time for the Chinese government, when they sent troops in to quell a protest for democracy. Thousands were killed or injured. But the sheer numbers of people who stood in the square and surrounding streets, fighting for what the believed in is so inspiring. Tiananmen square will be remembered as a time when a nation rose against the bonds of the communist chains that had shackled them for far to long.

Precursor to the Massacre

The people directly involved in the Massacre were college students. What would eventually happen was originally a student protest. Many political events throughout China's Communist Party's history were what would spark anger among the people. This started after the cultural revolution in China when farming communes were slowly being abolished. From the success from this change the Chinese government attempted to revamp the economy. The flailing economy was after the death of Mao Zedong, the government had control over the economy, so when the fighting for power occured the economy lagged. The political disagreements and economic problems fueled the fire for the incident in the square. But the true turning point was the death of Hu Yaobang. He was chairman of the Chinese Communist party. After he showed support for democratic reforms he was forced to resign his position. Not to long afterward, Hu died. This was one reason that students assembled in the square. From there the problems escalated.

June 3rd and 4th

Protests in the square for democratic reforms had been going for around a month. College students by the thousands had assembled, and ordinary citizens were starting to use the protests for their own gains. After many marches and attempts to communicate with the government the students were getting angry. The government had been debating imposing martial law. The standing commitee had been very divided on the issue, but the top leaders of the government, known as the Eight Elders, took matter into their own hands. Martial law was declared and the military rolled in. The military was surprised at the ferocity that the citizens fought with. They set fire to buses and made human walls to stop the military's advance. The soldiers first used rubber bullets, but seeing them to be ineffect the used real ammo, killing and injuring thousands. Most of the deaths occured on Fuxingmenwai Boulevard, a major street leading to the square, despite its name few if any deaths occured in the square. When military personnel finally reached the square, they asked the student protesters to leave peacefully. They voted to leave, which was a good choice, who knows how many would have died.

Aftermath

This was a horrendous act in world history. China tried to cover up what truly happened, but as time passes more information is being unveiled. But initially there were consequences for the actions of the military. The day following, June 5th 1989, was when the world gasped. The first to move was the United States. We enacted an arms embargo against China. 22 days later the European Union would also enact an arms embargo. Beginning in August the Federation of Chinese Students and Scholars is launched in the U.S. In September the Federation for a Democratic China would be launched in France. After the world responded, starting in 1990, the Chinese leader, Deng Xiaoping, would outline programs for economic reform and expansion.

Impact and Interesting facts

The murder of thousands of people was a reminder of what governments are capable of and the atrocities of this world. I personally see it as a disgusting show of military strength by the Chinese government. The world was shocked and angered about the events that took place that day. With many sanctions taken against the Chinese and the establishment that were set up it still leaves the question of, was it enough? It is disappointing that more drastic change didn't take place within the government of China. But this is the world we live in. Some interesting things is that the Chinese government originally issued that less than 5oo people died that day. But later reports revealed the number to be closer to 2600 dead, and around 10000 injured. Another interesting fact is that China bid for the 2000 olympics but was rejected, and instead given the 2008 olympics. The interesting thing about this is that the Chinese government promised areas for protest, but no protesters were allowed anywhere near the olympic games. China is very shady and dishonest. We must be careful with this country.

Sources

Langley, Andrew. Tiananmen Square Massacre Crushes China's Democracy Movement. Mankato, MN: Compass Point Books, 2009.

Barth, Kelly. The Tiananmen Square Massacre. U.S.A.: Greenhaven Press, 2003.

Zaposinki, Rupert. June 4th, China's Shame. New York, NY: Poplar Printing, 2005.

Anniversery of a Massacre. Nielsen, J.N. 12 May 2010 http://geopolicraticus.worldpress.com/anniversery-of-a-massacre/.

Flying Yangban. 12 May 2010 http://gopkorea.blogs.com/flyingyangban/.

BBC ON THIS DAY. 13 May 2010 http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/stories/june/4/

Tiananmen Square Massacre, June 4th 1989. 14 May 2010 http://www.history.com/tiananmen-square-massacre-takes-place