jan 3, 1989 - Tiananmen Square Massacre

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Because China was modernizing like crazy, the Chinese people wanted to speak out their ideas. They wanted a democracy. In the spring of 1989, hundred of thousands of CHinese people met in Tiananmen square, Bejing’s center gathering place. They wanted to end the power corruption, a say in their own government, and better conditions on universities. Students did a hunger strike, and ignored government’s requests to leave. Chinese leaders began taking actions. In June, tanks and armed troops and moved towards Tianenmen Square. They shot everyone they saw on the streets. Hundreds were killed and thousands were injured. This event was called the Tiananmen Square Massacre. The west was in shock at this event. Western countries stopped sending aid to China. Tourists stopped visiting. China was going to go poor if they didn’t do anything. They needed another source of money. Jiang Zemin, China’s president after 1993, came up with an idea. In 1997 gave up control of thousands of state-owned businesses that were losing money. There was new private owners, that had to find a way to make profit. Only some of the companies were making money by 2000. The plan did make up some of China’s needed income. But some economic problems remained. Unemployment was at 30% in some cities, and millions of people were in poverty.


Ok here is where i tell u the legend; tank mannnn. So when the tanks were on their way to Tiananmen Square, a man with grocery bags in both hands stopped in front of 4 tanks. The tanks stopped before him, not wanting to run the man over. The dude swung his shopping bags at the tank in a “shoo” gesture. When the tank tried to turn right to go around him, tank man moved right to block it. Same with when it tried to turn left. Tank man climed onto the machine, and tried to talk to the man inside. Two men came running up to him and dragged him away. The famous image of him in front of the tanks was sneaked out of China, and put on almost every newspaper. Every one but the ones in China.

The protests grew over several weeks, until the authorities decided to stop the, by sending the military, to use live fire on June 4th. Beijing citizens came rushing in to stop the soldiers, but despite their efforts, it was fruitless. The square was cleared of life, and those who survived were jailed. The fate of tank man was unknown, and today we still don’t know who he is. Censorship today ensures that most Chinese do not know what happened in June 1989.

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