By: History.com Editors

1989

Chinese crackdown on protests leads to Tiananmen Square Massacre

History.com Editors

Tiananmen Square

Jacques Langevin/Sygma/Getty Images

Published: November 13, 2009

Last Updated: March 02, 2025

Chinese troops storm through Tiananmen Square in the center of Beijing, killing and arresting thousands of pro-democracy protesters. The brutal Chinese government assault on the protesters shocked the West and brought denunciations and sanctions from the United States.

In May 1989, nearly a million Chinese, mostly young students, crowded into central Beijing to protest for greater democracy and call for the resignations of Chinese Communist Party leaders deemed too repressive. For nearly three weeks, the protesters kept up daily vigils, and marched and chanted. Western reporters captured much of the drama for television and newspaper audiences in the United States and Europe.

This Day in History: 06/3/1989 - Crackdown at Tiananmen

In this clip from the hit show This Day In History, we get to take a look at some of the amazing things that have happened on June 3rd all around the world. From King Edward getting married, to Mel Brooks' The Producers, you will see it all here in this interesting look at things that have happened on this day.

On June 4, 1989, however, Chinese troops and security police stormed through Tiananmen Square, firing indiscriminately into the crowds of protesters. Turmoil ensued, as tens of thousands of the young students tried to escape the rampaging Chinese forces. Other protesters fought back, stoning the attacking troops and overturning and setting fire to military vehicles. Reporters and Western diplomats on the scene estimated that at least 300, and perhaps thousands, of the protesters had been killed and as many as 10,000 were arrested.

The savagery of the Chinese government’s attack shocked both its allies and Cold War enemies. Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev declared that he was saddened by the events in China. He said he hoped that the government would adopt his own domestic reform program and begin to democratize the Chinese political system.

In the United States, editorialists and members of Congress denounced the Tiananmen Square massacre and pressed for President George Bush to punish the Chinese government. A little more than three weeks later, the U.S. Congress voted to impose economic sanctions against the People’s Republic of China in response to the brutal violation of human rights.

Tiananmen Square Protests

Tiananmen Square Protest

By: History.com Editors

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Citation Information

Article title
Chinese crackdown on protests leads to Tiananmen Square Massacre
Website Name
History
Date Accessed
March 25, 2025
Publisher
A&E Television Networks
Last Updated
March 02, 2025
Original Published Date
November 13, 2009

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