Case Study Tiananmen Square

							                Friday 9/17-
    Events of Tiananmen Square
• Objective: Examine the events that occurred
  at Tiananmen Square through the use of
  primary documents

• Bell Work: Explain a time when your parents
  forced you to do something you didn’t want to
  do but turned out to be good for you?
   Case Study:
Tiananmen Square
     China
    Background Info
• China operates under a “Communist”
  government: meaning that people have
  limited rights and freedoms.
• The government controls all
  information, including: books, radio,
  media, news, television, etc.
• The government also controls people’s
  jobs and how much they are paid.
    Who Is Involved?
• Hu Yaobang is a government official
  who called for more freedom and
  “Democratic Reforms.”
• Other Chinese officials are outraged and
  force him to resign from his job.
• Students in China are influenced by
  Yaobang’s calls for freedom, and follow
  his cause.
Hu Yaobang
     What Happens?
• On April 15th, 1989 – Hu Yaobang dies
• Students begin a rally in Tiananmen Square
  to mourn his death.
• The government tries to disperse the crowd –
  only fueling more anger and unrest.
• Students begin to protest the harsh rules of
  the government, and call for democratic
  reforms.
     What Happens?
• Workers and other Chinese join the protest
  with the students.
 Government Reaction
• The government declares martial law to
  end protests
• The military moves into the square with
  weapons and tanks
• The Western media captures the events
• “Tank Man” and others become icons in
  the West
           Outcome?
• Some say 3,000 to 5,000 people were killed
• The Government arrests students and
  organizers of the rally.
• The Government also arrests those within
  its own ranks who supported the reforms.
• China is now viewed as an oppressive and
  brutal society.
           Years Later?
• In China, discussion of
  the event is
  considered
  inappropriate
• The government
  blocks all information
  on the internet such as
  Google or Wikipedia
• There are no news
  reports on the subject
 How do we know this happened?
• Primary Documents
  – Photos, journals, video footage
• Secondary Documents
  – newspaper reports
Tank Man
               Homework
• Write a paragraph about what you see and
  what you believe is going on