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Tiananmen Square Massacre
Facts for kids
The following fact
sheet contains interesting facts and information on the Tiananmen Square Massacre
for kids.
Tiananmen Square Massacre
Facts for kids
Tiananmen Square Massacre
Facts - 1: Tiananmen Square
is located in central Beijing, China and is the world's
largest public square. The massive plaza is adjacent to
the Forbidden City, the ancient palace of the emperors
of China, and has traditionally been the site of
festivals, demonstrations and rallies
Tiananmen Square Massacre
Facts - 2: China and the Soviet Union
were the two largest communist states in the world. Mao Zedong
launched the Cultural Revolution (1966–76) to prevent the
development of Russian-style bureaucratic communism of the USSR and
resulted in one of the reasons for the decline in Sino-Soviet
relations.
Tiananmen Square Massacre
Facts -
3: 1989 was a
significant year for protests and demonstrations against
strict communist regimes. In the USSR President Mikhail
Gorbachev began to
reform the Soviet system by the democratization of
the Communist Party and allowing
Glasnost
(freedom of speech) which ultimately led to the
Collapse of the
Soviet Union in 1991.
Tiananmen Square Massacre
Facts - 4: On May, 15 1989, Soviet
President Mikhail Gorbachev made a four day visit to the People's
Republic of China to seal the reconciliation of the two powers. The
Soviet leader's visit was almost immediately disrupted by China's
internal unrest and his planned welcoming party was hastily
relocated from Tiananmen Square which was full of pro-democracy
protesters.
Tiananmen Square Massacre
Facts - 5: Many of the
Chinese students had seen the visit of President
Gorbachev as a symbol of political liberalization and
wanted the Chinese government to adopt the more liberal
policies that had been introduced by the USSR
Tiananmen Square Massacre
Facts - 6: The Communist leaders in China
rejected the idea of adopting the Soviet policies of perestroika and
glasnost. They were determined to retain power and although the
government had relaxed their controls on the economy the Communist
hard-liners continued to repress freedom of speech and political
dissent.
Tiananmen Square Massacre
Facts - 7: The protests,
hunger strikes and demonstrations for democracy of the
students and workers continued in many other major
cities in China and in the capital's Tiananmen Square in
Beijing. The protestors viewed democracy as a solution
to the increasing corruption in the Chinese government.
Tiananmen Square Massacre
Facts - 8: The Chinese
government were incensed when the protesters erected a
30-foot plaster statue of the “Goddess of Democracy”
based on the Statue of Liberty as a symbolic monument to
commitment to Enlightenment ideals and the pro-democracy
movement.
Tiananmen Square Massacre
Facts - 9: The demonstrations
in Tiananmen Square had begun been a month earlier on
April 22nd, 1989, when over 100,000 people gathered in
Tiananmen Square for the memorial service of Hu Yaobang
(November 20, 1915 – April 15, 1989).
Tiananmen Square Massacre
Facts - 10: Hu Yaobang had
been greatly respected as a progressive leader who had
been a symbol of political reform before he was forced
out of office three years before his death.
Tiananmen Square Massacre
Facts - 11: At the end of
April and throughout the month of May 1989, at
least 100,000 students and workers occupied Tiananmen
Square for one month and the protestors also began
distributing several documents defining their movement's
principles, including a constitution and the Tiananmen
Square Declaration of Human Rights.
Tiananmen Square Massacre
Facts - 12: The constitution
detailed provisions for freedom of speech, freedom of
the press, freedom of demonstration and criticism of the
government.
Tiananmen Square Massacre
Facts - 13: Deng Xiaoping, the
most powerful and ruthless of Chinese communist leaders,
made the decision to declare martial law on May 20, 1989
and send the fully armed People’s Liberation Army into
the city. After numerous threats, Deng Xiaoping ordered
the military to clear Tiananmen Square with force on
June 4, 1979
Continued...
Tiananmen Square Massacre
Facts for kids
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Tiananmen Square Massacre
Facts for kids
Tiananmen
Square Massacre Facts - 14:
Overnight on June
3 - 4, 1989 more than 50 trucks and tanks, with as many
as 10,000 troops, rumbled into the streets of Beijing
towards Tiananmen Square.
Tiananmen
Square Massacre Facts - 15:
The Tiananmen Square Massacre
began on June 4, 1989. As they approached the demonstrators, troops
opened fire on crowds of peaceful protesters and onlookers. They
gave no warning before they started the indiscriminate shooting with
assault rifles and bayonets.
Tiananmen
Square Massacre Facts - 16:
There was
disbelief at the level of violence and as crowds tried
to run from the troops many were shot in the back. Other
people were crushed to death by tanks and military
vehicles.
Tiananmen
Square Massacre Facts - 17:
A tank mowed down
the 30-foot statue of the “Goddess of Democracy” as the
Tiananmen Square Massacre turned into a bloodbath.
Tiananmen
Square Massacre Facts - 18:
Tank Man: The
Tiananmen Square Massacre was immortalized by the image
of a courageous lone man in a white shirt, carrying
shopping bags, facing a terrifying column of military
tanks. The man is known simply as Tank Man and his
identity has never been confirmed.
Tiananmen
Square Massacre Facts - 19:
Tank Man would not
let the tanks pass but was eventually pulled out of
danger by horrified onlookers. The image of unarmed man
standing in front of a massive tank came to symbolize
the struggle of the Tiananmen Square protesters as a
peaceful protest met with military might.
Tiananmen
Square Massacre Facts - 20:
As the bloody
massacres continued troops were seen putting dead people
into plastic body bags. Thousands more people were
arested and dragged away by the troops.
Tiananmen
Square Massacre Facts - 21:
The Chinese
authorities have never disclosed the total number of
people killed in the Tiananmen Square Massacre. Nor have
they disclosed the number of people who were detained,
tried or executed following the massacre.
Tiananmen
Square Massacre Facts - 22:
The sheer savagery and brutal violence of the Tiananmen
Square Massacre shocked the world.
Tiananmen
Square Massacre Facts - 23:
The U.S. Congress and several European countries reduced
their diplomatic relations with China and imposed
economic sanctions against the People’s Republic of
China in response to the vicious, indiscriminate
violation of human rights.
Tiananmen Square Massacre
Facts for kids
Tiananmen Square Massacre - President George H Bush Video
The article on the Tiananmen Square Massacre provides detailed facts and a summary of one of the important events during his presidential term in office. The following
George H Bush video will
give you additional important facts and dates about the political events experienced by the 41st American President whose presidency spanned from January 20, 1989 to January 20, 2001.
Tiananmen Square Massacre
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Interesting Facts about Tiananmen Square Massacre for kids
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Summary of the Tiananmen Square Massacre in US history
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Tiananmen Square Massacre of important, key
events
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George H Bush from January 20, 1989 to January 20, 2001
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Fast, fun facts about the Tiananmen Square Massacre
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Foreign & Domestic
policies of President George H Bush
● George H Bush Presidency and
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