Tiananmen Square

Reforms Begin In 1976, Mao died; his death was followed by retreat from many of his policies. China began to end isolation from rest of world in the early 1970s. China’s new leader, Deng Xiaoping, helped put in place far-reaching economic reforms.

The Protest Over 10,000 students gathered to protest what they felt was corruption in the Chinese government in 1989. The students wanted for China to move towards democracy. Deng Xiaoping ordered thousands of troops into Beijing to end the protest as the world watched.

Raised by students and modeled on the US Statue of Liberty. Goddess of Democracy Raised by students and modeled on the US Statue of Liberty.

June 4, 1989 On June 4, 1989, the Chinese government ordered the soldiers in Tiananmen Square to break up the demonstration. They fired on the students, destroyed the statue of the Goddess of Democracy, and arrested thousands of people. The brief pro-democracy movement was destroyed as well, and Deng Xiaoping was left in control until his death in 1997.

The Destruction of the Goddess of Democracy

Protester blocking tanks approaching Tiananmen Square