Explain how the Chinese started to move away from a strict communist economy in the 1980s but violently crushed demonstrators demanding democracy in Tiananmen Square in 1989. To what extent has China continued to increase economic freedom and deny political freedom since 1989?
On May 1989, thousands of students in China joined pro-democracy protests in Beijing's Tiananmen square. They began to demand freedom of speech and a greater voice in the government. In Tiananmen square, Chinese students constructed a version of the statue of liberty to symbolize the struggle for democracy. After several weeks of this, Chinese leaders finally decided to act. On June 3rd and 4th, Chinas premier ordered government troops and tanks to crush the protesters. Chinas armed forces slaughtered an unknown number of unarmed students. The collapse of the pro-democracy movement left the future in China uncertain because by repressing the protest, the Chinese government signaled that it was not ready to accept political change. But before 1980s, the communist rule in China was old school violent. Many Chinese citizens hated how they had no freedom whatsoever. After the 1980s, communist rule got less strict. Citizens didn't have to share money and they could own businesses even though elections still couldn't take place.
"In spring 1989...I saw the buildup of demonstrations from Chengdu to Tiananmen Square. It struck me that fear had been forgotten to such an extent that few of the millions of demonstrators perceived danger. Most seemed to be taken by surprise when the army opened fire." -Jung Chang
Many Chinese citizens, especially those in Tiananmen Square, were surprised when the army showed up. When the army opened fire, people were devastated and shocked. Anyone who lived In China will remember this event forever.
Connection: China is the second largest world superpower with the biggest human population and its the second wealthiest country in the world. However China is still not a democracy. The same government that killed innocent students in Tiananmen Square is the same Chinese government that exists today.