Tiananmean Square
By:Chandler Corker
Hu Yaobang
Hu Yaobang was a major political figure and inspiration to the protesters in TIananmen square; Hu was a major political figure during the Chinese Civil war.He was a major figure during the tenure of his friend Deng who had risen to the highest spot in the government. Hu acted as Dengs main advisor. Hu rose in the ranks in the communist party. In 1981 Hu became general secretary of the Chinese CCP the highest position in the party. Hu was liked by the people for his position on free speech and openness. Hu was deposed by hardliner communists and died in 1989.
The Square
Tiananmean square was not accessible to the public till 1911 hundreds of years after its creation. The square was the sight of protests against the Versailles treaty and Japanese aggression in 1935. During the 1950's after the CCP took over China statues of major communist figures had statues built around the square even one of Mao Zedong in 1977.
The Protest
1.2 million people had gathered in the square packed and squeezed together to honor Hu's death. Someone had also put up a foam statue called the goddess of peace. During these protests the leader of the Soviet Union who had just loosened control of the government on the people in his country had visited Beijing. The leaders of the government had debated and eventually Deng and his cronies decided to declare martial law on the peaceful protests on the 20th of May. Soldiers eventually attacked the protesters but were driven back many soldiers decided to join the riots. Eventually the army returned this time armed with clubs and beat many people some innocent. When the civilians tried to flee the army was encamped all around the city shot anyone trying to leave. Several hundred thousand people had died.
Tank Man
During the attack on the city a tank battalion trying to enter the square was halted by a man carrying a plastic bag swaying at them to leave no one know who this man or his family because so far nobody has taken credit for the act. Eventually though the man was taken away from the tanks by many other men.
1989 Raw Video: Man vs. Chinese tank Tiananmen square
Picture and Video Citations
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YeFzeNAHEhU
http://www.abc.net.au/cm/lb/5497322/data/the-protest-swells-to-over-one-million-data.jpg
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/NdhVe2MmPbE/maxresdefault.jpg
http://i.huffpost.com/gen/1831128/thumbs/o-TIANANMEN-TANK-BURN-900.jpg?6
http://s.newsweek.com/sites/www.newsweek.com/files/2014/06/04/tiananmencovers.jpg