Changes

The death of [[Hu Yaobang]] on April 15, 1989, coupled with growing economic hardship caused by high inflation, provided the backdrop for a large-scale protest movement by students, intellectuals, government employees, [[journalist]]s, workers, [[police officer]]s, members of the armed forces, and other members of a disaffected urban population. University students and other citizens camped out in Beijing's Tiananmen Square to mourn Hu's death and to protest against those who would slow reform. Their protests, which grew despite government efforts to contain them, called for an end to official corruption and for defense of freedoms guaranteed by the Chinese constitution.  At least one million residents of Beijing were taking part in the protests.<ref>https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/one-million-protesters-take-to-the-streets-in-beijing</ref>Protests also spread to many other cities, including [[Shanghai]], [[Chengdu]], and [[Guangzhou]].   

The death of [[Hu Yaobang]] on April 15, 1989, coupled with growing economic hardship caused by high inflation, provided the backdrop for a large-scale protest movement by students, intellectuals, government employees, [[journalist]]s, workers, [[police officer]]s, members of the armed forces, and other members of a disaffected urban population. University students and other citizens camped out in Beijing's Tiananmen Square to mourn Hu's death and to protest against those who would slow reform. Their protests, which grew despite government efforts to contain them, called for an end to official corruption and for defense of freedoms guaranteed by the Chinese constitution.  At least one million residents of Beijing were taking part in the protests.<ref>https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/one-million-protesters-take-to-the-streets-in-beijing</ref>Protests also spread to many other cities, including [[Shanghai]], [[Chengdu]], and [[Guangzhou]].   

Disagreements about how to respond split the top Party leadership and forced out the Party General Secretary at the time, Zhao Ziyang. The decisions by Wang Zhen, Li Peng, and Paramount Leader [[Deng Xiaoping]] led them to conclude that the survival of their regime was at stake.  Martial law was declared on May 20, 1989.

Disagreements about how to respond split the top Party leadership and forced out the Party General Secretary at the time, Zhao Ziyang. The decisions by Wang Zhen, Li Peng, and Paramount Leader [[Deng Xiaoping]] led them to conclude that the survival of their regime was at stake.  Martial law was declared on May 20, 1989 and at least 30 divisions were mobilized. As many as 250,000 troops were eventually sent to the capital.

==The massacre==

==The massacre==