Did the Tiananmen Square protests and crackdown happen in 1989?

Yes, the Tiananmen Square protests and the subsequent government crackdown took place in 1989.

The event unfolded over several weeks in the spring of that year:

•April 15, 1989: The protests began following the death of Hu Yaobang, a pro-reform leader of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). University students gathered in Beijing's Tiananmen Square, calling for democratic reforms, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and an end to government corruption.

•May 1989: The protests grew rapidly, drawing in millions of people—including workers, intellectuals, and ordinary citizens—and spreading to other cities across China. In response, the Chinese government declared martial law on May 20, 1989.

•June 3–4, 1989: The military crackdown occurred. Chinese troops and tanks advanced into Beijing and opened fire on protesters and bystanders to clear Tiananmen Square.

The crackdown resulted in the deaths of hundreds to possibly thousands of people, along with thousands of arrests.

Citations (3)

1britannica.comEncyclopedias and referencequality 0.83
britannica.com
Backs: “Yes, the Tiananmen Square protests and the subsequent government crackdown took place in 1989.”
2state.govGovernment
state.gov
Backs: “April 15, 1989: The protests began following the death of Hu Yaobang, a pro-reform leader of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).”
3amnesty.orgNonprofits and think tanks
amnesty.org
Backs: “University students gathered in Beijing's Tiananmen Square, calling for democratic reforms, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and an end to government corruption.”