Did the Tiananmen Square protests and crackdown happen in 1989?

Yes

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

Here is a brief timeline of how the events unfolded that year:

•April 15, 1989: Student-led protests began in Beijing's Tiananmen Square following the death of Hu Yaobang, a former leader of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) who had been seen as a champion of political and economic reform.

•April–May 1989: The protests quickly grew, attracting students, workers, and citizens who called for democratic reforms, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and an end to government corruption. At their height, the demonstrations drew an estimated one million people to Tiananmen Square, with similar protests breaking out in other Chinese cities.

•May 20, 1989: The Chinese government declared martial law in Beijing.

•June 3–4, 1989: The Chinese military (the People's Liberation Army) was ordered to clear the square. Armed with tanks and assault rifles, troops moved into Beijing and opened fire on protesters and bystanders who tried to block their advance.

The exact number of casualties remains unknown and heavily censored in China. Estimates of those killed range from several hundred to several thousand, with thousands of others wounded or subsequently arrested.

Citations (5)

1britannica.comEncyclopedias and referencequality 0.83
britannica.com
Backs: “Yes, the Tiananmen Square protests and the subsequent military crackdown took place in 1989.”
evidence, reference entry, points to yes. Claim: The Tiananmen Square protests and subsequent military crackdown took place in 1989.
2wikipedia.orgEncyclopedias and referencequality 0.83
wikipedia.org
Backs: “April 15, 1989: Student-led protests began in Beijing's Tiananmen Square following the death of Hu Yaobang, a former leader of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) who had been seen as a champion of political and economic reform.”
evidence, reference entry, points to yes. Claim: Student-led protests began April 15, 1989 after the death of Hu Yaobang, a reform-minded former CCP leader.
3state.govGovernment
state.gov
Backs: “April 15, 1989: Student-led protests began in Beijing's Tiananmen Square following the death of Hu Yaobang, a former leader of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) who had been seen as a champion of political and economic reform.”
evidence, official document, points to yes. Claim: Student-led protests began April 15, 1989 after the death of Hu Yaobang, a reform-minded former CCP leader.
4ebsco.comCompanies
ebsco.com
Backs: “April–May 1989: The protests quickly grew, attracting students, workers, and citizens who called for democratic reforms, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and an end to government corruption. At their height, the demonstrations drew an estimated one million people to Tiananmen Square, with similar protests…”
evidence, reference entry, points to yes. Claim: Protests grew in April–May 1989, drawing students, workers, and citizens demanding democratic reforms, free speech, press freedom, and an end to corruption.
5amnesty.orgNonprofits and think tanks
amnesty.org
Backs: “April–May 1989: The protests quickly grew, attracting students, workers, and citizens who called for democratic reforms, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and an end to government corruption. At their height, the demonstrations drew an estimated one million people to Tiananmen Square, with similar protests…”
evidence, article, points to yes. Claim: Protests grew in April–May 1989, drawing students, workers, and citizens demanding democratic reforms, free speech, press freedom, and an end to corruption.