Did the Tiananmen Square protests and crackdown happen in 1989?

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

Here is a brief timeline of how the events unfolded:

•April 1989: The protests began in mid-April following the death of Hu Yaobang, a former leader of the Chinese Communist Party who was seen as a reformer. University students gathered in Tiananmen Square to mourn him and demand political and economic reforms, an end to government corruption, and greater freedoms of speech and assembly.

•May 1989: The demonstrations grew significantly, drawing in millions of supporters—including workers, intellectuals, and ordinary citizens—not only in Beijing but in cities across China. In mid-May, students went on a hunger strike, and on May 20, the Chinese government declared martial law in Beijing.

•June 3–4, 1989: On the night of June 3 and the morning of June 4, Chinese troops and tanks of the People's Liberation Army were ordered to clear the square. They opened fire on unarmed demonstrators and citizens, resulting in a devastating and highly condemned military crackdown.

Citations (5)

1amnesty.orgNonprofits and think tanks
amnesty.org
Backs: “Yes, the Tiananmen Square protests and the subsequent military crackdown took place in 1989.”
2britannica.comEncyclopedias and referencequality 0.83
britannica.com
Backs: “Yes, the Tiananmen Square protests and the subsequent military crackdown took place in 1989.”
3dominotheory.comNot yet classified
dominotheory.com
Backs: “April 1989: The protests began in mid-April following the death of Hu Yaobang, a former leader of the Chinese Communist Party who was seen as a reformer.”
4pbs.orgNews and mediaquality 0.87
pbs.org
Backs: “April 1989: The protests began in mid-April following the death of Hu Yaobang, a former leader of the Chinese Communist Party who was seen as a reformer.”
5gwu.eduAcademic
gwu.edu
Backs: “In mid-May, students went on a hunger strike, and on May 20, the Chinese government declared martial law in Beijing. June 3–4, 1989: On the night of June 3 and the morning of June 4, Chinese troops and tanks of the People's Liberation Army were ordered to clear the square.”