1. CHINA reaches for freedom 1976 to 1989

2. The Death of Mao In 1976, Mao Tse Tung died. His reign of terror had ended. In 1976, Mao Tse Tung died. His reign of terror had ended.

3. The Death of Mao

4. Mao had left millions dead or imprisoned. China was now left wondering what direction the country would take. Mao had left millions dead or imprisoned. China was now left wondering what direction the country would take.

5. A New Era In 1976, a new leader Deng Xiaoping, came to lead the communist party in China. In 1976, a new leader Deng Xiaoping, came to lead the communist party in China. He promised a new era, an increase in freedom, and a more open attitude toward the West. He promised a new era, an increase in freedom, and a more open attitude toward the West.

6. A New Era Slowly, Deng introduced more freedom: farmers were allowed to own their land; more freedom of speech and expression began to spread throughout China. Slowly, Deng introduced more freedom: farmers were allowed to own their land; more freedom of speech and expression began to spread throughout China.

7. A New Era Western businesses were invited to locate in China. Western ideas of freedom and democracy began to take root as well. Western businesses were invited to locate in China. Western ideas of freedom and democracy began to take root as well.

8. The Democracy Wall People began to assemble in a open area in Beijing, the capital. They spoke openly and shared ideas. People began to assemble in a open area in Beijing, the capital. They spoke openly and shared ideas. A community bulletin board served as a community gathering place. A community bulletin board served as a community gathering place.

9. The Democracy Wall People began to post essays, artwork, and poems on the bulletin board. By 1978, this spot was known as the Democracy Wall. People began to post essays, artwork, and poems on the bulletin board. By 1978, this spot was known as the Democracy Wall.

10. The Democracy Wall For a time, the Democracy Wall movement was left alone by the Chinese government. For a time, the Democracy Wall movement was left alone by the Chinese government. Essays, stories, speeches, and artwork increased. Essays, stories, speeches, and artwork increased.

11. The Democracy Wall Some of the things put on the democracy wall were critical of the government. The communists in power began to pay more attention to this movement. Some of the things put on the democracy wall were critical of the government. The communists in power began to pay more attention to this movement.

12. The Democracy Wall

13. By late 1979, the Democracy Wall had been shut down. The people no longer had any place to meet and discuss new ideas. By late 1979, the Democracy Wall had been shut down. The people no longer had any place to meet and discuss new ideas.

14. Waiting The next ten years were tense in China. People did not know exactly how much freedom they were allowed, or how or when they could express themselves. The next ten years were tense in China. People did not know exactly how much freedom they were allowed, or how or when they could express themselves.

15. 1989-MIKHAIL GORBACHEV with his policy of glasnost, visits China and the with his policy of glasnost, visits China and the students see him as hope for more freedom within China. students see him as hope for more freedom within China.

16. Tiananmen Perceiving the visit as an opportunity for international news coverage, a group of college students decided to meet in Tiananmen Square, the center of Chinese life, and openly asked the communist government for more freedom. Perceiving the visit as an opportunity for international news coverage, a group of college students decided to meet in Tiananmen Square, the center of Chinese life, and openly asked the communist government for more freedom.

18. Tiananmen They met under the giant portrait of Chairman Mao. They met under the giant portrait of Chairman Mao.

19. Tiananmen The crowd grew to hundreds, then thousands, and then too many to count. The crowd grew to hundreds, then thousands, and then too many to count. They shouted “Long live democracy! Long live freedom! Down with corruption! Down with bureaucracy! ” They shouted “Long live democracy! Long live freedom! Down with corruption! Down with bureaucracy! ”

20. Tiananmen Foreign journalists flooded the ancient city square, snapping photos and taking interviews. The world watched on television. Foreign journalists flooded the ancient city square, snapping photos and taking interviews. The world watched on television.

22. Tiananmen Somebody raised a “goddess of democracy,” a replica of the Statue of Liberty. Somebody raised a “goddess of democracy,” a replica of the Statue of Liberty.

24. Tiananmen Against world opinion, Deng Xiaoping sent in the troops to shut down the movement. The people however, refused to leave. Against world opinion, Deng Xiaoping sent in the troops to shut down the movement. The people however, refused to leave.

26. Tiananmen The troops fired on the crowd. 2,600 were estimated dead and over 10,000 injured. The troops fired on the crowd. 2,600 were estimated dead and over 10,000 injured.

27. Tiananmen

28. The military action continued for two days. In June of 1989, the Chinese government released a report stating “more than 3,000 civilians were wounded and over 200, including 36 college students, died during the riot.”

30. Amnesty International has stated that at least several hundred people were killed and tens of thousands were arrested throughout China during the crackdown.

31. The End of the Revolution? 500 tanks and 300,000 armed soldiers flooded Tiananmen. Thousands were arrested. Some have not yet been released. 500 tanks and 300,000 armed soldiers flooded Tiananmen. Thousands were arrested. Some have not yet been released. The near-revolution was over. The near-revolution was over.

32. Amnesty International claims that Chinese authorities continue to harass and detain those who call for a more democratic China.

34. One of the most encouraging, moving and hopeful events in the recent Chinese history has been the democracy movement of 1989. The world had a rare opportunity to see the human face and spirit of China. Millions of Chinese brothers and sisters displayed openly and peacefully their yearning for freedom, democracy and human dignity. Although they had been born and raised under the slogan that "power grows out of the barrels of guns," they embraced nonviolence in a most impressive way reflecting the values for which the movement stood. One of the most encouraging, moving and hopeful events in the recent Chinese history has been the democracy movement of 1989. The world had a rare opportunity to see the human face and spirit of China. Millions of Chinese brothers and sisters displayed openly and peacefully their yearning for freedom, democracy and human dignity. Although they had been born and raised under the slogan that "power grows out of the barrels of guns," they embraced nonviolence in a most impressive way reflecting the values for which the movement stood. - The Dalai Lama on the 6 th anniversary of the massacre in Tiananmen Square.