1989 Tiananmen Square protests trying to block the military's advance towards Tiananmen Square. The number of civilian deaths has been estimated variously from 180 to 10,454. Set against a backdrop of rapid economic development and social changes in post-Mao Zedong China, the protests reflected anxieties about the country's future in the popular consciousness and among the political elite. The reforms of the 1980s had led to a nascent market economy which benefitted some people, but seriously disaffected others and the one-party political system also faced a challenge of legitimacy. Common grievances at the time included inflation, limited preparedness of graduates for the new economy
Defend Tiananmen Square Headquarters Defend Tiananmen Square Headquarters Defend Tiananmen Square Headquarters was formed on May 24, 1989. The purpose of this organization was to create a strong leadership to lead the student movement. Defend Tiananmen Square Headquarters was set up by a small group of people. More than half of the organizations were famous student leaders of 1989 student protests. Chai Ling was prominent as commander-in-chief for the Square. There were six other key members in this organization, but not all of them were in charge of the group's decision making in the organization, Li Lu, Feng Congde, Zhang Boli, Wang Dan and