Why did the Tiananmen Square incident happen on June 4, 1989? The June 4th incident on Tiananmen Square in 1989 was caused by a series of political, social, and economic factors. Political instability: 1989 was a period of political instability in China, due to various historical reasons including China's response to the Soviet Union, domestic anti-corruption struggles, and economic reform processes, leading to political instability and social unrest. Economic difficulties: In the late 1980s, China's economy encountered a series of problems, including inflation, rising unemployment, stagnant wages, etc., making life difficult for the people, especially for those in the low-income strata. Political repression: In the 1980s, the Chinese government's control over intellectuals and civil society became increasingly stronger, and restrictions on freedom of speech also intensified, leading to dissatisfaction and resentment among many people towards the government. Call for democr...