The 1989 Tiananmen Square protests were student-led demonstrations in Beijing calling for greater political freedom, transparency, and an end to corruption within the Communist Party of China. Inspired by the 'Glasnost' reforms in the Soviet Union, the protests grew to include workers and intellectuals, occupying the square for weeks. On the night of June 3 and morning of June 4, the Chinese government sent in the People's Liberation Army with tanks and assault rifles to clear the square by force. The resulting 'Tiananmen Square Massacre' saw an unknown number of casualties, ranging from several hundred to several thousand. The event resulted in heavy international sanctions against China and a tightening of political control within the country, even as it continued to liberalize its economy.