History of Tibet before the Chinese Invasion of 1949
Tibet has a history dating back over 2,000 years. It was first unified in the 7th Century A.D., under King Songtsen Gampo and his successors.

Tibet has extended its influence over neighboring countries and peoples and, in other periods, came itself under the influence of powerful foreign rulers, i.e. the Mongol
Khans, the Gorkhas of Nepal, the Manchu emperors and the British rulers of India.

Both Tibet and China came under foreign influence in the 13th century (by the Mongol emperors) and again in the 18th century (by the Manchu emperors). These two periods of Mongol and Manchu occupation are the basis of China’s false claim to Tibet.

From 1911 to 1950
Tibet successfully avoided undue foreign influence and behaved, in every respect, as a fully independent state with its own functioning government, currency, language, religion, and culture.

1949-51: The Chinese Invasion

1949 - The “People’s Liberation Army” of the People’s Republic of China invades Tibet; the small, ill-equipped Tibetan army is defeated.

May 1951 - The PLA imposes the so-called 17-Point Agreement for the Peaceful Liberation of Tibet on the Tibetan government.

March 10, 1959 – National Uprising Day. His Holiness the Dalai Lama flees into exile.

Post-1959: The Aftermath
Mao and the Red Guards begin the Cultural Revolution, a reign of terror in Tibet. Customs and religion banned, 6000 monasteries destroyed, language and culture suffers. 1.2 million Tibetans, one-fifth of the country’s population, died as a result of China’s policies; many more languished in prisons and labor camps. At least 70,000 Tibetans have fled since the invasion.

Sept. 1976 - Death of Mao, development of a “New China” and potential for Tibet-China dialogue.

The Last Thirty Years
1982 - Tibetan officials hold meeting with Chinese government. China proposes autonomy for only Central Tibet. Officials are unwilling to accept this proposal.

1984 - Dalai Lama proposes internal autonomy, one country, two systems. International Campaign for a Free Tibet is established.

1987 - Dalai Lama proposes Five Point Peace Plan, campaign for a Free Tibet begins to gain international support.

October 1, 1987 -Tibetan monks and women throw stones at a Chinese police station during unrest in Lhasa. The protest turned violent when twenty to thirty monks from Sera Monastery were arrested for peacefully demonstrating and then publicly beaten with belts and shovels. The outraged crowd demanded the monks’ release and a riot ensued.

1989 – Death of 10th Panchen Lama. An increase in rioting leads to the declaration of martial law and a more hard-lined policy towards the integration of Tibet into China. A large influx of Chinese into Tibet allows China more control over the economic, cultural and religious life of Tibetans.

1995 – Reincarnation of Panchen Lama found. State Department report shows that human rights abuses in Tibet and China are steadily increasing.