May Fourth Movement of 1919

  • Paris Peace Conference

    Paris Peace Conference
    Chinese delegates declare Germany's rights in Shandong Province should be transferred to China, instead of japan. *Network of Chinese representatives at the conference
    (wangluohongren.com)
  • Period: to

    The Revolution

  • The people of Shandong hold a mass rally of some 100,000.

    The people of Shandong hold a mass rally of some 100,000.
    The people demand the abolition of all secret treaties with Japan and all mining and railway rights, and also the return of Qingdao Port to China. *The mass rally (cultural-china.com)
  • Treaty of Versailles

    Treaty of Versailles
    At the Paris Peace Conference, the powers decide to accept Japan's demand for Shandong Province and to reject China's position. *Paris Peace Conference (wordpress.com)
  • May Fourth Movement Begins

    May Fourth Movement Begins
    Some 3000 students from Peking University and other educational institutions in Peking hold a demonstration to protest against the treatment of China at the Paris Peace Conference. The demonstrators set fire to the residence of Cao Rulin, the Minister of Communications, and beat up Zhang Zongxiang,
    the Chinese minister to Japan. *The demonstration at Tiananmen Square
    (wangluolinzing.com)
  • Chinese Students in Tokyo clash with Japanese police.

    Chinese Students in Tokyo clash with Japanese police.
    Chinese students demand for the return of German rights in Shandong Province to China. *Japanese and Chinese national flags (crossed-flags.com)
  • A general strike by students begins in Peking and soon spreads to other cities.

    The strikers demand a boycottt on Japanese goods.
  • Several hundred studets are arrested by military policemen.

    Several hundred studets are arrested by military policemen.
    The government prohibits student participation in politics.
    • Police arrest students giving patriotic street lectures (encyclopedia.com)
  • Call For Change

    Call For Change
    Li Dazhao publishes "The Victory of the People" and
    "The Victory of Bolshevism," which introduce communism to the Chinese public. *Portrait of Li Dazhao (wikipedia.org)