may 4, 1919 - May 4th Movement
Description:
On May 4, 1919, more than 3000 students from 13 universities gathered in Beijing, protesting against Chinese official’s consent to the Treaty of Versailles, which granted Japan territories in Shandong. Attacking the Chinese minister to Japan and burning a pro-Japanese minister’s house, the students’ actions were later known as the May Fourth Movement. In response to their violent actions, the police launched a counterattack, arresting 32 students. This movement resulted in a series of events in China, including one which affected foreign countries. During the following weeks, demonstrations spread throughout China, with police arresting more than 1000 student. Starting from June 5, workers in big cities started boycotts, using such aggressive action to show their support to students, demanding the government to free the prisoners. Under the pressure of the large scale strikes, the Chinese officials were forced to release all students and dismissed three pro-Japanese official in June. The protests led to the Chinese delegation’s refusal to sign the Treaty of Versailles, though the issue of Shandong Province was not resolved until 1922, when Japan finally withdrew its claim to the land at the Washington Conference.
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