The May 4th Movement in China
The May 4th Movement in China
The first Cultural Revolution of China’s 20th century began with the May Fourth Movement on May 4th, 1919. The May Fourth Movement in China was an anti-imperialist, cultural, and political movement. Although it physically began on May 4, 1919, it actually lasted from about 1917 until 1923. It marked the rapid rise of Chinese Nationalism as well as a re-evaluation of Confucianism. The movement was sparked by the dissatisfaction with the terms of the Treaty of Versailles settlement regarding China. The treaty endorsed the Japanese takeover of the German concessions in the Shandong peninsula. The movement was an attempt to redefine the culture, political, and intellectual state of China. The movement sparked a nation wide concern about the future of China, as well as the need for change in order to avoid colonization by foreign powers. The end result was a major change in society that helped fuel the birth of the Communist Party of China.
Background
The overthrow of the Qing Dynasty in 1911 marked the end of thousands of years of imperial rule in China. China had been devastated and humiliated by foreign invasion, as well as being forced to give in to the demands of these foreign powers. The British had imported large quantities of opium into China, thus causing mass drug addiction among the Chinese population. Foreign concessions had been given in major sea ports, and foreign residents in these concession areas were not subject to Chinese laws. Corruption was rampant. The end of the Qing Dynasty theoretically brought a new era in which political power rested with the Chinese people. However, in reality, China was a fragmented nation dominated by warlords. The Beiyang government did very little to deal with the influence exerted by imperialist foreign countries. This government made more concessions available to foreigners, which, in conjunction with the warlords, created great suffering amongst the Chinese people.
The first Cultural Revolution of China’s 20th century began with the May Fourth Movement on May 4th, 1919. The May Fourth Movement in China was an anti-imperialist, cultural, and political movement. Although it physically began on May 4, 1919, it actually lasted from about 1917 until 1923. It marked the rapid rise of Chinese Nationalism as well as a re-evaluation of Confucianism. The movement was sparked by the dissatisfaction with the terms of the Treaty of Versailles settlement regarding China. The treaty endorsed the Japanese takeover of the German concessions in the Shandong peninsula. The movement was an attempt to redefine the culture, political, and intellectual state of China. The movement sparked a nation wide concern about the future of China, as well as the need for change in order to avoid colonization by foreign powers. The end result was a major change in society that helped fuel the birth of the Communist Party of China.
Background
The overthrow of the Qing Dynasty in 1911 marked the end of thousands of years of imperial rule in China. China had been devastated and humiliated by foreign invasion, as well as being forced to give in to the demands of these foreign powers. The British had imported large quantities of opium into China, thus causing mass drug addiction among the Chinese population. Foreign concessions had been given in major sea ports, and foreign residents in these concession areas were not subject to Chinese laws. Corruption was rampant. The end of the Qing Dynasty theoretically brought a new era in which political power rested with the Chinese people. However, in reality, China was a fragmented nation dominated by warlords. The Beiyang government did very little to deal with the influence exerted by imperialist foreign countries. This government made more concessions available to foreigners, which, in conjunction with the warlords, created great suffering amongst the Chinese people.