The May Fourth Movement was a patriotic movement that took place in Beijing on May 4, 1919, mainly young students and with the participation of the masses, citizens, businessmen and other strata, through demonstrations, strikes, violent confrontations and other forms, and was a patriotic movement of the Chinese people to thoroughly oppose imperialism and feudalism, also known as the "May Fourth Wind and Thunder."
1. The direct goal of the May Fourth Movement.
The direct struggle goals of the May Fourth Movement were numerous, the most important of which were the following:
1.He opposed the Paris Peace Conference's transfer of Germany's rights and interests in China's Shandong to Japan, and advocated China's sovereignty over Germany.
2.He opposed the compromise and surrender policy of the Beiyang warlords, and demanded the recovery of Qingdao's sovereignty and the abolition of the "Twenty-one Articles" unequal treaty.
3.It is required to punish the thieves Cao Rulin, Zhang Zongxiang, Lu Zongxiang, etc.
2. The history of the May Fourth Movement.
In January 1919, Britain, the United States, France, Japan and other countries convened the Paris Peace Conference, and China participated in the conference as one of the victorious powers. At the meeting, the Chinese delegates put forward just demands such as the abolition of all foreign privileges in China, the abolition of the "21 Articles," and the resumption of Qingdao's sovereignty. However, the conference was manipulated by Britain, the United States, France, and other powers, which rejected the demands of the Chinese delegates and decided instead to transfer Germany's rights and interests in the occupation of Shandong, China, to Japan. When the news reached China, the whole country was outraged.
On May 4, 1919, Beijing students gathered at Tiananmen Square, chanting the slogans of "Fight for sovereignty externally, punish internally" and abolish the "21 Articles", which broke out into a May Fourth Patriotic Movement with unprecedented scale and far-reaching influence, and opened the prelude to China's new democratic revolution.
Subsequently, Shanghai workers went on strike, and merchants went on strike in support of the student struggle. Workers everywhere also took part in the strikes, and the participation of the working class in the struggle played a huge role. The May Fourth Movement received assistance and support from a wide range of patriotic movements of progressive forces of all ethnic groups and all walks of life in the Chinese people. This movement was the end of the old democratic revolution and the beginning of the new democratic revolution in China.
The historical significance of the March and May Fourth Movements.
The May Fourth Movement was a great patriotic movement of the masses. The object of its struggle was directly aimed at imperialism and the Beiyang warlords, and the anti-imperialist and anti-feudal thoroughness it showed was unprecedented in the May Fourth Movement. It fully mobilized the masses, united industry, commerce, and academia, and some of the peasants participated. The campaign was goal-oriented, and all participants were filled with passion and strong beliefs. Although the May Fourth Movement's pursuit of democracy and science had inevitable flaws and blind movements, its mainstream was still good and in line with the interests and aspirations of the people. As such, it is of great historical significance.
Through the May Fourth Movement, the Chinese people further realized the nature of imperialist aggression and the corruption and incompetence of the warlords, and strengthened their understanding of the anti-imperialist and anti-feudal struggle. Driven by the patriotic movement, a great revolutionary tide began to emerge, and the working class began to play an increasingly important role in the political arena. The May Fourth Movement promoted the spread of Marxist theory and the development of the socialist movement, and cultivated a number of backbone forces for China's revolutionary cause. In addition, the May Fourth Movement also provided valuable experience and lessons for later generations.
In short, the May Fourth Movement was a patriotic movement of far-reaching historical significance. It not only marked the end of China's old democratic revolution and the beginning of the new democratic revolution, but also laid an important foundation for China's future development.