Written by Background:
In the aftermath of World War I, nations around the world gathered at the Paris Peace Conference in 1919 to draft a new world order. Chinese intellectuals and reformers hoped that their country’s participation on the Allied side—sending laborers to aid the war effort—would result in the return of territories previously controlled by Germany in Shandong Province.
But when the Treaty of Versailles transferred those territories to Japan instead of back to China, the decision ignited widespread national outrage. Chinese people saw the move as not only a betrayal by the international community but also as a symbol of China’s weakness under warlord rule and imperialist oppression.
Frustration with foreign domination, as well as the ineffectiveness of China’s ruling elite, created the perfect storm for a youth-led awakening.
What Happened:
On May 4, 1919, over 3,000 students from 13 Beijing universities gathered in Tiananmen Square to protest the Treaty of Versailles and the decision to grant Shandong to Japan. They shouted slogans like “Down with imperialism!” and “Don’t sign the Versailles Treaty!” Demonstrations quickly escalated, with students marching to foreign embassies and clashing with police.
In the days that followed, the movement spread across the country. Strikes, boycotts of Japanese goods, and further protests united students, workers, and merchants in a rare show of national solidarity. Some government officials sympathetic to the students resigned, and under immense public pressure, the Chinese delegation refused to sign the treaty.
The May Fourth protests were not just about geopolitics—they were about China’s identity, future, and voice on the world stage. Intellectuals used this moment to call for sweeping changes in Chinese society: the abandonment of feudal traditions, the embrace of science and democracy, and the promotion of vernacular Chinese literature over classical language.
Impact for the Future:
The May Fourth Movement became a foundational event in modern Chinese history. It ushered in the New Culture Movement, which challenged Confucian ideals and promoted liberal, egalitarian, and modernist values. It gave rise to widespread calls for women’s rights, educational reform, and political participation.
Politically, the movement directly influenced the formation of both the Chinese Communist Party (founded in 1921) and the spread of Marxist thought among Chinese youth and intellectuals. Many of the students who marched on May 4 would go on to become leading political figures.
Though initially a protest, May Fourth evolved into a cultural and ideological revolution, inspiring generations to think critically about nationalism, modernity, and China’s place in the world.
Even today, May 4th is commemorated in China as Youth Day, a celebration of patriotism, critical thinking, and the power of young people to influence their nation’s future.