Democracy, Chaos, Communism

Early Years of the Republic

 * 1916 -> Yuan Shikai in Imperial robes backfires as a political calculation
 * Semi-autonomous local states form

May Fourth Movement

 * Starts in 1914 -> with outbreak of WWI
 * Japan allies with UK, France, declares war on Germany (including parts of China)

Twenty-One Demands (1915)

 * Japanese makes demands of Chinese government
 * takes over large parts of Manuchuria
 * takes over Silver mines
 * Commercial rights are granted
 * New trading rights

World War I

 * August 1917 -> China joins war effort on the side of the allies
 * Unable to supply funds or weaponry, they supply labor
 * 2100 Chinese died fighting or working in Europe
 * At Treaty of Versailles -> Chinese expect to gain new favor
 * But instead Woodrow Wilson makes deal with Japan and acknowledges Japan's claim on parts of China
 * Chinese feel betrayed, angered

Duan Qirui

 * Chinese president and leader
 * In 1918 -> Made secret agreement with Japan allowing them military garrisons in China
 * This really ticks off people in China when it comes out

Protest

 * On May 4th, popular uprising in Beijing begins
 * 3,000 Students congregated in Tiananmen Square
 * March on Foreign Embassies, are Stopped
 * Then march on China's diplomats who negotiated these betrayals
 * Led by intellectuals and students, the movement gained popular support by explaining arguments clearly

New Culture Movement

 * Predates May 4th Movement
 * Begun in 1915 with the publication of a journal

Chen Duxiu

 * Editor of the New Youth publication
 * Founder of New Culture movement

New Youth

 * Popular publication that criticized Confucian teachings
 * Sought to replace the Confucian brothers with "Mr. Math and Mr. Science"
 * Attacked Chinese tradition and heritage
 * Looked for new traditions from the west to give strength to the Chinese nation


 * Didn't see the adoption of Representative Government as enough change


 * Became the most prestigious of many journals promoting the idea of a need in China for "New Culture"

Hu Shi

 * B.A. from Cornell
 * Studies for PhD. at Columbia
 * Becomes additional intellectual hoping for solution
 * Great works of art & literature -> Uses Vernacular
 * Starts/ SupportsMovement to create 'modern' written Chinese
 * Teaches at Beijing University

Li Dazhao

 * Librarian at Beijing University
 * Inspired by Russian Revolution to consider class struggle and Marxism
 * Essay "My Communism" one of the first published discussions of Marxism in China

Lu Xun

 * One of the writers in China
 * Studies in Japan
 * Gets very bothered by the Japanese's depiction of killing, mutilating Chinese people
 * Decides a cultural movement is more important than medical assistance
 * China is bodily healthy, but culturally bankrupt in need of support and service


 * Most famous work is : True Story of Ah Q
 * Full Text available here