May 30 Movement
Encyclopedia
The May Thirtieth Movement ( May 30, 1925) was a labor and anti-imperalist
movement during the middle-period of the Republic of China
era. It began when Shanghai Municipal Police
officers opened fire on Chinese protesters in Shanghai
's International Settlement
. The shootings sparked international censure and nation-wide anti-foreign demonstration
s.
, who installed a government led by Duan Qirui
in November 1924. The war left the central government bankrupt and Duan exercised little authority outside Beijing. Authority in the North was divided between Zhang and Feng Yuxiang
, a Soviet-backed warlord. Public support for the northern militarists hit an all-time low, with southerners openly disparaging the northern leaders as junfa (warlords). With his monarchist leanings and base in conservative Manchuria
, Zhang represented the far right in Chinese politics and could claim few supporters in southern China. Meanwhile, the KMT (Nationalist) and Communist parties, allied as the First United Front, ran a diplomatically unrecognized Soviet-backed administration in the southern province of Guangdong.
Alongside the public grief at the recent death of China's Republican hero Sun Yat-sen
(12 March), the KMT had energized pro-Chinese, anti-imperial and anti-western organizations within major Chinese cities. Chinese Communist Party groups had also been given greater ability to foment dissent in Shanghai, where the native Chinese workforce was beset by problems involving lack of legal factory inspection or recourse for worker grievances.
In the early months of 1925 conflicts and strikes between the Chinese workforce and the Japanese run No. 8 Mill intensified. Then, on May 15, a Japanese foreman shot a protester named Ku Chen-Hung dead. Over the following weeks, Ku Chen-Hung became viewed as a martyr by Chinese unions and student groups, resulting in numerous protests and strikes against foreign-run industries, particularly Japanese.
arrested fifteen ringleaders of a student protest being held on and around Nanking Road, in the foreign-controlled International Settlement. These protesters were held in Louza (Laozha) police station, which by 2:45pm was facing a 'huge crowd' of Chinese that had amassed outside. These demonstrators demanded the arrested ringleaders be returned to them, in a number of cases, entering the police station and (according to SMP officers) attempting to either block the foyer or gain access to the cells.
A picket of police (there was only a skeleton staff
of approximately a dozen officers overall) was set up to prevent demonstrators entering the station. In the minutes before the shooting, police and witnesses reported cries of 'kill the foreigners' were raised and the demonstration turned violent. Inspector Edward Everson, station commander and the highest ranking officer on the scene (as the police commissioner K.J. McEuen had not let the demonstration interfere with his attendance at the Spring races), eventually shouted: 'Stop! If you do not stop I will shoot!' in Chinese. A few seconds later, at 3.37pm, and as the struggle intensified, he fired into the crowd with his revolver
.
The Sikh
and Chinese
police then opened fire. At least four demonstrators were killed at the scene, with another five dying later of their injuries. At least 14 injured were hospitalized, with many others wounded.
. The strikes, coupled with violent demonstrations and riots, spread across China and brought the economy to a standstill. In Hong Kong
these strikes were known as the Canton-Hong Kong strike
, and in China proper were known as the May Thirtieth Strikes.
By November, with Chiang Kai-shek
having finally seized power after Sun Yat-sen's death and Chinese businesses wishing to return to business, the strikes and protests began to be phased out. In Hong Kong, they would not end until 1926. In response to the shooting, Everson and McEuen were eventually forced to resign, and both left China. The nationalist upsurge associated with the movement and with the Northern Expedition of the Kuomintang
eventually saw reforms in the governance of the International Settlement and the Shanghai Municipal Council.
Imperialism
Imperialism, as defined by Dictionary of Human Geography, is "the creation and/or maintenance of an unequal economic, cultural, and territorial relationships, usually between states and often in the form of an empire, based on domination and subordination." The imperialism of the last 500 years,...
movement during the middle-period of the Republic of China
Republic of China (1912–1949)
In 1911, after over two thousand years of imperial rule, a republic was established in China and the monarchy overthrown by a group of revolutionaries. The Qing Dynasty, having just experienced a century of instability, suffered from both internal rebellion and foreign imperialism...
era. It began when Shanghai Municipal Police
Shanghai Municipal Police
The Shanghai Municipal Police was the police force of the Shanghai Municipal Council which governed the Shanghai International Settlement between 1854 and 1943, when the settlement was retroceded to Chinese control....
officers opened fire on Chinese protesters in Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
's International Settlement
Shanghai International Settlement
The Shanghai International Settlement began originally as a purely British settlement. It was one of the original five treaty ports which were established under the terms of the Treaty of Nanking at the end of the first opium war in the year 1842...
. The shootings sparked international censure and nation-wide anti-foreign demonstration
Demonstration (people)
A demonstration or street protest is action by a mass group or collection of groups of people in favor of a political or other cause; it normally consists of walking in a mass march formation and either beginning with or meeting at a designated endpoint, or rally, to hear speakers.Actions such as...
s.
Roots of the Incident
The Second Zhili–Fengtian War of 1924 was the most destructive turmoil China experienced since 1911. The Zhili-controlled government, backed by Anglo-American business interests, was ousted by pro-Japanese warlord Zhang ZuolinZhang Zuolin
Zhang Zuolin was the warlord of Manchuria from 1916 to 1928 . He successfully invaded China proper in October 1924 in the Second Zhili-Fengtian War. He gained control of Peking, including China's internationally recognized government, in April 1926...
, who installed a government led by Duan Qirui
Duan Qirui
Duan Qirui was a Chinese warlord and politician, commander in the Beiyang Army, and the Provisional Chief Executive of Republic of China from November 24, 1924 to April 20, 1926. He was arguably the most powerful man in China from 1916 to 1920.- Early life :Born in Hefei as Duan Qirui , his...
in November 1924. The war left the central government bankrupt and Duan exercised little authority outside Beijing. Authority in the North was divided between Zhang and Feng Yuxiang
Feng Yuxiang
Feng Yuxiang was a warlord and leader in Republican China. He was also known as the Christian General for his zeal to convert his troops and the Betrayal General for his penchant to break with the establishment. In 1911, he was an officer in the ranks of Yuan Shikai's Beiyang Army but joined...
, a Soviet-backed warlord. Public support for the northern militarists hit an all-time low, with southerners openly disparaging the northern leaders as junfa (warlords). With his monarchist leanings and base in conservative Manchuria
Manchuria
Manchuria is a historical name given to a large geographic region in northeast Asia. Depending on the definition of its extent, Manchuria usually falls entirely within the People's Republic of China, or is sometimes divided between China and Russia. The region is commonly referred to as Northeast...
, Zhang represented the far right in Chinese politics and could claim few supporters in southern China. Meanwhile, the KMT (Nationalist) and Communist parties, allied as the First United Front, ran a diplomatically unrecognized Soviet-backed administration in the southern province of Guangdong.
Alongside the public grief at the recent death of China's Republican hero Sun Yat-sen
Sun Yat-sen
Sun Yat-sen was a Chinese doctor, revolutionary and political leader. As the foremost pioneer of Nationalist China, Sun is frequently referred to as the "Father of the Nation" , a view agreed upon by both the People's Republic of China and the Republic of China...
(12 March), the KMT had energized pro-Chinese, anti-imperial and anti-western organizations within major Chinese cities. Chinese Communist Party groups had also been given greater ability to foment dissent in Shanghai, where the native Chinese workforce was beset by problems involving lack of legal factory inspection or recourse for worker grievances.
In the early months of 1925 conflicts and strikes between the Chinese workforce and the Japanese run No. 8 Mill intensified. Then, on May 15, a Japanese foreman shot a protester named Ku Chen-Hung dead. Over the following weeks, Ku Chen-Hung became viewed as a martyr by Chinese unions and student groups, resulting in numerous protests and strikes against foreign-run industries, particularly Japanese.
The Nanjing Road Incident
On the morning of May 30, 1925 Shanghai Municipal PoliceShanghai Municipal Police
The Shanghai Municipal Police was the police force of the Shanghai Municipal Council which governed the Shanghai International Settlement between 1854 and 1943, when the settlement was retroceded to Chinese control....
arrested fifteen ringleaders of a student protest being held on and around Nanking Road, in the foreign-controlled International Settlement. These protesters were held in Louza (Laozha) police station, which by 2:45pm was facing a 'huge crowd' of Chinese that had amassed outside. These demonstrators demanded the arrested ringleaders be returned to them, in a number of cases, entering the police station and (according to SMP officers) attempting to either block the foyer or gain access to the cells.
A picket of police (there was only a skeleton staff
Skeleton crew
A skeleton crew is the minimum number of personnel needed to operate and maintain an item at its most simple operating requirements, such as a ship or business, during an emergency and, at the same time, to keep vital functions operating.- Uses :...
of approximately a dozen officers overall) was set up to prevent demonstrators entering the station. In the minutes before the shooting, police and witnesses reported cries of 'kill the foreigners' were raised and the demonstration turned violent. Inspector Edward Everson, station commander and the highest ranking officer on the scene (as the police commissioner K.J. McEuen had not let the demonstration interfere with his attendance at the Spring races), eventually shouted: 'Stop! If you do not stop I will shoot!' in Chinese. A few seconds later, at 3.37pm, and as the struggle intensified, he fired into the crowd with his revolver
Revolver
A revolver is a repeating firearm that has a cylinder containing multiple chambers and at least one barrel for firing. The first revolver ever made was built by Elisha Collier in 1818. The percussion cap revolver was invented by Samuel Colt in 1836. This weapon became known as the Colt Paterson...
.
The Sikh
Sikh
A Sikh is a follower of Sikhism. It primarily originated in the 15th century in the Punjab region of South Asia. The term "Sikh" has its origin in Sanskrit term शिष्य , meaning "disciple, student" or शिक्ष , meaning "instruction"...
and Chinese
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
police then opened fire. At least four demonstrators were killed at the scene, with another five dying later of their injuries. At least 14 injured were hospitalized, with many others wounded.
Aftermath
The incident shocked and galvanized the nation. Over the next few days, Shanghai businesses and workers went on strike, with the foreign concessions entering states of emergencyState of emergency
A state of emergency is a governmental declaration that may suspend some normal functions of the executive, legislative and judicial powers, alert citizens to change their normal behaviours, or order government agencies to implement emergency preparedness plans. It can also be used as a rationale...
. The strikes, coupled with violent demonstrations and riots, spread across China and brought the economy to a standstill. In Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
these strikes were known as the Canton-Hong Kong strike
Canton-Hong Kong strike
The Canton-Hong Kong strike was a strike and boycott in that took place between Hong Kong and Guangdong, China from June 1925 to October 1926...
, and in China proper were known as the May Thirtieth Strikes.
By November, with Chiang Kai-shek
Chiang Kai-shek
Chiang Kai-shek was a political and military leader of 20th century China. He is known as Jiǎng Jièshí or Jiǎng Zhōngzhèng in Mandarin....
having finally seized power after Sun Yat-sen's death and Chinese businesses wishing to return to business, the strikes and protests began to be phased out. In Hong Kong, they would not end until 1926. In response to the shooting, Everson and McEuen were eventually forced to resign, and both left China. The nationalist upsurge associated with the movement and with the Northern Expedition of the Kuomintang
Kuomintang
The Kuomintang of China , sometimes romanized as Guomindang via the Pinyin transcription system or GMD for short, and translated as the Chinese Nationalist Party is a founding and ruling political party of the Republic of China . Its guiding ideology is the Three Principles of the People, espoused...
eventually saw reforms in the governance of the International Settlement and the Shanghai Municipal Council.
See also
- Warlord eraWarlord eraThe Chinese Warlord Era was the period in the history of the Republic of China, from 1916 to 1928, when the country was divided among military cliques, a division that continued until the fall of the Nationalist government in the mainland China regions of Sichuan, Shanxi, Qinghai, Ningxia,...
- History of the Republic of ChinaHistory of the Republic of ChinaThe History of the Republic of China begins after the Qing Dynasty in 1912, when the formation of the Republic of China put an end to over two thousand years of Imperial rule. The Qing Dynasty, also known as the Manchu Dynasty, ruled from 1644 to 1912...
- Military of the Republic of ChinaMilitary of the Republic of ChinaThe Republic of China Armed Forces encompass the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Military Police Force of the Republic of China . It is a military establishment, which accounted for 16.8% of the central budget in the fiscal year of 2003...
- May Fourth MovementMay Fourth MovementThe May Fourth Movement was an anti-imperialist, cultural, and political movement growing out of student demonstrations in Beijing on May 4, 1919, protesting the Chinese government's weak response to the Treaty of Versailles, especially the Shandong Problem...