1918年11月11日，延续4年之久的第一次世界大战以英、美、法等国的胜利和德、奥等国的失败而告结束。1919年1月，获胜的协约国在巴黎凡尔赛宫召开和平会议。中华民国作为战胜国参加会议。中华民国代表在会上提出废除外国在华特权，取消二十一条等正当要求，均遭拒绝。会议竟决定日本接管德国在华的各种特权。对这丧权辱国的条约，中华民国代表居然准备签字承认。消息传来，举国震怒，群情激愤。以学生为先导的五四爱国运动就如火山爆发般地开始了。

　　In November 11, 1918, the first World War lasted for 4 years in Britain, America, France and other countries and the victory of Germany, Austria and other countries come to an end in failure. 1919 January, winning xiediguo held in the Palace of Versailles in Paris peace conference. The Republic of China as a victorious nation to attend the meeting. The representative of China at the proposed abolition of privileges in China and foreign countries, cancel twenty-one legitimate demands were rejected. Japan has decided to take over the meeting in Germany's privileges in china. To humiliate the country and forfeit its sovereignty of this treaty, the representative of the Republic of China was prepared to recognize the signature. When the news came out, the country burning, burning with indignation. The student led five four patriotic movement like a volcano began.

　　5月4日下午，北京3000多名学生在天安门前集会游行，他们高呼：“还我青岛”“收回山东权利”、“拒绝在巴黎和会上签字”、“废除二十一条”、“抵制日货”、“宁肯玉碎，勿为瓦全”、“外争国权，内惩国贼”等口号，并且要求惩办交通总长曹汝霖、币制局总裁陆宗舆、驻日公使章宗祥，呼吁各界人士行动起来，反对帝国主义的侵略行径，保卫中国的领土和主权。这一运动得到的工人和各阶层人士的声援和支持，上海、南京等地的工人纷纷举行罢工或示威。在全国人民的压力下，北洋政府被迫释放被捕学生，罢免曹汝霖等人的职务，并指令巴黎参加会议的代表拒绝在和约上签字。