HIST 130A/130B: Modern World History   HIST 130A/130B: Internet Assignment for Hist130a/b: The 'May Fourth Movement' refers to the mass demonstrations led mostly by university students from various parts of China in protest of the conditions set forth in the Treaty of Versailles at the end of World War I. The protests began on May 4, 1919 in Beijing, and protesters rejected mainly the condition of the Treaty that proposed to transfer parts of Chinese territory to Japan. Students enraged by that proposed concession and with the pro-Japanese officials in the Chinese government, demonstrated until the pressure mounted on the government forced some political leaders to resign and instigated China's refusal to sign the Treaty with Germany. Scholars often identify those protests which began on May 4, 1919, as a turning point in the 'New Culture Movement' which sought to distance China from the traditions of its past and to initiate nationalistic zeal. Below are four websites related to either Chinese history in general or specifically to the May Fourth Movement. Go to each of these sites and evaluate the type of information they provide concerning the May Fourth Movement. In other words, examine these sites as if you were to write a paper on the May Fourth Movement, and identify what kind of information they offer and determine whether or not that information is scholarly and useful. Then, in one, double-spaced, typed page discuss and evaluate the kind of information each site supplies. The point of this assignment is to help you determine whether or not the internet is a useful academic tool and to distinguish critically among the variety of good and bad historically-based websites. In some of these sites you will need to search for the information directly related to the May Fourth Movement. The Taipei Times A student paper An educational site Announcement from Professor Quataert for students wishing to participate in the languages across the curriculum program: to compensate you for the time and effort you put into the languages across the curriculum program, I make the following offer: Normally, the final exam for the course will consist of two essay questions. If you participate fully in the languages across the curriculum program, I will exempt you from answering one of the two essay questions on the final exam. To obtain this exemption, you must attend the special l x c sessions, share in its activities, AND participate in making the l x c presentation to the class at the end of the semester. Please contact your TA and let them know of your interest in signing up for the l x c program, if you haven't done so already. © 1998 Research Foundation of the State University of New York at Binghamton HOMEPAGE URL: http://history.binghamton.edu/hist130/ This page last updated: 8/20/2002 Send Comments to: Prof. Donald Quataert