Movement to Protect the Constitution

The "Movement to Protect the Constitution" was an attempt in 1917 by Sun Yat-sen and his supporters in Guangzhou (Canton) to establish a rival government to the one in Beijing. This movement, also known as the Constitution-Protecting Army, aimed to uphold the provisional constitution. The initial funding for this endeavor may have come from the German consulate in Shanghai.

The movement led to a protracted split between the southern and northern governments in China. While Sun Yat-sen was elected commander-in-chief, real power rested with military leaders. The southern government declared war on Germany and sought recognition from the Allies, but ultimately, Sun Yat-sen left Guangzhou, and his initial effort to establish a government in the south was unsuccessful.1