In May 1935, in order to obtain dominance in Huabei (North China), Japan made political and military threats to Nationalist Party's Government. Nationalist Party's Government gave in and submitted governance of most of the Huabei area. The crisis of Huabei could not be more serious, as students in Beijing put it. "So Spacious is Huabei, yet it cannot accommodate a peaceful school table!"

On August 1st, the CPC announced the "August 1st Declaration". which was followed by the "Declaration of Fighting Japanese and saving the Nation" in November, all calling upon the establishment of a united national front for anti-Japanese fighting. An upswing of anti-Japanese democratic movement was brought about through out the country.

On December 9th, led by the CPC, five to six thousand students held a massive demonstration in Beiping with the theme of fighting Japan and saving the nation. The police intervened brutally, causing a physical clash with students who were carring out their goal of fighting Japanese and saving the nation. On second day, a general strike broke out among all schools in Beiping for the atrocity of government. On December 16th, there came another demonstration of more than ten thousand people, both students and town folk.

The patriotic acts of students in Beiping gained nationwide response and support from students, workers and intellectuals all over the country, marking the unprecedented movement of fighting Japanese and saving the nation.

December 9th Movement deterred Japanese from its plan to occupy Huabei and all of China. It was a protest against Nationalist Pary Government's policy of compromise and surrender, a boost for the anti-Japanese democratic movement nationwide, and a signal of the forthcoming apex of the democratic revolution.