Qing Dynasty(Chinese Revolution) Notes

Chinese revolution

Manchu overthrows Ming dynasty and establishes Qing dynasty 1644 1839: 1st opium war-China is defeated by the British 1842: The treaty of Nanjing forces China to admit European traders on their terms 1851: Taiping rebellion. (Hong xiuquan declares himself the Heavenly King) 1853: Taiping takes Nanjing and establishes their capital 1860: 2nd opium war. France and Britain defeat China. More unfair conditions. Summer palace （圆明园） was burnt down. 1864: Nanjing falls. Taiping Rebellion ends 1873: Emperor Tongzhi is old enough to rule 1875: Emperor Tongzhi dies :( 1889: Guangxu ascends the throne 195 years 1894: Sino-Japanese war (over korea)Japanese won 1895: Treaty of Shimonseki signed 1896: Yuan Shikai sets up military academy in Tianjin 1898: Guangxu propsed 100 days reform. He was later put on house arrest 1900: Boxer rebellion 1901: Boxer protocol signed 1902: Many reforms forced on Cixi 1905: Sun Yatsen forms Tongmenghui 1908: Death of Guangxu and Cixi. Puyi the new child emperor 1911: Wuhan uprising. Qing Dynasty is overthrown(Puyi abdicates) 1912: Republic is formed.

2 opium wars China was defeated by the Opium wars (Britain and France) Lost as China did not have the resources to win the war. War junks were no match for British Frigades. Causes of the opium war: -China wanted to suppress opium trade The 1st opium war-Forced China to sign the treaty of Nanjing. The treaty of Nanjing had ended the first opium war, which was the first of a series of unequal treaties between China and other imperialist powers. China paid the British an indemnity, ceded the territory of Hong Kong, and agreed to establish a “fair and reasonable” tariff. British merchants, who had previously been allowed to trade only at Guangzhou (Canton), were now permitted to trade at five “treaty ports” and with whomever they pleased. 2nd opium war forced China to sign treaty of Tianjin Consequence of opium war: Exposed China as technologically & militarily backward & to a century of Western Imperialist exploitation in China.

Taiping rebellion Taiping Rebellion, radical political and religious upheaval that was probably the most important event in China in the 19th century. It lasted for some 14 years (1850–64), ravaged 17 provinces, took an estimated 20 million lives, and irrevocably altered the Qing dynasty (1644–1911/12). The rebellion began under the leadership of Hong Xiuquan (1814–64), a disappointed civil service examination candidate who, influenced by Christian teachings, had a series of visions and believed himself to be the son of God, the younger brother of Jesus Christ, sent to reform China. A friend of Hong’s, Feng Yunshan, utilized Hong’s ideas to organize a new religious group, the God Worshippers’ Society (Bai Shangdi Hui), which he formed among the impoverished peasants of Guangxi province. In 1847 Hong joined Feng and the God Worshippers, and three years later he led them in rebellion. On January 1, 1851, he proclaimed his new dynasty, the Taiping Tianguo (“Heavenly Kingdom of Great Peace”), and assumed the title of Tianwang, or “Heavenly King.”

Self-strengthening movement Two factions in the court The Traditional Faction: Confucianism is the best! No need to change Qing defeat in Opium Wars due to corruption and loss of morals of the officials Solution: Fight corruption, restore morals according to proper Confucianism Progressive Faction: Engaging the West! Western attacks an unprecedented challenge to China in 2000 years, China weak because it lost to the superior weapons of the West Solution: Learn Western technology and science to fight the West Trade with the West Participate in international diplomacy to prevent Westerners from ‘ganging up” on China

Self-strengthening movement The Self-Strengthening Movement was a campaign for economic and military reform in China, inspired by the nation’s military weakness in the mid 19th century The Self-Strengthening Movement began in the 1860s & sought to acquire and utilise Western methods. Mottos of SMM “Learn barbarian methods to combat barbarian threats” Chinese Learning as principle, Western Learning as application. “中学为体, 西学为用” Some successes ● Theformation and development of Western-style military academies, ● The construction of fortifications around Chinese ports and ● The creation of China’s first modern fleet, the Beiyang Navy 北洋水师 Limitations ● Limited scope of reforms – mainly on military modernisation ● No modernisation of government, education, culture or ideologies etc.. ● Corruption and decay of government continued Fell further behind the West on technological innovations by end of 20th century SMM only a respite, did not really strengthen China. China was defeated by Japan in 1895. Chinese held on to Confucianism & did not reform the government & society.

Sino-Japanese war 1) What led to the Sino-Japanese war from 1894 to 1895? China and Japan wanted to fight for supermacy in Korea 2) Why where the Japanese successful in the war? Japan had superior soldiers and weapons. Link to internal factor-China had the middle kingdom mentality and felt that they were superior to all other countries. Hence did not bother to improve the military. 3) How did the war contribute to the 1911 revolution? The Qing government lost significant prestige. People had lost faith in the Qing government as they perceived the government as one which was weak and incapable of protecting its citizens and territories. They also lost Taiwan to Japan, and Korea gained independence.

Boxer Rebellion The Boxer Rebllion was a peasant uprising in China that attempted to drive all foreigners from China. Britain, France, Germany, Russia and Japan put down the uprising with great violence. The Boxers captured Cixi and forced her to flee from her palace. Boxer Protocol China had to pay $450 million in reparations. Arsenals and fortifications were destroyed. What did the Qing Court hope to achieve through supporting the Boxers? Get rid of foreigners and gain support of Chinese What was the significance of Boxer Rebellion? The Boxer Rebellion was an important demonstration of Chinese Nationalism. It also showed that China was no longer the centre of the world (most powerful). There was a decline in China´s global status and there was also a decline in status of the Qing government.

100 days reform ➔ Scholars who studied in Japan wanted changes to China´s political system ➔ Proposed a constitutional monarchy with the emperor as a head of state and a cabinet of officials ➔ Proposed the introduction of practical subjects instead of Confucian classics ➔ Kang Yuwei influenced Emperor Guangxu was to implement reforms with the approval of Cixi ➔ Manchu officials did not want to change. They would lose their jobs

Imperial Reforms In 1902, Cixi started the Imperial Reforms which changed the Qing military, education and political systems In 1898, with the help of certain senior officials, Kang Youwei & Liang Qichao were permitted to speak with the Emperor. -Some of Kang's students were also given minor but strategic posts in the capital to assist with the reforms. Goals of these reforms included the following: – abolishing the traditional examination system on Confucianism to become officials – building a modern education system (studying mathematics and science instead of Confucian texts) – changing the government from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy. – modernizing China's military & adopting modern training and drill methods – rapid industrialization of all of China through manufacturing, commerce, and capitalism The reformers declared that China needed more than "self-strengthening" and that innovation must be accompanied by deep systematic and ideological changes in governance