Objective
Explain how internal and external factors contributed to change in China after 1900
Reading Questions
- What were the internal factors that led to the fall of the Qing?
- What were the external factors that led to the fall of the Qing?
- What were Sun Yat-Sen's Principles of the People?
- Why did the Nationalist and Communists stop fighting for a while?
- How did Mao and the Communist come to power?
- Why are there two Chinas?
Revolution of 1911
For more than 2000 years China was ruled by imperial dynasties. In 17th century , Qing dynasty came to power but it would fall to a Republic by 1911.
External Problems
In the 19th Century, China went through what they called the "Century of Humiliation." Several foreign defeats made the Chinse lose confidence in the Qing. There was the defeat in the First Opium War (1842) , defeat in the Second Opium War (1860) , defeat in the Sino-French War (1885) , and defeat in the Sino-Japanese War (1895).
After the Opium Wars, the government was made to sing the Unequal Treaties further humiliating China. Those unequal treaties deeply affected people's economic lives. The no taxes on foreign goods led to a decline in business for local Chinese artisans. Further humiliations came because China was under rule of different Western Powers and Japan under the spheres of influence settlement. This settlement allowed Austria, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Japan, and Russia all to claim exclusive trading rights with specific areas of China. Some countries went so far as to claim to actually own the land within it's sphere of influence. All these showed the weaknesses of the Qing Court.
In the 19th Century, China went through what they called the "Century of Humiliation." Several foreign defeats made the Chinse lose confidence in the Qing. There was the defeat in the First Opium War (1842) , defeat in the Second Opium War (1860) , defeat in the Sino-French War (1885) , and defeat in the Sino-Japanese War (1895).
After the Opium Wars, the government was made to sing the Unequal Treaties further humiliating China. Those unequal treaties deeply affected people's economic lives. The no taxes on foreign goods led to a decline in business for local Chinese artisans. Further humiliations came because China was under rule of different Western Powers and Japan under the spheres of influence settlement. This settlement allowed Austria, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Japan, and Russia all to claim exclusive trading rights with specific areas of China. Some countries went so far as to claim to actually own the land within it's sphere of influence. All these showed the weaknesses of the Qing Court.
Internal Problems
Few Manchu/Qing Rulers were actually capable leaders. As a result, corruption remained unchecked; inefficient administration still existed; and low morale of the troops was also easy to be found.
China was constantly affected by floods and droughts. But relief work was not properly carried out and people suffered from hunger and many people then joined the revolutionary groups. And finally the failure to modernize under the Self Strengthening Movement also contributed to the fall of the Qing Dynasty.
Few Manchu/Qing Rulers were actually capable leaders. As a result, corruption remained unchecked; inefficient administration still existed; and low morale of the troops was also easy to be found.
China was constantly affected by floods and droughts. But relief work was not properly carried out and people suffered from hunger and many people then joined the revolutionary groups. And finally the failure to modernize under the Self Strengthening Movement also contributed to the fall of the Qing Dynasty.
Nationalists Overthrow Qing Dynasty in 1911
Among the groups pushing for modernization and nationalization was the Kuomintang (kMT) (KWOH•mihn•TANG), or the Nationalist Party. Its first great leader was Sun Yixian or Sun Yat-sen (soon yee•shyahn). In 1911, the Revolutionary Alliance, a forerunner of the Kuomintang, succeeded in overthrowing the last emperor of the Qing dynasty. The Qing had ruled China since 1644.
Among the groups pushing for modernization and nationalization was the Kuomintang (kMT) (KWOH•mihn•TANG), or the Nationalist Party. Its first great leader was Sun Yixian or Sun Yat-sen (soon yee•shyahn). In 1911, the Revolutionary Alliance, a forerunner of the Kuomintang, succeeded in overthrowing the last emperor of the Qing dynasty. The Qing had ruled China since 1644.
In 1912, Sun became president of the new Republic of China. Sun hoped to establish a modern government based on the “Three Principles of the People”:
(1) nationalism—an end to foreign control,
(2) people’s rights—democracy, and
(3) people’s livelihood—economic security for all Chinese including land reforms.
(1) nationalism—an end to foreign control,
(2) people’s rights—democracy, and
(3) people’s livelihood—economic security for all Chinese including land reforms.
Sun Yixian considered nationalism vital. Despite his lasting influence as a revolutionary leader, Sun lacked the authority and military support to secure national unity. Sun turned over the presidency to a powerful general, Yuan Shikai,
Yuan Shikai quickly wanted to make himself emperor betraying the democratic ideals of the revolution. He also expelled the Kuomintang party from the National Assembly. His actions sparked local revolts. After the general died in 1916, civil war broke out. Real authority fell into the hands of provincial warlords or powerful military leaders. They ruled territories as large as their armies could conquer.
Yuan Shikai quickly wanted to make himself emperor betraying the democratic ideals of the revolution. He also expelled the Kuomintang party from the National Assembly. His actions sparked local revolts. After the general died in 1916, civil war broke out. Real authority fell into the hands of provincial warlords or powerful military leaders. They ruled territories as large as their armies could conquer.
In 921- Sun Yat-sen returned and established a government at Guangzhou. He raised a military with the help of the Soviet Union. Sun joined forces with the newly formed Chinese Communist Party (CPC) to try and consolidate power. Unfortunately, he died of cancer in 1925.
After Sun’s death, his trusted general, Chiang Kai-shek rose to prominence in KMT. Chiang unified China after successfully defeating the warlords in the north. The Communists (CPC) were trying to start a socialist revolution in areas where it was dominant. Chiang was against Communists and their ideology and led their ouster from KMT in 1927.
In 1927 the rivalry became a civil war. Over the next ten years, from 1927 to 1936 the two sides fought. Mao Zedong of the CPC led peasants and common people in uprisings against the Kuomintang. At the same time Chiang Kai-shek, leader of the Kuomintang, tried to put down the uprisings and eliminate Mao and the CPC Army. In 1934, Mao and the CPC army had to retreat from the Kuomintang. They went on a series of long marches that lasted an entire year, from October of 1934 to October of 1935. They traveled around 7,000 miles. They began the Long March at Jiangxi province in south China and finally stopped at the Shaanxi province of northern China. Out of around 80,000 soldiers that began the march, only 8,000 or so made it to the end.
When the Japanese invaded China in 1937, the CPC and the Kuomintang once again united in order to defend their homeland. This uneasy alliance continued throughout World War II, but the two sides still hated and mistrusted each other. After the end of World War II in 1945, the two sides resumed their civil war. With American support, Chiang Kai-shek took control of China's major cities. However, the CPC was heavily funded by the Soviet Union and quickly gained support in the rural areas. By 1948 the CPC was gaining momentum. They continued to take nationalist cities and, with each victory, they were gaining support within the population of China.
In October of 1949, the CPC captured Beijing. They declared victory and said that China was now under the rule of the People's Republic of China. The nationalists fled to the island of Taiwan where they established their own government called the Republic of China. Many states did not recognize the People's Republic of China (Communist China) as the legitimate government. Some believed that democratic China would eventually regain China. After several decades of civil war, China emerged in the second half of the 20th century as socialist.
When the Japanese invaded China in 1937, the CPC and the Kuomintang once again united in order to defend their homeland. This uneasy alliance continued throughout World War II, but the two sides still hated and mistrusted each other. After the end of World War II in 1945, the two sides resumed their civil war. With American support, Chiang Kai-shek took control of China's major cities. However, the CPC was heavily funded by the Soviet Union and quickly gained support in the rural areas. By 1948 the CPC was gaining momentum. They continued to take nationalist cities and, with each victory, they were gaining support within the population of China.
In October of 1949, the CPC captured Beijing. They declared victory and said that China was now under the rule of the People's Republic of China. The nationalists fled to the island of Taiwan where they established their own government called the Republic of China. Many states did not recognize the People's Republic of China (Communist China) as the legitimate government. Some believed that democratic China would eventually regain China. After several decades of civil war, China emerged in the second half of the 20th century as socialist.