Chapter 22 – Section 2Revolution in China

The BIG Idea

Self Determination:Reforms led to a revolution in China, and

the arrival of Westerners brought changes to its culture and economy.

Lets Review• For years the Qing Dynasty of China had kept European countries at a distance by only allowing them limited access to trade.• As a way to encourage more positive trade for themselves, the British introduced Opium, which many Chinese became addicted to. • Tensions between China and Britain over Opium trading led to the Opium war which left China significantly weaker in the mid 1800s.

Lets Review• After the Opium Wars, the Chinese people called for reform (changes) in government. This led Guang Xu to launch a reform plan known as “One Hundred Days of Reform.”• Traditionalist were afraid of change, including Guang Xu’s aunt Empress Dowanger Ci Xi, who had Guang imprisoned and took control of China.

Guang Xu

The Fall of the Qing• China was suffering even more after the Boxer Rebellion was crushed by the Europeans.• At this point, Empress Ci Xi was forced to embrace reforms of education, administration and legal systems. Empress Ci Xi

• Problems arose when the new elite class of merchants and professionals found that their new power meant nothing and Empress Ci Xi still held all decision making power.

The Rise of Sun Yat-sen• The first signs of revolution appeared during 1890’s when Sun Yat-sen formed the Revive China Society. • Sun believed that the Qing Dynasty was in a state of decay, but he also felt that while China should follow the pattern of Western Countries, he knew that the Chinese were not ready to have their own democracy yet.• Instead of pushing for a new democracy right away, Sun developed a three-stage reform process.

The Rise of Sun Yat-sen• Sun Yat-sen’s three-stage reform process was as follows:

• The First Stage would be a Millitary Takeover

• The Second Stage would be a transitional phase where Sun’s party would prepare the Chinese for Democracy

• The Third Stage called for the establishment of a constitutional democracy.

Sun Yat-sen

The Rise of Sun Yat-sen• Sun Yat-sen met with other radical groups in Tokyo in 1905 and formed the Revolutionary Alliance, which Eventually became known as the Nationalist Party.• At the meeting in 1905, Sun called for the following changes:

“Establish the Republic: Now our revolution is based on equality, in order to establish a republican government. All our people are equal and all enjoy political rights… Equalize land ownership: The good fortune of civilization is to be shared equally by all the people of the nation” - Sun Yat-sen, 1905

The Rise of Sun Yat-sen• Sun’s new organization advocated his Three People’s Principles, which promoted:

– Nationalism– Democracy– The Right of People to pursue their own livelihoods.

• Sun’s organization was small, but it benefited from the rising discontent generated b y the Qing Dynasty’s failure to improve conditions.

The Revolution of 1911• In 1908 the Qing Dynasty was near its end. Empress Downager Ci Xi died only one day after here nephew Guang Xu, a prisoner in the palace died.• This left China’s “last emperor” Henry Pu Yi as emperor, despite the fact that Henry Pu Yi was only Two years old.• Seeing that there was a very weak emperor on the throne, followers of Sun Yat-sen launched a rebellion in October of 1911.

The Revolution of 1911• Despite the fact that Sun was traveling in the United States, the rebellion started by his followers was too strong for the weak Qing Dynasty, which collapsed. • Because Sun’s party was not strong enough to take power the made a deal with General Yuan Shigai, who had been a powerful general in the Qing Dynasty.

General Yuan Shigai

The Revolution of 1911• General Yuan Shigai agreed to serve as president of the new Chinese republic and allow the elections of a legislature.• General Yuan was not popular with Sun’s Revolutionary Alliance, and though they needed him to keep power, they did not trusted.• Yuan did not understand the new ideas that were sweeping through China from the west.

An Era of Civil War• General Yuan Shigai was not popular during his time as president. Traditionalist believed Yuan was disloyal to the Qing Dynasty which had made him a General.• He was disliked by the reformers because he used terror and murder to destroy the new democracy.• Sun Yat-sen’s group, which was now known as the Nationalist Party, launched another rebellion when Yuan tried to eliminate the parliament, but they were defeated and Sun Yat-sen fled to Japan.

An Era of Civil War• General Yuan Shigai was strong enough to beat back a revolution from Sun Yat-sen, but he was not able to outlast nature, as he died in 1916.• Yuan was immediately succeeded by one of his officers, but the country slipped into civil war as the power of the central government disintegrated and military warlords seized power in the provinces.

Cultural Changes

Western Culture had a dramatic effect on many

Chinese people, especially those living in Cities.

Society in Transition• When European traders began to move into China in the mid 1800s, Chinese society was already in transition. • The Growth of trade was especially noticeable in the cities where a national market for products like oil, copper, salt, tea and porcelain were being sold to the Chinese instead of being shipped to other countries.

Society in Transition• A Money economy began to spring up in China due to two main factors:

– Faster and More Reliable Transportation– More efficient Banking and Money.

• Foreign investments in China grew rapidly and new crops brought in from abroad helped increase food production.

Culture in Transition• In 1800, daily life for most Chinese was the same as it had been for centuries. Most were farmers, living on millions of villages of rive fields. • A farmer’s life was governed by the harvest cycle, village customs and family ritual. • 125 years later in 1925, life looked very different for the Chinese:

Culture in Transition - 1925• By 1925 Confucian social ideas were rapidly declining in influence and the new European Ideas were on the rise.• Culture was one of the firs places to show signs of western influence as the new Chinese middle class embraced Western art and Literature.

Focus Question

How did China change as a result of

Revolution and Western Influence

?