Chinese Revolution

Past Chinese Governments

Dynasties since 1994 BC- Xia

Emperor has absolute power

Qing Dynasty- 1664-1911 was current dynasty until revolution

-Empress Dowager Longyu

Qing Dynasty Flag

Chinese Social Classes

Problems in China• Social/economic - Population increase, yet land shortage.

-Most of the population could not pay taxes. -Government spent much of the little tax

they collected -People could not legally move out of China,

yet there were no industrial jobs for them -Peasants could not pay taxes and rebelled

Problems in China• Political- -Weak Empress Dowager Longyu had absolute

power -Government positions being sold -Government officials took bribes -Heavy taxes that could not be paid• Military -Soldiers lost loyalty -Low pay

Goals of the RevolutionOverthrow Qing Dynasty; A republic Equal land distributionBetter education- girls were not allowed

admission until 1901 -Many Chinese were sent to Japan to study

because of the limited education in China

Start of a RevolutionAt first, people were not concerned about

overthrowing government, just wanted financial problems fixed

Government refused to help citizens, therefore started the revolution

Wuchang Rebellion

First rebellion

Late October- Provinces started to declare independence

November- 2/3 of China had declared independence from Qing empire

Sun Yat-sen“Father of the Revolution”Born into peasant family (China)Lived in Hawaii for a few years then became

doctorLiving in Hawaii gave him more Westernized

viewBelieved that foreign support was needed for a

successful revolution3 People’s Principles: Nationalism, Equality, and

Democracy

Foreign Support Japan:

Helped spread Sun’s revolutionary ideas Helped raise money Protected him from being assassinated

Sun also gained support from other foreign nations:

-Britain

-Hawaii

-Chinese studying abroad

Revolutionary Organizations

Revive China Society- secret society organized by Sun Yat-sen in Tokyo

-”To expel barbarians and to revive China, to establish a republic, and to distribute land equally among the people.”

Revolts• 1906- Sun Yat-sen planned to have armed

uprisings on the southern borders of China

• This would happen one province at a time until dynasty was overthrown

• Huan Hsing planned to organize revolts along the Yangtze River instead

• 1907-1910- Revolts along the Simo-Vietnamese border failed; not enough supplies or financial support

• After revolts failed, some turned to assassinations of Qing officails

OutcomeQing dynasty finally overthrown

• China becomes a republic

• Sun Yat-sen as president

--achieves nationalism and equality, but realizes China is not ready for a democracy

• China then followed the American Constitution

SignificanceAbandoned the monarchial form of government

China became a republic; only country in Asia to at the time

People had power

•EVERYONE supported revolution, or executed•Thousands killed•Strong military•Monarchy•One culture

•Secret societies had to be set up •Weak military•Peaceful•Provinces•Dynasty•Greater population & geography•Many different cultures

•Gained a Republic•Previous feudal system•Food shortages•Weak government leader•Angry peasants•Weak economy•Heavy taxes•Unnecessary government spending•Wanted Nationalism•Strived Equality

FRENCHBOTH CHINES

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