China's Responses to Western Expansion

14 Questions

What was the initial response of China towards Western expansion?

Military resistance

Why did foreign merchants become unhappy with trade regulations in China?

Trade imbalance due to high demand for Chinese goods

What was the result of the First Anglo-Chinese War?

The Qing Dynasty was defeated and China signed unequal treaties

Who were the leaders of the Self-Strengthening movement?

Prince Gong, Zeng Guofan, Li Hongzhang, Zuo Zongtang, and Zhang Zhidong

What was the cause of the Hundred Days' Reform?

China's loss in the First Sino-Japanese War

What was the main reform measure of the Hundred Days' Reform?

Modernizing education and creating new government structures

Why did China's armed resistance fail against Western expansion?

Lack of modern technology

What was the result of the Self-Strengthening movement?

China lost the First Sino-Japanese War, revealing weakness

What was the consequence of the 1912 revolution on China's modernization?

It hindered China's political and education modernization.

What was the main goal of Sun Yixian's Xingzhonghui and the Tongmenghui?

To expel the Manchus and restore China to the Chinese.

What was the outcome of the Boxer Rebellion?

China's defeat and the introduction of the Late Qing Reform.

What was Empress Dowager Cixi's response to the increased anti-Qing activities?

She introduced the Late Qing Reform to modernize China.

What was the result of the 1911 Revolution?

The founding of the Republic of China and the end of monarchical rule.

What was one of the main reform measures of the Late Qing Reform?

The establishment of modern schools and the training of the New Army.

Study Notes

China in the Early 19th Century

The Qing Dynasty was established by the Manchus in 1644 and was initially self-sufficient.
In 1757, the Qing Dynasty opened Guangzhou for foreign trade, leading to conflicts with Western countries due to trade regulations and imbalance.

China's First Response: Military Resistance

Western countries exported opium to China, earning money and causing a trade imbalance, silver outflow, and health issues.
The Qing Dynasty banned opium, leading to the First Anglo-Chinese War (1839-1842) and the Second Anglo-Chinese War (1856-1860).
China lost both wars, resulting in the signing of unequal treaties and the country's armed resistance being ineffective against Western expansion.

China's Second Response: Reforms to Strengthen Itself

The Self-Strengthening movement (1861-1865) was led by Prince Gong, Zeng Guofan, Li Hongzhang, Zuo Zongtang, and Zhang Zhidong.
The movement aimed to pursue Western technology and modernize China's infrastructure, trade, industry, and education.
Despite the movement's limited success, it laid the foundation for modernization.

The Hundred Days' Reform (1898)

The reform was led by Emperor Guangxu, Kang Youwei, and Liang Qichao.
The reform aimed to modernize education, create a new government structure, and promote industry.
However, the reform was abolished by Empress Dowager Cixi, who put Emperor Guangxu under house arrest.

Late Qing Reform (1901-1912)

The reform was led by Empress Dowager Cixi, Zhang Zhidong, and Yuan Shikai.
The reform aimed to modernize education, abolish civil service exams, establish modern schools, and train the New Army.
The reform also introduced constitutional reforms, but was hindered by the 1912 revolution that overthrew the Qing government.

China's Third Response: Revolution to Save the Country

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Chinese people engaged in revolutionary activities to overthrow the corrupt Qing government and save their country.
Revolutionary societies formed, including Sun Yixian's Xingzhonghui, which aimed to expel the Manchus, restore China to the Chinese, establish a Republic, and distribute land equally.

1911 Revolution

Revolutionaries seized Wuchang, sparking the 1911 revolution and independence.
In January 1912, Sun Yixian became the Provisional President as the Republic of China was founded, ending monarchical rule.