History of the Self-Strengthening Movement

Questions and Answers

What was the Self-Strengthening Movement?

A military coup in Qing China

A late nineteenth-century movement in which the Chinese modernized their army and encouraged Western investment in factories and railways (correct)

A cultural revolution in China

A movement to strengthen China's traditional customs

Who was Zeng Guofan?

A Qing official who successfully fended off Taiping assaults on northern China and was a proponent of political and economic reform.

Who was Li Hongzhang?

The main leader in the Self-Strengthening Movement in China.

What role did Empress Dowager Cixi play in the Self-Strengthening Movement?

She tolerated reforms as long as they did not threaten her power or traditional structures. Signup and view all the answers

How did Cixi exemplify corruption?

She used 30 million taels reserved for the Chinese navy to fund the construction of the Summer Palace for her own comfort. Signup and view all the answers

What did foreign imperialism lead to regarding treaties with China?

China had to pay indemnities and other costs in various treaties such as the Treaty of Livadia and Treaty of St. Petersburg. Signup and view all the answers

What are Confucianist values in the context of the Self-Strengthening Movement?

A lack of willingness to fully reform, with military reforms included but political reforms largely untouched. Signup and view all the answers

What was a major hurdle from the conservative opposition during the Self-Strengthening Movement?

The Qing court was filled with conservatives, and Empress Dowager Cixi opposed reforms that threatened her power. Signup and view all the answers

How did self-strengthening contribute to the emergence of warlordism in China?

It saw the rise of provincialism under authorities like Li Hongzhang who had strong armies. Signup and view all the answers

What was the most significant failure of Self-Strengthening?

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Study Notes

Self-Strengthening Movement

A movement in late 19th century China aimed at modernizing the military and attracting Western investments in industrial sectors.
Emphasized military enhancements and infrastructure development like railways and factories.

Key Figures

Zeng Guofan: A Qing official known for defending northern China against the Taiping insurgency, advocating for political and economic reforms.
Li Hongzhang: Principal leader in the Self-Strengthening Movement. He assisted Zeng Guofan and developed provincial military forces, arsenals, shipping entities, and educational institutions. Held key government positions until the fallout from the Sino-Japanese War.

Empress Dowager Cixi

Conservative ruler during the Qing dynasty, she wielded significant power while officially serving as Empress Dowager.
Allowed some reforms but resisted changes that threatened traditional structures or her authority.

Corruption Issues

Cixi diverted vast resources meant for naval development to personal projects, primarily the Summer Palace.
Corruption allegations against Li Hongzhang and his associates, who were accused of exploiting industrial resources for personal profit.

Foreign Imperialism

Russian occupation of Ili resulted in treaties imposing financial reparations on China, including the Treaty of Livadia (1879) and Treaty of St. Petersburg (1881).
The Sino-French War posed additional challenges, reflecting China's vulnerabilities.

Confucianist Values

The movement demonstrated a reluctance to comprehensively reform; military reforms were important, but broader political change was minimal.
Educational reforms were limited, resulting in few students studying Western methods abroad.

Conservative Opposition

The Qing court was predominantly conservative, with Empress Dowager Cixi staunchly preserving traditional values.
Cixi’s tolerance of some reforms depended on their non-threatening nature towards conservatism and her power.

Emergence of Warlordism

The Self-Strengthening Movement fostered provincialism under leaders like Li Hongzhang who maintained powerful militaries.
Provincial leaders gained substantial influence, showcased during the Sino-Japanese War when Li's forces engaged Japan.

Significant Failures of Self-Strengthening

Acknowledged failures included lack of sufficient political reform which ultimately led to military conflicts and weakened central authority.

Description

This quiz explores the Self-Strengthening Movement in late 19th century China, focusing on key figures and events that shaped the era. Test your knowledge about important leaders like Zeng Guofan and Li Hongzhang, as well as the movement's impact on modernization and Western investment.