Taiping Rebellion and Boxer Rebellion Overview

The Three Principles of the People

• Sun Yat-sen's vision consisted of three principles: Nationalism, Democracy, and Livelihood.
• Nationalism aimed to end foreign influence and control in China and achieve political unification.
• Democracy sought to establish a gradual transition to a democratic government with full personal liberties and rights for all.
• Livelihood focused on economic improvements, including land reforms, industrialization, and economic security for all Chinese.

The Republican Revolution

• Sun Yat-sen's leadership was confined to a small region around Canton, in southern China.
• The rest of the country was divided among various warlords.
• In 1913, Sun turned over the presidency to Yuan Shi-kai, who ruled as a dictator and did not follow the three principles.
• This led to a revolt against Yuan's rule, and soon after, warlords started to rebel against the Nationalist Party.

The May Fourth Movement

• The Treaty of Versailles (June 28, 1919) granted the territories formerly occupied by Germany to Japan, angering the Chinese.
• On May 4, 1919, Chinese students held a demonstration at Tiananmen Square, shouting "Down with the European Imperialist!" and "Boycott Japan!"
• This movement expressed the students' love for liberty and freedom, as well as their goal of establishing a modern nation.

The Rise of Communism

• Mao Tse-tung, a student protester, was arrested and later became China's greatest revolutionary leader.
• Young Chinese intellectuals turned against Sun's principles of Western democracy, favoring Lenin's Soviet Communism instead.
• Communism, derived from Karl Marx's theories, aims to establish a society with publicly owned property, where each person works and contributes according to their ability.

The Boxers Rebellion

• The Boxers Rebellion (1890) was led by the Society of Righteous Harmonious Fists, who sought to drive out foreigners from China.
• Causes of the rebellion included China's inability to defend itself against imperialism, the Empress's perceived corruption, resentment towards foreigners' special privileges, and anger towards Chinese Christians protected by foreign missionaries.
• The Boxers were ultimately defeated due to European superior weapons.

The Kuomintang (Nationalist Party)

• The Kuomintang, founded by Sun Yat-sen, was the most popular group seeking to develop China into a modern society.
• Sun Yat-sen, also known as "The Father of the Chinese Republic," studied in the US and learned Western ideals.
• He hoped to establish a modern government based on the "Three Principles of the People."
• Sun became the new president in 1912 but held the post for only six weeks.