China

Question 1

Hong Xiuquan

Answer 1

Believed himself to be the brother of Jesus + destined to reform China by establishing new order + destroying Qing; “Heavenly King”; Leader of Taiping rebellion; Inspired by Christianity

Question 2

The Society of God Worshipers

Answer 2

Religious group - Followers of Hong Xiuquan

Question 3

Taipings

Answer 3

Followers of Hong Xiuquan; Believed in western ideas

Question 4

What inspired Hong Xiuquan’s vision for the Taiping Rebellion?

Answer 4

Series of visions made him to believe he was divinely chosen to overthrow the Qing Dynasty and establish the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom.

Question 5

Who defeated the Taipings?

Answer 5

Dowager Empress Cixi

Question 6

Causes of weakening

Answer 6

Military defeat from Europeans; Taiping rebellion

Question 7

Result of European influence

Answer 7

Sovereignty undermined due to unfair treaties; Economically exploited; Can’t solve domestic problems

Question 8

What were the impacts of military defeat and unequal treaties on China?

Answer 8

Humiliated China; Undermined sovereignty + split the nation; Economic exploitation; Hindered domestic problem-solving

Question 9

How did the Qianlong Emperor restrict European trade in China?

Answer 9

Europeans could only trade at Guangzhou waterfront through cohongs

Question 10

Cohongs

Answer 10

Chinese licensed firms - Only way for Europeans to trade (set prices + strict gov regulations)

Question 11

Trade with Europeans before Opium

Answer 11

Chinese had little demand for European products → Europeans had to pay for Chinese products with silver

Question 12

What Chinese products did European consumers wanted?

Answer 12

Silk + porcelain + lacquerware + tea

Question 13

Opium Trade

Answer 13

Started by British East India Company (wanted more profitable exchange than silver → opium); Illegal but very profitable

Question 14

Opium trade process

Answer 14

Grown in India → Shipped to China → Euros traded for Chinese silver coins → Silver goes back to British-controlled Calcutta + London → Company merchants traded silver for Chinese products in Guangzhou

Question 15

Why was the Opium trade able to happen?

Answer 15

European + Chinese smugglers + Chinese officials who benefited;

Question 16

Consequences of Opium Trade

Answer 16

Economic (drained Chinese silver) and drug problem

Question 17

Lin Zexu

Answer 17

Started the Opium War; Destroyed opium trade -> Opium War

Question 18

Opium War Cause

Answer 18

British anger towards closing of trade - Merchants forced their gov into war

Question 19

Opium War

Answer 19

Military conflict designed to reopen opium trade; Revealed British military + naval superiority; Chinese refused to give up; British broke stalemate by attacking the Grand Canal → Chinese asked for peace

Question 20

Unequal Treaties

Answer 20

Series of pacts / treaties made with Britain that undermined Chinese sovereignty

Question 21

Treaty of Nanjing

Answer 21

1st unequal treaty; Ceded Hong Kong to Britain; Opened 5 ports to trade; Granted Britain “most-favored nation” status; Exempted British citizens from Chinese law

Question 22

What other impacts did unequal treaties have on China?

Answer 22

Legalized opium; Allowed Christian missions; Prevented tariffs on imports; Ended tributary states

Question 23

China at the end of the Unequal Treaties

Answer 23

Ports controlled by foreign powers; Economy controlled by foreign merchants; Christian missionaries converted citizens; Waters patrolled by foreign gunboats

Question 24

What caused rebellions in China?

Answer 24

Increasing poverty due to increase pop + slow cultivated land; Discontent of peasantry due to land owned by wealthy + gov corruption

Question 25

Why did Chinese citizens despise their government?

Answer 25

Qing elites are Manchu ruling class - seen as foreigners

Question 26

Taiping Reform Programs

Answer 26

Radical; Abolished private property; Communal wealth; Banned foot binding + concubinage; Free public education; Simplified the written language; Gender equality

Question 27

Capital of the Taipings

Answer 27

Nanjing - Great Peace

Question 28

How did the Qing government defeat the Taiping Rebellion?

Answer 28

With support from Chinese gentry + regional armies led by scholar-gentry + European advisors + advanced weapons

Question 29

Why did the Chinese gentry support the Qing?

Answer 29

Taiping is too radical for them; Support Qing cause they are dedicated to preserving the established order

Question 30

Consequences of the Taiping Rebellion

Answer 30

0-30 million deaths; Agricultural collapse + starvation (eating grass, leather, hemp, human flesh)

Question 31

Result of the Taiping Rebellion

Answer 31

Qing gov. realized changes were necessary -> Tried to adopt efficient + benevolent Confucian government to solve social + economic problems; Adopted foreign tech

Question 32

What was the goal of the Self-Strengthening Movement?

Answer 32

Solve military + economic problems by blending Chinese culture with Western technology while preserving Confucian values + reestablish agricultural society

Question 33

What were the reforms under the Self-Strengthening Movement?

Answer 33

Built shipyards + railroads + weapons industries + science academies; Reforms were limited and lacked government prioritization

Question 34

Result of the Self-Strengthening Movement

Answer 34

Didn’t bring enough change to make real difference; Didn’t limit foreign activity

Question 35

How did Empress Dowager Cixi undermine the Self-Strengthening Movement?

Answer 35

She diverted funds intended for the navy to build a marble boat and opposed significant reforms

Question 36

How did Chinese elites undermine the Self-Strengthening Movement?

Answer 36

Worried industrialization would bring social change to agricultural land + European education would undermine commitment to Confucian values

Question 37

How was China divided into spheres of influence?

Answer 37

Foreign powers like Britain, Germany, France, Russia, and Japan gained exclusive rights to develop railways and mines in different regions

Question 38

Hundred Days Reforms

Answer 38

Lead by Kang Youwei + Liang Qichao - Reinterpreting Confucian ideas to justify radical change; Supported by Guangxu

Question 39

Guangxu

Answer 39

Wanted to make China constitutional monarchy (civil liberty; dispel corruption; education reform; encourage foreign influence; modernize military; stimulate economy)

Question 40

Why did the Hundred Days Reforms fail?

Answer 40

Guangxu's aunt (Empress Dowager Cixi) stopped the reforms; Imprisoned him + executed leading reformers

Question 41

Boxer Rebellion

Answer 41

Anti-foreign movement led by the Society of Righteous and Harmonious Fists; Supported by Cixi; Violent militia; Killed foreigners + Christians; Defeated by European troops

Question 42

Consequences of the Boxer Rebellion

Answer 42

Crushed by foreign troops; Led to foreign military presence in Beijing + further weakened the Qing government

Question 43

What events led to the fall of the Qing dynasty?

Answer 43

Internal rebellions; Failed reforms; Foreign domination; Death of Cixi; Emperor Puyi’s abdication