China chronology

Question 1

1842

Answer 1

Treaty of Nanjing (first of the ‘unequal treaties’) signed by the Chinese and British
Opened up ports, abolished Cohong merchants and imposed tariffs and reparations on the Chinese

Question 2

1856

Answer 2

After Chinese officials seized the crew of the British ship ‘Arrow’, sanctions from both sides led to anti-British sentiment inciting murder in China
British force captured Guangzhou and then Tianjin

Question 3

1858

Answer 3

Treaty of Tianjin led to more treaty ports being agreed on, opium being legalized and external tariffs and transit duty being arranged
Similar treaties were subsequently signed with France, the US and Russia

Question 4

1860

Answer 4

After allied representatives attempting to ratify treaties were attacked the previous year, the allies returned with a large force, marching on Beijing and burning down the Summer Palace
Russians also were ceded territory in the east of China

Question 5

1861

Answer 5

Tongzhi restoration after the death of the Xianfeng emperor - claimed to be a temporary reversal of the Qing decline in which the rebellions were defeated and dynastic authority was restored

Question 6

1875

Answer 6

The Tongzhi emperor died, leaving the throne to the Guangxu emperor, with the Empress Dowager Cixi acting as regent

Question 7

1895

Answer 7

China defeated in the First Sino-Japanese war, leading to the recognition of Joseon as independent and ceding Taiwan and other territories

Question 8

1898

Answer 8

Abortive Hundred Days’ Reform with help of Kang Youwei led to the Guangxu emperor being removed from the imperial palace in a coup organised by Cixi

Question 9

1900

Answer 9

Boxer Uprising, with the court declaring its support for the anti-foreign boxers, and their subsequent defeat leading to a significant indemnity and the Russian occupation of Manchuria

Question 10

1850-1875

Answer 10

China experienced a sequence of rebellions and uprisings which came close to overthrowing the Qing dynasty

Taiping, Nian, and Muslims in Yunnan and Gansu

Question 11

1860s

Answer 11

‘Self-strengthening’ became popular as a means of modernisation under men like Li Hongzhang and Zeng Guofan

Question 12

1901 onwards

Answer 12

Many Qing reforms, addressing matters like education and the military

Question 13

1908

Answer 13

A programme was announced that provided for the promulgation of a constitution in 1916 and for the convening of a parliament in the following year

Question 14

1909

Answer 14

Provincial assemblies convened, becoming a forum of critical comments on the policies of the central government

Question 15

1911

Answer 15

Mutiny broke out in Wuchang, spreading throughout the south, where a republic was declared

The Qing court appealed to Yuan Shikai, who decided to support the republic and force the emperor to abdicate

Question 16

1912-1916

Answer 16

Yuan Shikai ruled as president - shortly before he died he made an abortive attempt to become emperor

Question 17

1916-1928

Answer 17

Political vacuum created in which Beijing exercised only symbolic authority over the country, real power resting in the hands of warlords

Question 18

1919

Answer 18

May Fourth movement culminated, expressing discontentment with the status quo

Question 19

1921

Answer 19

Founding of the CCP

Question 20

1926-1928

Answer 20

Reorganisation of the Kuomintang and the northern expedition which led to the nominal reunification of the country

Question 21

1928-1937

Answer 21

The KMT attempted to transform China into a modern state, while at the same time harassing the CCP

Question 22

1931

Answer 22

The Japanese seized Manchuria, but Chiang Kai Shek, the leader of the KMT, ignored this in favour of pursuing the communists

Question 23

1915

Answer 23

21 demands of the Japanese proposed in secret to the Chinese - eventually 4 of 5 sets are agreed upon

Question 24

1934

Answer 24

The communists set off on their Long March

Question 25

1936

Answer 25

Japanese encroachment on north China forced Chiang Kai Shek to agree a united front with the CCP

Question 26

1937

Answer 26

2nd Sino-Japanese war broke out

After an initial period of heroic resistance, the KMT retreated to Chongqing while the CCP fought from their base at Yan’an

Question 27

1945-1949

Answer 27

Civil war fought between the KMT and CCP, culminating in a Communist victory