China chronology Flashcards
1842
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
1856
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
1858
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
1860
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
1861
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
1875
The Tongzhi emperor died, leaving the throne to the Guangxu emperor, with the Empress Dowager Cixi acting as regent
1895
China defeated in the First Sino-Japanese war, leading to the recognition of Joseon as independent and ceding Taiwan and other territories
1898
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
1900
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
1850-1875
China experienced a sequence of rebellions and uprisings which came close to overthrowing the Qing dynasty
Taiping, Nian, and Muslims in Yunnan and Gansu
1860s
‘Self-strengthening’ became popular as a means of modernisation under men like Li Hongzhang and Zeng Guofan
1901 onwards
Many Qing reforms, addressing matters like education and the military
1908
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
1909
Provincial assemblies convened, becoming a forum of critical comments on the policies of the central government
1911
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
1912-1916
Yuan Shikai ruled as president - shortly before he died he made an abortive attempt to become emperor
1916-1928
Political vacuum created in which Beijing exercised only symbolic authority over the country, real power resting in the hands of warlords
1919
May Fourth movement culminated, expressing discontentment with the status quo
1921
Founding of the CCP
1926-1928
Reorganisation of the Kuomintang and the northern expedition which led to the nominal reunification of the country
1928-1937
The KMT attempted to transform China into a modern state, while at the same time harassing the CCP
1931
The Japanese seized Manchuria, but Chiang Kai Shek, the leader of the KMT, ignored this in favour of pursuing the communists
1915
21 demands of the Japanese proposed in secret to the Chinese - eventually 4 of 5 sets are agreed upon
1934
The communists set off on their Long March
1936
Japanese encroachment on north China forced Chiang Kai Shek to agree a united front with the CCP
1937
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
1945-1949
Civil war fought between the KMT and CCP, culminating in a Communist victory
