Outcomes of the 1911 revolution Flashcards
What were Sun Yat-sen’s three principles of the people?
1) Nationalism- Domination by foreign powers should end and Han majority should rule themselves
2) People’s livelihood- improve welfare of working people- more regulated ownership of agricultural land, strong state influence in industry; single fairer tax system
3) Democracy – become a republic with popularly elected president- modelled on judicial, executive, and legislature of west but include Chinese style examinations for civil servants
What were the key events of the Xinhai Revolution (1911)?
10 Ocotber 1911- bomb assembled by New army exploded prematurely in Wuhan-> when Qing Government came to investigate, soldiers rebelled and took control of Hebei-> 24 provinces declared independence in 6 weeks
Sun Yat-sen returns to China to become leading figure-> provisional government declared on 29th of December 1911
Late 1911 Yuan Shikai becomes president of new government and secures abdication of Qing emperor (12th of Feb 1912)
What were the strengths of Yuan Shikai’s leadership? What were his limitations?
Strengths:
- introduced modernisation projects e.g. reforming legal system and centralising currency
- strengthened government influence over provinces by appointing loyal millitary commanders
weaknesses:
- Yuan was not interested in creating a democracy-> anti-republican
- became increasingly autocratic-> crackdowns on GMD
- allowed foreign intervention e.g. ‘reorganisation loan’ and 21 demands
What challenges did the GMD face in its attempts to limit the authority of Yuan Shikai?
likely assassination of Song Jiao-ren by Yuan’s henchmen June 1912
autocratic measures:
- 4th Nov 1913 banned GMD
- Jan 1914 dissolved national + provincial government
- May 1914- Yuan extended term as president from 5 years to 10 years by securing new constitution
What happened to the central political authority following the death of Yuan Shikai?
central politcal authority fragemented, China became divided into areas controlled by provincial warlords, Tibet and Mongolia declared independence
“national’ government continued in Beijing but control was extremely limited, control in Beijing changed hands more than 10 times in coming years
Why did anti-imperialist feelings increase as an expression of the May Fourth Movement?
National Government had made a secret agreement with Japan in 1918 to give German Concession to Japan. Chinese diplomats had no idea about this agreement and despite protest at Versailles they were ignored and Chinese demands were not met.
What led to the founding of the CCP?
During the New culture movement= emergence of western ideas. Li Dazao at the University of Beijing began a study group that explored Marxism and wrote for New Youth outlining that western capitalist powers threatened China
May 4th movement: increased resentment of imperialist attitudes + disillusion in western liberal ideas due to TOV
Soviet Union: Karakhan manifesto, see USSR as ally + April 1920 Comintern arrive in China to create CCP
How did Soviet Comintern influence and support the GMD?
increased membership, CCP members join GMD due to First United Front + CCP rally support from workers
Reorganized GMD by including democratic centralism + adding of goal of removing warlords to Sun’s Three Principles of the People
Military - guidance from gen. Vasily Galen provided mil. guidance and USSR funded Huangpu military academy 1st May 1924
What was the significance of the First United Front?
demonstrated that CCP and GMD could co-operate
strengthened both the CCP and GMD, provided basis for the Northern Expedition
increased China’s ties to the USSR
Who emerged as the leading contenders in the Nationalist movement following the death of Sun Yat-sen?
three-man leadership team:
- Wang Jingwei (right faction)
- Jiang Jieshi ( C-C)
- Mikhail Borodin
