PS1332 Midterm Review

Question 1

What were some of the core values of Confucius?

Answer 1

Born in 551 BCE in Qufu, State of Lu, Died in 479 BCE, Lu.

Profoundly influenced Chinese civilization and other East Asian nations.

Emphasized education, and was rather conservative regarding ancient wisdom in addition to cultural practices.

Strong emphasis on hierarchy, in familial, social, and political life.

Question 2

What messages did Confucianism amplify?

a) Emphasis on a hierarchy in social and political life.

b) Importance of mutual obligations in social ties, particularly within the family.

c) The necessity to make political connections with others.

d) Both a & b.

e) None of the above.

Answer 2

d) Both a & b.

Question 3

True or false:
Within the Imperial System, the responsibility of the Inner Court was to master Confucian doctrine and complete bureaucratic tasks, whereas the Outer Court comprised of relatives, concubines, and eunuchs?

Answer 3

False, the terms are inversed, for:

Outer Court: Comprised of bureaucrats trained in Confucian doctrine, mastering the Confucian doctrine.

Inner Court: Comprised of relatives, concubines, and eunuchs. Adult relatives typically could not be entered into the outer court system due to fears of rebellion or a power struggle.

Question 4

What were some primary components of a bureaucracy within the Imperial System?

Answer 4

Modern Elements: Highly defined offices, merit-based appointments, specialized functions.

Usually those who were most obedient to their parents were found to be the most suitable due to their loyalty, respect, and obedience for higher authority.

Moral Governance: Rooted in Confucian principles.

Question 5

The Examination System (Keju) focused on which of the following?

a) Mastery of Confucianism

b) Administrative Law

c) Philosophy & Poetry

d) All of the above

Answer 5

d) All of the above

Question 6

What was a distinctive act performed by females in Ancient China to display their family’s social status and wealth?

a) Dressing flamboyantly.

b) Bleaching of the skin.

c) Foot-binding.

d) Applying lighter-colored hair dye.

Answer 6

c) Foot-binding

Foot binding severely limited women’s mobility and freedom, which denoted that they were not able to work in the fields or indulge in manual labor.

Question 7

What is the Mandarin term for focusing on establishing a supportive web of connections?

a) Lixian

b) Guanxi

c) Xihuan

d) Kaiman

Answer 7

b) Guanxi

Question 8

What are the 5 components of the Malthusian Trap?

Answer 8

1. Technological Advancements: Increases in food production.
2. Population Growth: More people are fed, leading to a population increase.
3. Resource Depletion: Population growth consumes more food and land.
4. Crisis Point: Food supply cannot sustain population. Famine, disease strike.
5. Population Decline: Crisis decreases population back to sustainable levels.

Question 9

True or false: Early Qing emperors like Kangxi and Qianlong had long-lasting, strong reigns?

Answer 9

True

Question 10

Who was the corrupt actor within the Qing Dynasty that stole approximately more than $1 billion (calculated to the common era) from the state coffers?

a) Kangxi

b) Qianlong

c) CiXi

d) He’Shen

Answer 10

d) He’Shen

Question 11

What was Britain’s casus belli against China in 1839, sparking the Opium Wars?

a) The Chinese stole opium from the East India company.

b) China violated free trade with Britain.

c) Britain sought the opportunity to continue their colonization.

d) China and Britain had several clashes in the Western part of the nation.

Answer 11

In 1839, Britain declared far on China due to the violation of free trade. Although option C may have been true, Britain did not proclaim this.

Using their advanced naval capabilities, the British forces a quick defeat against the Qing.

Question 12

Opium Wars

Answer 12

1839-42
-Britain begins to ship opium form their colonies in India and use it for trade in China instead of silver and gold
-Chinese proletariat became addicted to opium
-emperor recognized this as a potential problem and attacks a British ship carrying opium
-British upset and declare war
-Chinese no match for the British, sign the very one sided treaty of Nanjing

Question 13

Treaty of Nanjing

Answer 13

-Chinese had to pay for the cost of war in silver and gold
-Chinese had to engage an open trade system
-Chinese had to let ambassadors communicate directly with the emperor
-Had to open up trade ports to British (at an extremely low tariff)
-British gain Hong Kong

Question 14

The First Sino-Japanese War

Answer 14

1894-95
-Japanese challenged the Chinese gov’t power in Korea.
-Chinese army was so weakened they were unable to mobilize a strong united front
-The south wouldn’t help because it wasnt their problem.

Question 15

Treaty of Shimonoseki

Answer 15

-Forced China to open additional trading ports
-Japanese would open manufacturing plants and use Chinese workers
-Japanese wanted Liaodong peninsula and Taiwan.
-Germans and Russians intervene and say the Japanese could not have the Liaodong peninsula
-Chinese forced to pay to regain the peninsula

Question 16

What were some of the components of the Hundred Days Reform?

Answer 16

Far-reaching social and political reforms.

Constitutional monarchy was suggested.

De facto leader was dowager Cixi, who ruled from behind the curtains.

Cixi placed Guangxu Emperor under house arrest.

Question 17

What factors led to the decline of the Qing Dynasty?

Answer 17

• The Qing dynasty promoted itself as a conquering force, ruling China for 268 years before collapsing in 1911-1912.
• A major contribution to the downfall of the last dynasty were external forces, in the form of new Western technologies, as well as a gross miscalculation on the part of the Qing as to the strength of European and Asian imperialistic ambitions. (This was shown in both the Opium wars, people lost a lot of faith in the Qing dynasty as it had lost the mandate of heaven and therefore needed to be overthrown.

A second major contributor was internal turmoil, expressed in a series of devastating rebellions beginning in 1794 with the White Lotus rebellion, and ending with the Boxer Rebellion of 1899-1901 and Wuchang Uprising of 1911-1912.

Question 18

After the fall of the Qing Dynasty, who negotiated with the revolutionaries?

a) Empress Dowager Ci Xi

b) Yuan ShiKai

c) Emperor Puyi (former)

d) Sun Yat-sen

Answer 18

b) Yuan ShiKai

Question 19

Sun Yat-sen’s background (Prominent in the South of China).

Answer 19

Emergence of Sun Yat-sen as a prominent anti-Manchu revolutionary.

Early Life: Exposure to Western ideas during his education and travels, spent time in Hawaii.

Founding of the Tongmenghui (Revolutionary Alliance) in 1905: Aimed to overthrow the Qing Dynasty and establish a republic.

Sun’s brief tenure in the new regime, followed by his ousting by Yuan ShiKai.

He played a crucial role in transitioning China from imperial rule.

Question 20

Yuan ShiKai’s background (Prominent in the North of China).

Answer 20

Key figure in modernizing the Qing Dynasty military (the Beiyang Army)

Yuan held key positions and had significant influence within the Qing court.

Initially sought to suppress the Wuchang Uprising and defend the Qing Dynasty.

Yuan began negotiations with the revolutionaries after recognizing their momentum and played a pivotal role in convincing the last Qing Emperor, Puyi, to abdicate in favor of a republic.

Question 21

Which GMD leader was assassinated in 1912?

a) Song Jiaoren

b) Yuan ShiKai

c) Hongxian

d) Sun Yat-sen

Answer 21

a) Song Jiaoren

Key figure in GMD Song Jiaoren was a close ally of Sun.

Led the GMD to victory in China’s first national elections (1912).

Assassinated in 1913, shortly after the election.

It is widely believed that Yuan ShiKai was behind the assassination due to fears of Song’s growing influence.

Question 22

The short revival of the Imperial System under Yuan ShiKai.

Answer 22

Yuan proclaimed himself the Hongxian Emperor, making the start of a new dynasty in 1915.

The Monarchic System was not welcomed, and his allies abandoned him quickly.

Yuan abandoned the empire and reverted to the presidency.

Yuan died in 1916.

Question 23

What were some primary influences that led to the create of the CCP?

Answer 23

Inspired by Russia’s Bolshevik Revolution in 1917.

Emerged from the May Fourth movement 1919.

Marx’s predictions of Western capitalist collapse appealed to some Chinese intellectuals.

Mao’s disdain for the intellectuals.

First Congress: Shanghai, July 1921.

Question 24

How did the unequal treaties influence China’s political system?

Answer 24

The opening up of China appeared to be complete in the aftermath of the two opium wars. The foreign powers had ensured their continued presence in the Middle Kingdom, which was extremely weakened by substantially large revolts.

British merchants, who were previously allowed to trade only at the South China port of Canton (Guangzhou), were now to be allowed to trade at five ports (called treaty ports), including Canton and Shanghai.

The agreement was augmented the following year by the British Supplementary Treaty of the Bogue (Humen; October 8, 1843), which granted British citizens in China extra territorial rights, by which they were to be under the control of their own consuls and were not subject to Chinese law. It also included a most-favored nation clause, guaranteeing to Britain all privileges that China might grant to any other foreign power.

Question 25

How did the May 4th Movement impact China’s politics?

Answer 25

May 4 1919: Students demonstrate in Tiananmen square in Beijing (even further galvanises people towards reformism).
Protest to the Treaty of Versailles
Calls for societal reform, different education system, broad reform in governance
Advocate for ‘scientific’ revolution

Question 26

What were the major consequences of the Long March? How did it shape the CCP’s leadership and ideology?

Answer 26

The Long March marked the emergence of Mao Zedong as the undisputed leader of the Chinese Communists. Learning of the Communists’ heroism and determination in the Long March, thousands of young Chinese traveled to Shaanxi to enlist in Mao’s Red army. After fighting the Japanese for a decade, the Chinese Civil War resumed soon after the end of World War II (1939-45). In 1949, the Nationalists were defeated, and Mao proclaimed the People’s Republic of China. He served as head of the Communist Party of China until his death in 1976.

Question 27

What are the core tenets of Mao Zedong Thought? How does Maoism depart from orthodox Marxism?

Answer 27

Voluntarism: Collective willpower can transcend material limitations, inspired by Marxism and Leninism.

Mass Line: Leadership reflecting the masses’ will. “From the masses, to the masses.” Ensured CCP’s authority while tapping into grassroots power.

Campaigns (Yungdong): Large-scale mobilizations for transformation. Often involved “struggle” sessions to correct societal elements.

Struggle (Douzheng): Disrupting societal norms though confrontation and upheaval. Aims to break old systems and empower new identities.

Egalitarianism: Advocacy for simple, frugal living. Belief in the virtues of poverty and leveling of income disparities.

Question 28

What were some of the lasting impacts of the Cultural Revolution on youth? What influence does the Cultural Revolution have on China’s current leadership?

Answer 28

The Cultural Revolution had a profound impact on Chinese youth, leading to disruptions in education, job insecurity, a loss of cultural heritage, and lasting personal consequences (such as turning against their own family) for those who participated in or experienced the movement.

Question 29

Differentiate Hua from Deng

Answer 29

Political views: Hua Guofeng adhered to Mao Zedong Thought, while Deng Xiaoping was a pragmatist who advocated for market-oriented economic reforms.

Economic policies: Hua Guofeng implemented the Four Modernizations, which focused on developing agriculture, industry, science and technology, and national defense. Deng Xiaoping implemented the Reform and Opening Up policy, which introduced market-oriented mechanisms to the Chinese economy and opened China up to foreign investment.

Foreign policy: Hua Guofeng continued Mao’s anti-Soviet stance and maintained a close relationship with North Korea. Deng Xiaoping improved relations with the Soviet Union and the United States, and pursued a more pragmatic foreign policy.
Here are some additional key differences:

Experience: Hua Guofeng was a relatively inexperienced politician, while Deng Xiaoping was a veteran leader with a long history of political intrigue.

Connection to Mao: Hua Guofeng was more closely associated with Mao Zedong and his legacy, while Deng Xiaoping was more willing to break with the past and implement new policies.

Willingness to reform: Hua Guofeng was more conservative in his approach to economic reform, while Deng Xiaoping was more radical.

Question 30

“Two whatevers” vs “seek truth from facts”

Answer 30

“Two whatevers” corresponded to whatever Mao thought, or stated would have to materialize under his rule.

Alternatively, Deng Xiaoping believed in a policy in which he would promote seeking the veracity from facts, so long as it did not harm the CCP’s image.

Question 31

“Reform and Opening”

Answer 31

Some of the key components under Deng Xiaoping’s “reform and opening” were: economic reform, and increasing trade with the West; the rehabilitation of intellectuals and professionals; legitimacy through prosperity; in addition to the maintenance of authoritarian rule.

Question 32

Tiananmen Incident

Question 33

Describe the Tipping Model and
Top-Down Transitions to Democracy

Answer 33

Tipping Model:

Preference Falsification: When individuals hid their true beliefs due to social pressures (collective uncertainty).

Even if collective action could be effectively organized, individuals might still choose not to protest because they’re unsure of the extent to which others really oppose the regime.

Top-Down Transitions:

Liberalization: Controlled opening of political space by authoritarian elites.

Goal: Create a “broadened dictatorship” not a true democracy.

Results from the split of soft-liners and hard-liners.

Hard-liners are usually satisfied with the political status quo.

Whereas soft-liners may prefer to liberalize and broaden the social base of the dictatorship in an attempt to gain allies.

The only two possible outcomes are a broadened dictatorship or a democratic transition.

Question 34

Authoritarian Resilience to the CCP post-Tiananmen

Answer 34

CCP’s Hardline Stance: CCP firmly commits to upholding Party rule, leading to hardliners taking control.

Political Apathy: Reduced political activism in mainland China; discussing Tiananmen becomes taboo.

International Condemnation: Widespread global criticism, leading to decreased economic investment.

CCP’s Legitimacy Crisis: Party faces doubts in leadership, intensifying its economic reform efforts.

Question 35

Modernization Theory and Survival Story

Answer 35

Modernization Theory:

All countries pass through the same historical stages of economic development. Contemporary underdeveloped countries are merely at an earlier stage in this linear historical progress.

From large agriculture to small agriculture, small service to a large service industry, a dictatorship to a democracy, etc.

Survival Story (Przeworski):

The survival story predicts that democracy is more likely to survive as countries progress.

Choice between democracy and dictatorship can be thought as a choice between:

A democracy or a dictatorship.

When you are rich, getting a larger slice of the pie only benefits you at a minimal amount.

Question 36

Anticorruption Campaign

Question 37

Describe Xi Jinping Thought

Question 38

Xi vs. Deng