The Waning of the Qing Empire Flashcards
When was the Taiping Civil war
1850
What was the Taiping Civil War
Millenarian Christian inspired religious movement - virulently anti-Manchu and anti-Qing
Enormous rebellion, seizing mang of China’s wealthiest and most populated cities around the Yangtze Delta. Controlled these cities until the mid-19thC.
Devastating war waged by the Qing to crush the “Taiping Heavenly Kingdom” and regained control of the area. Made it not only one of the worst conflicts of Chinese history, but world history – 20-30 millions lost their lives.
Damaged economy and well being of Chinese people
What did treaty ports and European colonies on mainland China allow the Europeans to get away with
Extraction and human trafficking
What did the growth of Euro-American power provoke
Resentment triggered occasional local outbursts of violence, met with repression.
French missionaries were attacked by local mobs. Repression by European gunboats and armies
What issues did the Qing face
Qing has to balance the demands of the Europeans against unrest in society, whilst fighting various factions trying to unseat the Qing elite
Deployed various strategies
Give 3 strategies the Qing elite used to deal with their issues
Centralised Strategy: Restoration and Selective Adaption
Decentralised strategies: Local armies and arsenals
Frontier Strategies
What was the Centralised Strategy: Restoration and Selective Adaption
1861-1875: Self-strengthening movement. Attempt to combine elements of Chinese governing traditions with the new technologies/ideas of the west
New foreign relations were established to deal with foreigners in China, sent missions aboard and set up embassies
Adapted European technologies and projects to strengthen the Qing – educational exchanges + purchasing of western gunboats and weapons
Rather than completely remaking the state, the essence of the state remained, whilst taking from foreigners what was beneficial
For a while, China and USA had strong mutually beneficial ties to some extent, relative to the Europeans relations with China (which was based more on subordination)
What was the Decentralised strategy: Local armies and arsenals
Provincial governors-general emerge as some of the most powerful officials. A lot of power was held locally and regionally.
Command vast well-equped armies
Give some turn of the century upheavals
First Sino-Japanese War 1894-5
Intellectual Revolution, Abortive Reform
The Boxer Rebellion and 8 nation invasion
What was the First Sino-Japanese War 1894-5
Conflict primarily over influence on Korea
Qing armies initially pursued hybrid imperialism in Korea (previously treated as a tributary state of China but enjoyed autonomy).
But in the 1890s, Qing elites tried to pursue a policy of submission turning Korea into something more akin to a European colony - dominated Korea’s foreign policy and the Qing have the final say over governmental decisions
Qing officials and many outside observers anticipate victory, but instead lose navy and territory supremacy
Japanese victory sends shockwaves across southeast Asia and shakes Qing intelligential to its core. Japan was able to utilise European technologies more effectively. Forced to cede Taiwan.
What does the First Sino-Japanese war say about Japan
Both China and Russia anticipated victory against Japan.
Not only does Japan’s victory highlight the extent of transformation/modernisation, but its perceived weakness points to its historic lack of development previously
What was the intellectual revolution
Turn towards Japan as an Asian model for self-transformation
- Many new ideas and words began to flow into Chinese from Japanese
- Emergence of Japan as a hub for Chinese students and exiles, intellectuals and revolutionaries.
What was the Boxer Rebellion
Was an anti-foreign, anti-colonial, and anti-Christian uprising in China between 1899 - 1901
Increasing foreign resentment after the First-Sino Japanese war and, successive waves of droughts and floods which was blamed on foreigners and Christian influence
June 1900 - besieged Bejing. Qing government split between those who supported the boxers and those supporting conciliation
The 8 nation alliance arrived with 20,000 troops, plundered the capital/countryside, executed boxer supporting government officials, and made provisions for foreign troops to be stationed in Beijing
The Qing dynasty’s handling of the Boxer Rebellion further weakened their control over China, and led the dynasty to attempt major governmental reforms in the aftermath.
What did Kang Yowie and Liang Qichao advocate
A constitutional monarchy
What did Sun Yat want
A complete overthrow a stagnant Manchu dynasty which dominated a predominantly Chinese nation
