Key Events in Chinese History

100 Days Reforms

Reforms in 1898 by Guangxu to modernize China

Boxer Rebellion

Violent anti-foreigner movement in China, 1899-1900

Boxer Protocol

1901 agreement demanding compensation for Boxer Rebellion

Self Strengthening Reforms

Reforms in 1902 to modernize China's military and industry

End of Mandarin Domination

In 1905, civil service no longer controlled by mandarins

Han Nationalist Execution

Execution of Han nationalists on 9th October 1911

1911 Revolution

Overthrow of Qing dynasty on 10th October 1911

Sun Yat Sen

Became head of Chinese Republic in December 1911

Yuan Shikai Rule

Ruled China from 1912 to 1916

Qing Abdication

Abdication of Qing dynasty in February 1912

Shanghai Massacres

Violent events in Shanghai from January to March 1927

United Front

1926-1928 alliance between CCP and GMD

Extermination Campaigns

Initiated in China in October 1930

Long March

Communist retreat in October 1934 to evade GMD forces

New Life Movement

Introduced in China in 1934

CCP Founding

Communist Party of China established in 1921

Shanghai Demonstration

Violent event in Shanghai on 30th May 1925

GMD Control of China

GMD controlled all of China in 1928

Bloodshed in Shanghai

Violence in Shanghai involving British in 1925

Yanan Arrival

Communists arrived in Yanan in October 1935

GMD Policy of Appeasement

Implemented in China in 1936

Japanese Occupation

Japanese took major Chinese cities from 1937 to 1938

Atomic Bomb Use

Happened in August 1945

Marriage Law

Introduced in China in 1950

Agrarian Reform Law

Implemented in China in 1950

Treaty of Friendship

Signed in China in 1950

Thought Reform Campaign

Launched in China in 1951

Women's Voting Rights

Granted in China in 1953

100 Flowers Campaign

Initiated in China in 1956-57

Mao's First Five Year Plan

Implemented in China from 1953 to 1957

Great Leap Forward

Launched in China in 1958

Great Famine

Occurred in China from 1958 to 1962

Mao Resignation

Mao resigned as president in 1959

Moderate Reforms by Zhou Enlai

Implemented in China in 1962

Little Red Book

Published in China in 1965

Red Guards

Youth paramilitary movement in China from 1966

Lin Accusation

Lin accused of plotting against Mao in 1971

Cultural Revolution

Occurred in China in 1976

Zhou Enlai Death

Zhou Enlai died in January 1976

Mao Death

Mao died in September 1976

Democracy Movement Origins

Events in China from 1978 to 1979

Gang of Four Trial

Held in China in 1980-81

Agricultural Output Recovery

Achieved in China in 1979

One Child Policy

Introduced in China in 1979

Democracy Wall

Movement in late 1970s China

Wei Criticism

Wei directly criticized Deng in 1979

Student Protests

Major protests in China in 1986

Tiananmen Square Sit-In

Occurred in June 1989