China: Fall of Qing, Warlord Era, and 1911 Revolution

What was the primary political system in China until the 1911 Revolution?

The Qing imperial dynasty

What was the role of the Mandate of Heaven?

It provided the emperor with the authority to rule and suggested his actions were in harmony with natural laws.

Which ethnic group formed 90 percent of the Chinese population in 1900?

The Han

From which region did the ruling Manchu dynasty originate?

Manchuria

What philosophy supported the strict class structure and unquestioned authority of the emperor?

Confucianism

Who were the Mandarins?

A class of government officials who studied Confucian texts and passed examinations to maintain the status quo.

What was the social status of women in early 20th-century China?

They had few rights, were considered property of their fathers or husbands, and were often subject to arranged marriages.

What was the purpose of foot-binding?

To keep feet small, as small feet were considered attractive to potential husbands.

Which major port city became a center for trade in early 20th-century China?

Shanghai

What event in 1894 revealed the weakness of the Qing dynasty to foreign powers?

The defeat of China by Japan

What was the 'Society of Righteous and Harmonious Fists' commonly known as by Westerners?

The Boxers

Why did Westerners call the members of the Society of Righteous and Harmonious Fists 'Boxers'?

Because their physical exercises resembled shadow boxing.

What was the primary goal of the Boxer Uprising?

To drive out Westerners and restore China to greatness.

What was the 'Hundred Days Reform' of 1898?

An attempt by Emperor Guangxu to modernize the government and reduce concessions to foreign powers.

Who ended the 'Hundred Days Reform'?

Empress Dowager Cixi

What was the main political party that aimed to control China after the fall of the Qing?

The Guomindang

Who were the two primary leaders of the Guomindang mentioned in the text?

Sun Yat-sen and Chiang Kai-shek

What happened to political power in China after the fall of the imperial system?

It fell into the hands of competing warlords.

What was the 'United Front'?

A temporary alliance between the Guomindang and the Chinese Communist Party.

What was the relationship between the Guomindang and the Communists by 1934?

They had become bitter enemies in open conflict.

What were the four main ethnic groups in China in 1900?

Han, Manchu, Mongol, and Tibetan

What religious group did Western missionaries attempt to introduce to China?

Christianity

What were two traditional religious beliefs in China that missionaries sought to replace?

Confucianism and Buddhism

What was the primary economic driver for Britain's wealth in China during the 19th century?

The opium trade

Where did the emperor reside?

The Forbidden City in Beijing

Why did many Chinese people fear telegraph wires?

They believed the wires were poisonous.

Why did many Chinese people fear railways?

They believed the railways disturbed dragons.

Why did Empress Dowager Cixi encourage attacks on foreigners?

To avoid criticism of imperial rule.

What was the 'Society of Righteous and Harmonious Fists' commonly known as?

The Boxers.

What was the primary demographic of the Boxer movement?

Mostly peasants who had suffered from natural disasters like famine and flooding.

What was a 'legation' in the context of the Boxer Uprising?

The headquarters of a foreign diplomatic minister and staff.

How long did the siege of the British legation in Beijing last?

55 days.

What was the immediate consequence of the failed Boxer Uprising for China?

A tightening of foreign control and severe financial penalties.

What financial penalty was imposed on China after the Boxer Uprising?

£67 million in reparations to be paid over 39 years.

What happened to Cixi and the emperor after the international forces broke the siege?

They disguised themselves as peasants and fled south to Xian.

What was the purpose of the 'self-strengthening' movement?

To learn from foreigners, copy their sciences and technology, and apply it to exploit China's resources.

What significant change occurred in the civil service in 1905?

The removal of the traditional examination system.

What was the goal of the 1902 abolition of foot binding?

To modernize social practices as part of the Qing reforms.

What was the function of the National Consultative Council established in 1910-11?

To act as a cabinet with responsibility to advise the government.

Who became emperor in 1908 at the age of two?

Puyi.

Who served as regent for the child emperor Puyi?

Prince Chun, the brother of Emperor Guangxu.

Why did Han resentment of the government increase between 1909 and 1911?

Due to the domination of Manchus in the new National Consultative Council.

What percentage of the population had the right to vote for provincial assemblies?

Only 0.4 percent.

Why did Prince Chun increase taxes on tea, wine, salt, and land?

To fund the expensive reform of the army.

Why was the dismissal of General Yuan Shikai by Prince Chun a strategic error?

It created a powerful enemy who vowed to get revenge against the regime.

Define 'nationalism' in the context of the 1911 Revolution.

Taking great pride in one's country, often believing it is superior to all others.

Define 'republicanism'.

A system of government with an elected head of state.

Define 'nationalisation'.

The takeover by the state of private companies and businesses.

What was the ultimate result of the failed reforms introduced by Cixi?

They were too little and too late, leading to the 1911 revolution and the fall of the Qing dynasty.

What were the three main areas of focus for the 1911 Revolution learning objectives?

Causes, key events, and results.

Who was Sun Yat-sen and what were his core political beliefs?

A Western-educated leader who advocated for nationalism and republicanism to modernize China.

Why did Sun Yat-sen believe the Qing dynasty had to be overthrown?

He believed the imperial government was an obstacle to China's modernization.

How did revolutionary ideas spread among young Chinese men during the early 20th century?

Through scholarships introduced by the government for students to study in Japan.

What caused public resentment regarding the nationalization of China's railways?

Owners were angry about receiving insufficient compensation, and the government's reliance on foreign loans made them appear as partners with 'foreign devils'.

What event on 9 October 1911 accidentally triggered the 1911 Revolution?

A bomb explosion in Hankou involving young revolutionaries.

What is the significance of the 'Double Tenth' in Chinese history?

It marks the start of the Wuhan mutiny on 10 October 1911, which led to widespread revolt.

What was the symbolic meaning of a Han soldier cutting off a Manchu soldier's pigtail?

The pigtail symbolized Manchu superiority; cutting it represented the rejection of Manchu control.

Who was Yuan Shikai and what was his role in the 1911 Revolution?

A former general who initially supported the government but switched sides to join the rebels.

Why did Sun Yat-sen step down as president in 1912?

He lacked the military support necessary to resist Yuan Shikai.

What promise did Yuan Shikai make to Sun Yat-sen in exchange for the presidency?

To persuade the Manchus to abdicate and replace the imperial system with a republic.

When was the abdication decree of Emperor Puyi issued?

12 February 1912.

What was the actual motivation behind Yuan Shikai's actions according to modern historians?

Personal ambition and a desire to use his military strength to seize power.

What evidence confirmed the cause of Emperor Guangxu's death in 2008?

Forensic tests on his remains revealed high levels of arsenic.

What were Japan's 'Twenty-One Demands' of 1915?

A set of demands intended to strengthen Japan's position by giving them control over Chinese territory, factories, and ports.

Why did Yuan Shikai become unpopular with the Guomindang and provincial governors?

His rejection of democracy and attempt to declare himself emperor in 1915.

What happened to Yuan Shikai after the army revolted against his imperial ambitions?

He was forced to abandon his plan to be emperor and died of a stroke in June 1916.

What characterized the 'Warlord Era' (1916-1927)?

The collapse of central government authority, with power exercised by local military generals in their own provinces.

What administrative powers did warlords hold in their territories?

They ran their own legal and financial systems and collected their own taxes.

Who was Feng Yuxiang?

A warlord known as the 'Christian general' who insisted on baptizing his troops and ruling by moral values.

How did most warlords originally acquire their power?

They were originally military governors appointed by Yuan Shikai to manage provinces.

What was the primary goal of the reforms introduced between 1900 and 1911?

To save the Qing dynasty from collapse.

What happened to the Empress Cixi shortly after the death of Emperor Guangxu?

She died, reportedly after eating too many pears and fainting.

What was the political status of the Beijing government during the Warlord Era?

It was technically a republican government but held no real power in practice.

What was the significance of the Han soldiers' revolt against Manchu troops?

It highlighted the ethnic tensions and the desire to end Manchu dominance.

How did the Warlord Era change after 1920?

Some original warlords were removed by other ambitious men who seized power by force.

What was the 'splitting melons' practice attributed to Zang Zongzhang?

A violent act of splitting open the heads of his opponents.

What was the primary reason Zhang Zuolin used cruel punishments on his soldiers?

To warn them against attempting to mutiny.

What were two common features shared by Chinese warlords during the early 20th century?

Refusal to give up private armies and refusal to submit to outside authority.

How did warlords interact with foreign powers?

They made agreements with foreign powers to protect the powers' economic interests in China.

What was a major social consequence of warlord rule in China?

Great suffering for the Chinese people, exacerbated by a lack of central government to organize relief during natural disasters.

Define 'self-determination' in the context of political history.

Allowing people of the same race, history, and culture to rule themselves.

What event triggered the May the Fourth Movement in 1919?

News that German possessions in Shandong province were to be given to Japan under the Treaty of Versailles.

What was the 'New Tide'?

A movement involving the rejection of old-fashioned ideas and the adoption of modern beliefs like freedom, democracy, and equal rights.

Where did Sun Yat-sen receive his early education?

Honolulu, Hawaii.

What was the outcome of Sun Yat-sen's 1895 rebellion in Guangzhou?

It failed, forcing him into exile.

When and where did Sun Yat-sen form the Guomindang (GMD)?

In 1919 in Guangzhou.

What were the 'Three Principles of the People'?

The political ideology of the GMD announced by Sun Yat-sen in 1923.

What are the three components of the 'Three Principles of the People'?

National freedom, the Democracy Principle, and People's welfare.

What was the primary goal of the 'People's welfare' principle?

To solve poverty by developing government-owned industries and protecting native industry from foreign powers.

What was the purpose of the Whampoa Military Academy established in 1924?

To train GMD soldiers.

What was the name of the GMD's army?

The New Republican Army (NRA).

Who was Mikhail Borodin?

A Soviet adviser who helped reorganize the GMD into a mass party with a powerful central leadership.

Who appointed Chiang Kai-shek as the commander of the GMD army?

Mikhail Borodin.

What was the 'Northern Expedition'?

The GMD's military campaign to overthrow the warlords.

What was the primary source of power for Chiang Kai-shek?

Control of the army.

What is the difference between the Giles-Wade and Pin-yin systems for Chinese names?

Giles-Wade is based on phonetic pronunciation (19th century), while Pin-yin is the modern spelling system.

What is the modern Pin-yin name for Chiang Kai-shek?

Jiang Jieshi.

Define 'ideology'.

A set of ideas which refer to a political or social system.

Why did the Chinese government refuse to sign the Treaty of Versailles?

Due to protests and strikes led by students and citizens during the May the Fourth Movement.

What was the 'Bolshevik' government?

The communist government in Russia that took control after the 1917 Revolution.