7.1 Shifting Power (After 1900)

Essential Question

How did internal and external factors contribute to change in various states after 1900?

Many long-standing empires collapsed in the early 20th century due to internal problems and external pressures. Major revolutions occurred in:

  • Russia

  • China

  • Ottoman Empire

  • Mexico

These revolutions overthrew old governments and created new political systems.

Revolution in Russia

Background

Russia was falling behind Europe, the United States, and Japan economically and militarily.

Internal Problems

  • Slow industrialization

  • Limited education for peasants

  • Poor transportation infrastructure

  • Government resisted political reform

  • Few civil liberties

  • Limited participation in government

External Problems

  • Crimean War (1853–1856) → Russia lost

  • Russo-Japanese War (1904–1905) → Japan defeated Russia

  • Weak economy → weak military

Key Events

Bloody Sunday (1905)

  • Workers marched peacefully to petition the tsar.

  • Demanded:

    • Better working conditions

    • Higher wages

    • Universal suffrage

  • Tsar’s troops fired on the crowd.

  • About 1,300 people were killed.

Revolution of 1905

  • Massive worker strikes (400,000 workers).

  • Government responded with violence.

World War I

  • Russia was poorly prepared.

  • Soldiers lacked training and supplies.

  • Severe food shortages for civilians.

Bolshevik Revolution (1917)

Leader: Vladimir Lenin

The Bolsheviks, representing the working class, seized power and created a communist government.

Communist Goals

  • Workers own the means of production

  • Collective ownership → collective prosperity

Bolshevik Policies

  • Abolished private trade

  • Government took control of factories and industries

  • Peasants’ crops redistributed to feed cities

Global Impact

The rise of communism caused fear in capitalist countries and shaped global politics during the 20th century.

Upheaval in China

The Qing Dynasty ruled China from 1644 to 1911 but collapsed due to internal and external problems.

Internal Challenges

Ethnic Tension

  • Majority population: Han Chinese

  • Rulers: Manchus

  • Many Chinese did not accept Qing rule.

Population Growth

  • Rapid population growth caused food shortages.

  • Natural disasters could cause famine.

Weak Government Revenue

  • Taxes were low.

  • Government lacked money to maintain infrastructure.

External Challenges

European industrialization increased foreign pressure.

Europeans wanted Chinese goods such as:

  • Tea

  • Silk

  • Porcelain

  • Rhubarb

Europe paid with silver, but China did not want European products.

Chinese Revolution (1911)

Leader: Sun Yat-sen

The revolution overthrew the Qing Dynasty and created a republic.

Sun Yat-sen’s Three Principles of the People

1. Democracy

Government ruled by capable and educated people.

2. Nationalism

Strong loyalty and unity within China.

3. Livelihood

Reduce extreme inequality and economic exploitation.

Legacy of Sun Yat-sen

  • Did not have strong military power.

  • Gave leadership to a military leader.

  • His party, the Kuomintang (Nationalist Party), later ruled China but eventually lost to communists.

Ottoman Empire Collapse

By the early 20th century the Ottoman Empire was called “the sick man of Europe.”

Problems

  • Weak agricultural economy

  • Declining exports

  • Heavy foreign economic influence

The Young Turks

A reform group that wanted:

  • A constitution

  • Modernization

  • Strong Turkish identity

They promoted Turkification:

  • Encouraging all citizens to adopt Turkish culture.

Armenian Persecution

Armenians (mostly Christian) were blamed for economic problems.

World War I

The Ottoman Empire allied with Germany.

After Germany’s defeat:

  • The empire collapsed.

  • Allied powers occupied parts of the territory.

Rise of Atatürk

Leader: Mustafa Kemal Atatürk

He led the Turkish National Movement and defeated foreign forces.

Republic of Turkey (1923)

Atatürk became the first president.

Atatürk’s Reforms

  • Created a secular government

  • Expanded education for boys and girls

  • Abolished polygyny

  • Expanded women’s voting rights

  • Promoted Western clothing and culture

Despite reforms, he ruled as a dictator until 1938.

Mexican Revolution

Porfirio Díaz’s Rule

Mexico was controlled by dictator Porfirio Díaz.

Problems

  • Foreign investors controlled many resources

  • 1% of population owned most of the land

  • Most peasants were landless

Mexican Revolution (1910)

Started when Díaz jailed opposition candidate Francisco Madero.

Madero escaped and started a revolution.

Key Leaders

  • Francisco Madero

  • Pancho Villa

  • Emiliano Zapata

Zapata focused on land redistribution to peasants.

Effects of the Revolution

The conflict killed about 2 million people.

Major Outcomes

Constitution of 1917

Included:

  • Land reform

  • Universal suffrage

  • Public education

Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI)

  • Founded in 1929

  • Dominated Mexican politics for most of the 20th century

  • Controlled the presidency until 2000

Key Terms

Government & Politics

  • Bolsheviks – revolutionary communist group in Russia

  • Communism – system where workers control production

  • Young Turks – reform group in Ottoman Empire

  • Mexican Revolution – uprising against Díaz

  • Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) – dominant political party in Mexico

Important Leaders

  • Sun Yat-sen – founder of Chinese republic

  • Mustafa Kemal Atatürk – founder of modern Turkey

  • Porfirio Díaz – Mexican dictator

  • Francisco Madero – Mexican revolutionary leader

  • Pancho Villa – revolutionary general

  • Emiliano Zapata – leader fighting for land reform

SAQ examples

SAQ 1: Russian Revolution

a. Identify ONE internal factor that contributed to revolution in Russia.

Sample Answer:

One internal factor was poor working conditions and low wages for industrial workers, which caused protests and strikes such as the events leading to Bloody Sunday in 1905.

b. Identify ONE external factor that weakened the Russian government before the revolution.

Sample Answer:

Russia’s defeat in the Russo-Japanese War (1904–1905) weakened the government and embarrassed the tsarist regime.

c. Explain ONE way the Bolsheviks changed Russia after gaining power.

Sample Answer:

The Bolsheviks established a communist government and nationalized factories and industries, ending private ownership of the means of production.

SAQ 2: Chinese Revolution

a. Identify ONE internal challenge faced by the Qing Dynasty in the 19th century.

Sample Answer:

Rapid population growth caused food shortages and famine, weakening the Qing government.

b. Explain ONE external pressure that contributed to the fall of the Qing Dynasty.

Sample Answer:

European industrial powers increased their economic influence in China, which undermined the authority of the Qing government.

c. Identify ONE political idea promoted by Sun Yat-sen.

Sample Answer:

Sun Yat-sen promoted nationalism, encouraging Chinese people to unite and resist foreign influence.

SAQ 3: Ottoman Empire and Turkey

a. Identify ONE reform movement in the Ottoman Empire.

Sample Answer:

The Young Turks were a reform movement that supported constitutional government and modernization.

b. Explain ONE reason the Ottoman Empire declined in the early 20th century.

Sample Answer:

The Ottoman Empire declined due to economic weakness and heavy foreign influence from European powers.

c. Identify ONE reform implemented by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.

Sample Answer:

Atatürk established a secular government and reduced the role of Islam in politics.

SAQ 4: Mexican Revolution

a. Identify ONE cause of the Mexican Revolution.

Sample Answer:

One cause was the unequal distribution of land, where a small elite controlled most farmland while peasants had little or none.

b. Identify ONE revolutionary leader in Mexico.

Sample Answer:

Emiliano Zapata was a revolutionary leader who fought for land redistribution.

c. Explain ONE political outcome of the Mexican Revolution.

Sample Answer:

Mexico adopted the Constitution of 1917, which included land reform, universal suffrage, and public education.

SAQ 5: Comparative Revolutions

a. Identify ONE similarity between the Russian and Chinese revolutions.

Sample Answer:

Both revolutions were caused partly by dissatisfaction with traditional monarchies that failed to address economic and political problems.

b. Identify ONE difference between the Russian and Mexican revolutions.

Sample Answer:

The Russian Revolution led to a communist government, while the Mexican Revolution resulted in a constitutional government rather than communism.

c. Explain ONE global impact of the Russian Revolution.

Sample Answer:

The Russian Revolution spread communist ideology worldwide and increased tensions between communist and capitalist nations.