Shifting Power After 1900 - Exam Notes
Shifting Power After 1900
Learning Objective
Explain how internal and external factors contributed to change in various states after 1900.
Historical Developments
The West dominated the global political order at the beginning of the 20th century.
Land-based and maritime empires gave way to new states by the century's end.
The older, land-based Ottoman, Russian, and Qing empires collapsed due to a combination of internal and external factors.
These changes in Russia eventually led to communist revolution.
States around the world challenged the existing political and social order, including the Mexican Revolution that arose as a result of political crisis.
The Russian Empire
Tsar Nicholas II ascended to the throne in 1894.
Russia lagged behind Western powers industrially.
Vast majority of Russians were living in rural poverty.
Tsar Nicholas II resisted political reforms.
Several wars drained Russia economically.
The Bloody Sunday Massacre in 1905.
Abdication of Tsar Nicholas II in 1917 led to a power vacuum.
Tsarist Russia to the Bolshevik Revolution created the conditions for a radical shift in governance, as the Bolsheviks capitalized on public discontent and promised peace, land, and bread.
Lagging Industrialization
Russia was slow to industrialize compared to other nations prior to 1900.
Industrialization stagnated under Tsar Nicholas II.
This was one internal factor that contributed to political change in Russia.
Relative per capita industrialization level:
The graph compares the industrialization level of various countries over time.
Countries include United Kingdom, Germany, France, Austria-Hungary, Russia, Italy, United States, and Japan.
Russia's industrialization level was significantly lower than Western powers.
Proletariat
Proletariat = Working Class
Proletariat was a term used by Karl Marx to describe the social class that did not own the means to production and who supported themselves by selling their labor for wages.
Pyramid of Capitalist System
A visual representation of social classes and their roles in a capitalist society.
Failures of Tsar Nicholas II
Tsar Nicholas II, the last Emperor of Russia, faced several major failures during his reign, which contributed to the downfall of the Romanov dynasty and gave way to the Bolshevik Revolution in 1917, including his inability to address the widespread discontent, the military defeats in World War I, and the economic turmoil that plagued the country, leading to significant unrest among the populace and ultimately culminating in the abdication of the throne
Weak and Indecisive Leadership
Association with the Mystic Grigori Rasputin
Response to the 1905 Revolution
Bloody Sunday (1905)
Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905)
Involvement in World War I
Lack of Military Experience
The Battle of Mukden, part of the Russo-Japanese War
This was one of the largest ever land battles fought prior to WWI, and it was a decisive victory for Japan
The Battle took place in February to March of 1905 in Manchuria and resulted in territorial concessions to Japan
This battle highlighted the inefficiencies, poor logistics, and outdated strategies of the Russian military
Bloody Sunday
Peaceful demonstration in January of 1905.
Petition demanded reforms: better working conditions, an end to the Russo-Japanese War, and the establishment of a representative assembly.
Imperial forces opened fire on the protesters.
Sparked the 1905 Revolution.
Results of the 1905 Revolution
The October Manifesto
Creation of the State Duma a legislative assembly elected by a broad franchise
Granted civil liberties, including freedom of speech, assembly, and association
Legal reforms aiming to modernize the Russian legal system and reduce arbitrary rule
The October Manifesto quelled unrest initially, but many of the major issues were never truly addressed which led to…
The Bolshevik Revolution 1917 (Russian Revolution)
Vladimir Lenin and the Bolsheviks
Bolsheviks led by Vladimir Lenin
Advocated for Marxism and a tightly organized party of revolutionaries
Sought proletariat's direct power seizure and dictatorship for socialism to communism
Lenin's April Theses rallied support for overthrowing the provisional government
Russian Civil War
Fought between the Red Army, representing the Bolsheviks and the White Army which included monarchists, nationalists, and foreign powers
Bolshevik victory in 1922 led the formation of the Soviet Union-the first communist state
American, British, and Japanese troops supporting the White Army
Internal Factors
Bloody Sunday (1905)
Response to the 1905 Revolution
Lagging Industrialization and Lack of Military Strength
Weak and Indecisive Leadership
Economic Hardship
Influence of Marxist Ideas
External Factors
Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905)
Involvement in World War I
Foreign Intervention in the Russian Civil War
The Fall of the Qing Dynasty
Qing Dynasty was led by non-Chinese Manchurians.
Several rebellions led to their weakening.
Qing "Haircutting Edict"
Issued in July of 1645, the "haircutting edict" required all Han Chinese men to adopt the Manchu queue hairstyle. This was in direct conflict with traditional Confucian values about not damaging the body or hair.
Overthrown by revolution led by Sun Yat-sen in 1911 marks the end of the Qing Dynasty.
Sun Yat-sen became first provisional president and leader of the Kuomintang.
Internal Factors - Qing Dynasty
Corruption and inefficiency
Economic hardship and high taxes
Famine and natural disasters
Ethnic tensions
External Factors - Qing Dynasty
Technologically and militarily behind Western powers and Japan
Defeat in Opium Wars and Sino-Japanese War
Foreign control of trade, finance, and natural resources
Success of other revolutions such as the 1905 Russian Revolution
The 1911 Revolution
Sun Yat-sen briefly served as president of the Republic of China
Yuan Shikai was sworn in a few months later as second president of the ROC and the capital is moved to Beijing
The Ottoman Empire: European Imperial Ambitions
Britain: Seized control of Egypt and the Suez Canal in 1882
France: Influence in Lebanon and Syria; Established a protectorate over Tunisia in 1881
Russia: Supported Slavic and Orthodox Christian movements in the Balkans
The Young Turk Revolution 1908
Committee of Union and Progress (CUP)
Aimed to end Sultan Abdul Hamid II's autocratic rule
Reinstated the Constitution of 1876
Sought modernizations in education, economy, and military
1909 counter-coup was unsuccessful and resulted in Abdul Hamid II being deposed
The Sick Man of Europe
Territorial losses in Europe and Africa
Repeated military defeats
Technological and industrial lag
European imperialism
Social friction between ethnic and religious groups
Rise of nationalism
The Ottoman Empire and World War I
Joined the Central Powers in WWI through secret alliance with Germany with the goal of recapturing lost territories
Suffered several key defeats
The Arab Revolt was incited within the empire by the British which severely weakened the Ottomans
1918 signed the Armistice of Mudros which allowed the Allies to occupy key parts of the empire, including the capital, Istanbul
The End of the Ottoman Empire
Allied occupation post-WWI led to Treaty of Sèvres, partition, creating new nations
Mustafa Kemal Pasha led Turkish nationalist movement
Turkish War of Independence fought (1919-1922)
Sultanate abolished, Sultan Mehmed VI fled
Treaty of Lausanne recognized Turkish sovereignty
Republic of Turkey established October 29, 1923
The Mexican Revolution
President Porfirio Díaz
President of Mexico from 1876-1910
"Pax Porfiriana" period of stability and growth
Díaz encouraged investment from the United States.
American companies owned 25% of Mexican land by 1910.
Revolutionary Leaders
Francisco Madero
Ran against Díaz in the 1910 election; Called for a revolution
Emiliano Zapata
Southern Revolutionary Leader; advocate for land reform
Pancho Villa
Northern Revolutionary Leader; advocate for the poor and land reform
The Issue of Land Use and Reform
Díaz allowed foreign companies to buy up agricultural land, and Mexican-owned land was in the hands of the hacendados (wealthy landowners).
Indigenous and rural communities were often displaced and suffered from poverty despite overall economic growth during Díaz's rule.
Madero's presidency (1911-1913) was marked by attempts at moderate reforms and democratic governance. However, his failure to implement rapid social and land reforms alienated many, and his perceived weakness led to his overthrow and assassination in the 1913 coup d'état led by Victoriano Huerta.
US Reaction to the Mexican Revolution
The cartoon tells us about the role of the US in the Mexican Revolution.
Women in the Mexican Revolution
Soldaderas fought alongside men, carried out reconnaissance missions, and led battalions
Women also played supporting roles to revolutionary armies
Became symbols of the motherland (Patria)
Dolores Jiménez y Muro and Hermila Galindo participated in drafting revolutionary laws and policies
Results of the Mexican Revolution
Fought between 1910-1920
Estimated 2 million killed
Venustiano Carranza became president after the 1917 adoption of the Constitution
One key achievement was land reform
Constitution addressed labor, education, indigenous rights and other social issues
Topic 7.I Key Ideas for Review
Several significant shifts in power took place around the world just after 1900
The Russian Empire collapsed under the poor leadership of Tsar Nicholas II and was eventually replaced by the Soviet Union which represented the world's first communist state
The Manchurian-led Qing Dynasty ended after the nationalist revolution in China led by Sun Yat-sen in 1911
The collapse of the Ottoman Empire after World War II led to the creation of the modern state of Turkey
All three of these shifts occurred under both significant internal pressures and external factors
The Mexican Revolution from 1910-1920 resulted in the adoption of the first social Constitution and significant land reform efforts