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Period: to
Fall of Qing Dynasty
Many factors lead to the fall of the Qing dynasty. An important external factor that lead to this was European imperialism, mainly the Opium Wars and the unequal treaties. From within the country, the empire also began to crumble due to the little loyalty that Chinese felt towards the Qing rulers, who were from Manchuria. The fall of the Qing dynasty marked the end of the nation's imperial history, more than 2,000 years of imperial rule collapsed. -
Creation of Republic of China
After the Qing dynasty was overthrown in the Xinhai revolution, the Republic of China was founded. The first president of the republic was Sun Yat-sen, as he had been the one to form the Nationalist party and had been in agreement as to the discontent of people. He quickly handed the position to Yuan Shikai, former general of the imperial armies. Yuan Shikai stayed in power for some years, having complete control of the government, before trying to restate the monarchy, and ending up resigning. -
Death of Sun Yat-sen & Rise of Chiang Kai-sheik
Sun Yat-sen died from liver cancer at the Peking Union Medical College at the age of 58. After his death, Chiang Kai-sheik rose as commander in chief of the Nationalist Revolutionary Army. He became the most powerful leader of the party and participated in the fight against the northern militia. -
Massacre of Shanghai
Guomindang forces, also known as the Nationalist Party, helped by urban rebels and warlord militia, attacked members of the Chinese Communist Party in Shanghai. Hundreds of Communists were surrounded, captured, arrested and tortured; most were executed or assassinated. It marked the beginning of the real fight between the Communists and the Nationalists. -
Mao Zedong Long March
The Nationalists, lead by Chiang, managed to surround and make a blockade around the Communist base, preventing food and supplies to pass. The Communist were forced to relocate, breaking through the Nationalist lines and beginning the Long March. The Communist crossed 18 mountain ranges and 24 rivers to reach the last surviving Communist base in northwest China. This March inspired many young Chinese to join the Chinese Communist Party. -
Period: to
Japanese Agression (2nd War with Japan)
The second Chinese-Japanese war began a resistance to the expansion of Japanese influence in Chinese territory. Nationalist government, supported by all Chinese regional military and political groups, decided to oppose Japan. Japan was much better prepared than the Chinese armies and this lead to the death of more than 20,000 people and the rape of thousands of women. Due to the intervention and influence of the Allies, Japan was forced to surrender, bringing an end to the war. -
Bibliography
The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica. (2014, May 02). Long March. Retrieved January 31, 2018, from https://www.britannica.com/event/Long-March Szczepanski, K. (n.d.). Learn the Cause Behind the Fall of China's Qing Dynasty. Retrieved January 31, 2018, from https://www.thoughtco.com/fall-of-the-qing-dynasty-195608 The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica. (2017, December 23). Second Sino-Japanese War. Retrieved January 31, 2018, from https://www.britannica.com/event/Second-Sino-Japanese-War -
Bibliography
Shanghai Massacre. (n.d.). Retrieved January 31, 2018, from https://hwcahuffman.weebly.com/shanghai-massacre.html Wang, Y. C. (2018, January 17). Sun Yat-sen. Retrieved January 31, 2018, from https://www.britannica.com/biography/Sun-Yat-sen History - Chiang Kai-shek. (n.d.). Retrieved January 31, 2018, from http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/chiang_kaishek.shtml
